The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed free agent linebacker Solomon Elimimian to a contract. According to TSN's Farhan Lalji, the deal is a one-year contract.

He was released by the BC Lions last month.

The All-Star has spent his entire CFL career with the Lions, playing nine seasons and winning two Most Outstanding Defensive Player Awards (2014, 2016), and the 2014 Most Outstanding Player Award. Elimimian is the only defensive player in the modern era to win the MOP award.

He played in only four games last season after a wrist injury, finishing with 26 tackles.

CFL on TSN analyst Davis Sanchez said Elimimian will be the glue for a talented but fragmented defence, both culturally in the locker room and as the defensive signal caller.

Sanchez said former head coach Chris Jones built his defence prioritizing talent over cohesiveness and he would be the guy to keep the group together.

But with Jones now in Cleveland in the NFL, Elimimian is a huge addition for the team's defensive coordinator Jason Shivers.

Sanchez said the signing adds to the Roughriders' budding rivalry with the Lions with Elimimian becoming the second former Lions player, along with receiver Manny Arceneaux, who will likely one day be on the Lions Wall of Fame, to sign in Saskatchewan.

In 118 career regular season games, Elimimian has 745 tackles, 29 sacks, and eight interceptions.

The 32-year-old product of Hawaii won a Grey Cup with the Lions in 2011.