Wigan Athletic have confirmed that Jake Buxton has today left the club by mutual consent.

The Latics signed the veteran defender from Derby County last summer for an undisclosed fee. Buxton went on to make 39 Championship appearances for Wigan, scoring one goal as the club finished 23rd in the league table, suffering relegation back to League One after just one year back in the second division.

Buxton, who made his name as a bruising, body-on-the-line defender in his time with Derby, spent seven seasons with the Rams, eventually working his way into the first team and becoming a fan favourite in the East Midlands.

In 2013/14 season, Buxton played 45 league games as well as the Play-Offs as Derby narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League, losing to QPR at Wembley.

The 32-year-old also had spells with Midlands clubs Burton Albion and Mansfield Town early on in his career. The official Wigan Athletic website have reported that Buxton expressed his desire to move closer to his family, who reside in Nottinghamshire.

New Wigan boss Paul Cook told the club's website "we wish Jake all the best".

Wigan fans... Will Jake Buxton be a big loss? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!