Baird joins the Reds from St Albans Saints, which earned promotion in NPLV2 West this year.

The 22-year-old kept seven clean sheets and was selected in the competition’s team of the year.

Baird will have a goalkeeper coaching role with the Ballarat Red Devils Academy as well  being first-choice senior goalkeeper.

Coach Danny Gnjidic said Baird was a great addition to the squad.

“His credentials speak for themselves and he's joined the club with the belief that we are on the right path to achieve success over the next couple of years,” he said.

Baird is from Wollongong in NSW. He went to the United Kingdom as the age of 16, only returning to Australia this year.

While in the UK Baird played with Derby County and Newcastle United youth teams in England,  Dundee seniors in the Scottish Premier League and Gateshead in the English Conference.

He received a call up to the Young Socceroos squad in 2012-13.

Reds senior football director Andrew Burgess said Baird’s signing clearly signalled the club’s intention to move the squad forward.

“He is a quality young man with an impressive record of achievement. We believe he will play a significant role at the club over the coming years,” Burgess said.