The 31-year-old will become Darren Currie's first summer addition when his Pools contract expires on July 1^st.

Loach had signed for Hartlepool in June 2017 following his release from Notts County.

He had spent the previous two seasons on the books at Meadow Lane but gained National League experience during an impressive loan spell with York City towards the end of the 2016/17.

A junior with Ipswich Town, he began his professional career at Lincoln City in 2004 and went on to build senior experience with a succession of loan moves.

However, in 2006 his potential was spotted by Watford and he was nurtured through the ranks at Vicarage Road before making his Hornets debut at the start of the 2007/08 campaign.

He went on to make over 150 appearances for Watford during which his form earned by England recognition at under-21 level and a call-up to full international squads during the qualification for Euro 2012.

After spells at Ipswich Town and Rotherham United in the years that followed, he signed for Notts County in 2015 but was lured to Victoria Park in the summer of 2017.

Currie told https://www.barnetfc.com: "Really pleased to get it done and get him over the line. He had one or two options in the league but thankfully he's chosen us.

"We've had a number of conversations over recent weeks and he feels this is the right place for him to play.

"He comes in with a wealth of experience, he's a good size and brings one or two things that I felt we needed in terms of how we will organise the back four".