City have beaten a number of other clubs to secure the signing of centre-back Paudie O'Connor on a long-term contract.
The 24-year-old Irishman is a free agent this summer after the conclusion of his deal with Bradford City, and chose to join the Imps despite interest from across the EFL.
He said: "I wanted to pick somewhere I could develop and have the opportunity to play another 40 plus games a season, as I have over the past few years.
"My next career move needed to be right football-wise. I wanted to step up to League One and it’s clear there is a structure in place here to allow me to kick on.
"I've had a good couple of weeks off so feel rested and I'm just buzzing to get in for pre-season."
Imps head coach Mark Kennedy added: “Paudie was our No.1 target for this position and we are delighted to be able to announce him as our first signing of the summer. He has been in great demand and we have worked really hard to convince him that this is the right move for his career.
"Paudie is more than just a fantastic defender. He is also a leader and will have a massive role to play in what we want to achieve moving forward, on and off the pitch.”
Paudie will officially join the Imps on 1 July after the expiration of his contract with Bradford.