SHEFFIELD Speedway are delighted to confirm the signing of Californian star Ricky Wells for the 2012 season.

Wells arrives at Owlerton as one of several new faces in a revamped Sheffield Window Centre-backed team for the new Premier League campaign.

He will double-up with Elite League Wolverhampton after impressing with the Monmore Green side last season.

Tigers co-promoter David Hoggart is delighted to get his man after a fortnight of intense negotiations with the rider and Wolverhampton.

He said: “We all saw what Ricky can do when he guested for Poole in the Grand Final last year, when he was in the points in both legs. He just got better and better last season.

“He will add strength to the team and I’m sure the supporters will love him.

“Ricky’s a great racer and he knows this is a chance to make his mark in the Premier League. If he keeps up his progression then he’ll certainly become a solid heat-leader and could go on to knock on the no.1 door.

“He’s on a six-point average and there is no doubt he is capable of adding at least a point to that.

“He had half a dozen Premier League clubs chasing him and he stated from the off that he wanted to join Sheffield if at all possible and thanks to some co-operation between ourselves and Chris Van Straaten at Wolverhampton we’ve been able to make it happen.”