The veteran centre-half, who has also interested Southampton and Leicester City in recent months, signed a two year contract with the League One club following talks with their new manager, Stan Ternent.

Lucketti joins former Scunthorpe defender Andy Butler at the Galpharm Stadium and left Bramall Lane, with a handsome tribute from Kevin Blackwell.

"Chris is a terrific professional and I sincerely wish him all the best for the future," the United manager said. "He's given this club good service and this is a wonderful opportunity for him.

"Huddersfield are a good club who have made some good signings, Chris being among them.

"I'm sure he'll become a real favourite there and we thank him for all his efforts."

Lucketti, aged 36, joined United on loan from Preston North End in March 2006 and completed a permanent £300,000 switch two months later.

Having started his career at Rochdale, he enjoyed a two-year spell at Huddersfield before moving to Deepdale in 2001.

Blackwell initially pledged to assess all of the options at his disposal before granting anyone permission to leave, but the capture of Sunderland's Greg Halford earlier this week accelerated Lucketti's departure.

Halford said: "Promotion is first and foremost here. It's a massive club with good players.

"It's going to be a tough season but promotion is definitely on the cards."

Meanwhile, United will be without the services of David Carney during the start of the Championship campaign after the Australia midfielder was named in his country's squad for the Beijing Olympics.

Carney is one of three over-age players in Pim Verbeek's party.

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