GUISELEY have announced the capture of talented winger and Tiktok sensation, Nat Crofts.

The Sheffield-based winger, who can play on either flank, saw Covid bring an end to his chance in the MLS with Toronto but he is now looking forward to making an impression with The Lions.

Crofts, 25, who gained a BA degree in African and American studies during his four-year spell in America from 2017 to 2021, tops up his part-time training schedule with individual sessions and has found success with a TikTok account – @zonesoccer – on which he posts his drills as well as tuition clips to almost 200,000 followers.

Raised in the Sheffield area he attended Chaucer School and had the usual dalliances with Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United settling with the latter, where he played in the U-18s and U-21s signing a professional contract at the age of 17.

On his release by Sheffield United Crofts headed to America for a scholarship at the University of Virginia. The Virginia Cavaliers are a renowned college soccer side in the States producing players such as Claudio Reyna and Sheffield Wednesday legend John Harkes.

Crofts impressed during his time with the Cavaliers, starting regularly and registering goals and assists aplenty. He was also named in the ACC All-Tournament team in 2019. This led to him being drafted in the Second Round of the MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC in 2021.

When Covid struck Crofts returned to South Yorkshire in January 2022 and joined local club Stocksbridge Park Steels but still has the ambition to make it as a professional player like his friend from his American university days West Brom’s Daryl Dike.

Crofts said: “I’m definitely still trying to play professionally, that is my goal, my focus. At Toronto it was hard getting a fair opportunity because they didn’t want to bring new people into the Covid bubble they already had. It was really hard for me to get a chance so I decided to come back to the UK.”

The wait for a big break goes on for Longley-based Crofts who said: “I am confident in my ability, it is just a waiting game at this point, I have got to keep focused. Danny Ellis and Danny Forrest told me what they intend for Guiseley and I immediately knew that I wanted to be a part of it. I sat down with them and I immediately liked what I was hearing.

“I want to push on, my aim is to work hard and create opportunities and be positive. We all want to get the club back to the National League North. I believe that I am a man of many talents and if I get thrown into something I will give it my all.

“Training started yesterday and I have been ready for that all summer, I loved it. I am fully focused on my aspirations to play full time. It is never too late.”