Factfile: Grant Hanley

Everything you need to know about Newcastle United's new signing Grant Hanley 

- Grant Hanley was born in Dumfries, in Scotland, on 20th November, 1991.

- He played in the youth set-ups at Queen of the South, Crewe Alexandra and Rangers, before moving south of the border to Blackburn Rovers in 2008, aged 16.

- Hanley rapidly rose through the ranks at Ewood Park, captaining Rovers' under-18s, and made his first team debut in May 2010, in a Premier League fixture at Aston Villa, while still only 18-years-old.

- In March 2011, the defender scored his first Blackburn goal, in a 3-2 defeat away at Fulham. However, nine months later he netted the winner in a memorable 3-2 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

- The 2011/12 campaign saw Hanley start to hold down a regular spot in the Rovers team, with 28 appearances in all competitions. However, despite a number of impressive performances, he was unable to prevent them from suffering relegation to the Championship.

- Hanley remained at Ewood Park despite their drop into the second tier and became one of the first names on the team sheet. He was appointed Blackburn captain in January 2014.

- In total, he made 201 appearances for the Lancashire club in all competitions, scoring nine goals.

- Hanley represented Scotland at under-19 and under-21 level before being handed his first senior cap in May 2011, against Wales in the Nations Cup, in Dublin.

- He netted his first international goal in a World Cup qualifier, also against Wales, in March 2013 at Hampden Park.