Cobblers close to signing former Peterborough United defender Zakuani

The DR Congo international was released by Posh at the end of last season, and it is understood he will become Cobblers boss Rob Page’s fifth signing at Sixfields.

The 30-year-old was a big favourite with the Peterborough supporters after two stints at London Road in which he made 253 appearances and scored nine goals, but boss Grant McCann has deemed him surplus to requirements as he sets about reshaping the Posh squad following a disappointing campaign.

Zakuani, who is set to sign a three-year deal at Northampton, began his career at Leyton Orient, making 98 appearances for the Os before being sold to Fulham for £1m in July, 2006.

He struggled to make his mark at Craven Cottage and played just twice for the west London club, and after loan spells at Stoke City and Peterborough, he was signed permanently by Posh in January, 2009, for £380,000.

In a successful six-year stint at London Road he made almost 200 starts before leaving in 2014 to play for Kalloni in the Greek League.

It was a short-lived stint abroad for Zakuani though, and he returned to Peterborough in the summer of 2014. His second spell with Posh didn’t go as smoothly as his first, although he still did make 27 appearances last season in Sky Bet League One.

Zakuani, who turned 30 in May, also has international pedigree having won 22 caps for Democratic Republic of the Congo, and played in the 2013 African Cup of Nations.

He also has history with the Cobblers, making his Peterborough debut against Northampton in a 1-1 draw at Sixfields in September, 2008, and being sent off the last time the two sides met in a competitive encounter in March, 2009 - Posh still going on to win the match 1-0.

Zakuani was a key player in two Peterborough promotion campaigns from League One in 2009 and 2011, and has clearly caught the eye of Town boss Page, who was a central defender in his playing career.