CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe put the finishing touches to the signing of experienced defender Ian Harte and then said the player’s age was “irrelevant”.

Harte, who turns 36 in August, today agreed terms on a one-year deal and joined Cherries on a free transfer following his release by Reading.

The former Carlisle and Leeds star, capped 63 times by the Republic of Ireland, played 16 times in the Premier League last season after helping the Royals win promotion in 2012.

Harte made his name during nine years at Leeds, racking up more than 200 appearances in the top flight and featuring in their UEFA Cup and Champions League campaigns.

He becomes Cherries’ second high-profile summer signing following the arrival of former West Ham, Coventry and Norwich defender Elliott Ward.

Howe, who is three months younger than Harte, told the Daily Echo: “If they are the right players and they fit what we are looking for, age is irrelevant.

“Steve Fletcher was no spring chicken when we signed him but he was the right player for the position we were looking for.

“When we were looking to sign a player in this position, we felt we could have gone one of two ways. We could have gone with a young, developing player but felt it would have been a very big call to ask a 19 or 20-year-old to step in straight away in a defensive position in the league we are in.

“We went the other way and wanted to fill the position with an experienced player, someone who knows the game, someone who has been there and done it and someone who will help the players around him. That is why we chose the route we did.”

Howe added: “We are delighted to get someone with Ian’s experience and technical quality. We are looking forward to working with him and I am sure he will be a welcome addition to the squad.

“He impressed me when I used to watch him for Leeds. He is an excellent crosser and passer of the ball and his set-piece delivery is an added bonus. He has got a lot of the qualities we look for in a player. He is similar to Elliott and has played in the Premier League. He will help our young squad.

“He is a versatile performer and is not one-dimensional. He is going to increase competition for places and we all know we are going to need a good squad, not just a good 11, to be successful at this level.

“From my meetings and talks with him, he has certainly impressed me as a man. He has got some really good values and is very much a team player. For all those reasons, he became more attractive to us.

“His signing represents good value for the club. Whenever we do a deal, we look for good value and, in my opinion, Elliott and Ian were two of the best free transfers available and we were delighted to be able to get them both.”