Caley Thistle manager Terry Butcher has made French defender Kenny Gillet his sixth summer signing.
The 24-year-old left back has agreed a one-year deal with Inverness after two seasons and 104 appearances for English League 2 side Barnet.
Butcher saw off reported interest from League 1 sides Leyton Orient and Rochdale to land the Bordeaux-born defender, who will be his first choice left back ahead of club stalwart Stuart Golabek.
Gillet joins Gil Blumenshtein, Max Johnson, Jonny Tuffey, Chris Innes and Kevin McCann as Caley Thistle’s new signings.
Butcher confirmed that forward Richie Foran will captain Caley Thistle next season, with Grant Munro as his vice-captain.
Butcher said: “I expect Gillet to be our first-choice left back. It was an area we needed to fill. It was obvious from the pre-season games. We have been working to bring in players and there were one or two we could not capture.
“He did not cost us money in terms of a transfer fee as he is a free agent. But it was not cheap to put a deal together to bring him here. He wanted to challenge himself in the SPL. People do not realise the money there is in England. Even Fleetwood Town in the Conference can pay their players high wages.”
Butcher is unlikely to add more players to his squad after the capture of Gillet.
He said: “Kenny played more than 100 games for Barnet. He is sharp, quick, very good on the ball and tenacious. It adds competition as Stuart Golabek is 35 now and he has been a fantastic servant to the club.
“Graeme Shinnie is only 18 and Kenny is somewhere in the middle between them in terms of age.
“We would not expect Stuart to play every game, although he is the kind of player who would like to. He is like the human cannonball and launches himself into every challenge.
“We have added Chris Innes and Kevin McCann in defence and we now have good competition for places.
“I think we are about there with the squad. The tide is out on the Moray Firth now with my budget.”
Forward Adam Rooney has recovered from a thigh strain and should be fit to play against Queen’s Park in the League Cup at the Caledonian Stadium tomorrow. Jonny Hayes (knee) and Eric Odhiambo (groin) are both expected to miss the game, while defender David Proctor is suspended.