SARACENS' protracted search for a young lock came to end this week when they announced they have secured the services of Tom Ryder.

The 20-year-old will arrive in the summer from Leicester Tigers on a two-year deal after turning down the offer of a new contract at Welford Road.

Despite the fact that Martin Johnson is set to hang up his boots at the end of the season, Ryder felt his chances of breaking into the first team at Leicester were going to be limited and Steve Diamond was quick to bring the 6ft 5 in England Under-19 lock to Vicarage Road to fortify his second-row options.

"Tom will be a great signing for us," said Diamond. "He will fulfil the compliment of four locks that we need, he is a big, big lad and has a great attitude.

"It was a difficult decision for him to leave Leicester but I told him that he was only going to part of the Leicester machine if he was good enough. At Saracens he will have a better chance of pushing the first-choice locks and he also has the chance to be part of something from the beginning, like Andy Farrell."

Ryder was recommended to Diamond by Mark Nelson, the Sale Sharks Academy Manager who doubled up as head coach of Orrell this season. Ryder joined Orrell on loan at the start of the year in a bid to get some experience under his belt and he impressed Nelson to such an extent that he was handed the captaincy.

Ryder is in the Leicester squad for the Zurich A League Final against London Wasps on Monday, but ironically made his senior debut as an 18-year-old against Saracens in the 19-19 draw at Vicarage Road in September 2003. Dean Richards gave his youngsters their head during the World Cup period but Ryder has only made two appearances since then and has not featured in the first-team this season.

Pat Howard, who will take over the reins from John Wells next season, was disappointed to lose the services of a player who joined the club's revered Academy at the age of 16, but understood his decision.

"He had a chat with myself and Richard Cockerill, and we put in our best offer and it wasn't enough," said Howard. "I don't think money was the only motivation. He could see he was down the pecking order."

The capture of Ryder ends the club's year-long pursuit of a lock to compliment the vastly experienced trio of Simon Raiwalui, Ian Fullarton and Kris Chesney.

Sale's Chris Day was the first target and he looked to set to join the mass exodus south to Vicarage Road last summer, but eventually opted to stay in the north west after failing to find a University that would enable him to transfer his studies.

Sarries then lined-up Andries Bekker, the giant South African second row, who made his Super 12 debut for Stormers against Highlanders earlier this month.

Rod Kafer, the then head coach, flew to Scotland to watch Bekker in action for South Africa in the Under-21 World Cup and was confident he had secured his services, but Bekker had a change of heart and opted to sign a new contract with Western Province last summer.

George Skivington also came close to agreeing a deal with the Men in Black last summer but news of his talks with Sarries quickly reached Warren Gatland, Wasps director of rugby, and he moved swiftly to tie the second row to a new deal.

Ryder becomes Sarries third summer signing, following in the footsteps of Andy Farrell and Alan Dickens, and Diamond is set to add just two players to his squad - an outside centre and a wing both from National League One.