2026 Transfer Window

[EatYerGreens]

Likely a right back and a centre half would be the additions we most likely need now at this stage. Every other base is well covered.

Have you a back-up keeper?

[2 Year Contract]

Emre Topcu has left Longford and signed for Iskenderunspor in the Turkish 3rd tier

[ontheotherhand]

Have these kind of signings ever worked?

Which type? There's a few different kinds floating around!

We've got:

1. Aging international coming back for their last rodeo (On paper McLean is a great signing)
2. Troubled/Declining superstar tumbling down the leagues and needing a reset (Dele Alli would be an utterly bizarre signing)
3. Data driven signings from leagues we don't usually target (TBD but I'm keen to see how if pans out)

And that's just in the past 24 hours.

I think the Jamestown Analytics stuff is being proven fairly useful at Hearts isn't it?

[Nesta99]

It’s private stuff that he made public a couple of years ago in an interview with Gary Neville. He had an incredibly difficult upbringing including being sexually abused, dangled off a bridge, selling drugs from the age of 8, fast forward to adult life including an addiction to sleeping pills and a host of mental health issues. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jul/13/dele-alli-sexually-abused-drug-dealing-as-a-child-sleeping-pill-addiction-rehab-everton

I watched the interview at the time it came out and it’s a tough watch. If I recall correctly a journalist discovered that he was in rehab and was going to run that story so Dele felt he was better off just opening up on his life by doing that interview instead

It was tough stuff indeed, recall being impressed by his candour and also that he got near the heightis in football that he did. Did know at the time his troubles were being outed but he did the right thing. A right dirtbag thing to do by the journalist, sports journo or a soap gossip columist...


Shels signed a striker from the third division in Portugal. I guess we'll see if this data recruitment works here like it has elsewhere now.

I thought that footage of the American player on trial at Harps and commenting on the different intensity levels even in training gave a different perspective on my own thinking that there has to be somewhere to tap in to. If this chap was saying the level he was playing at (Spanish third tier), training a couple of times a week + a game then thats why we dont get too many hail mary signings to solve the lack of clinical strikers in the league. But find one and everyone will have a go even in a scattergun way.


Which type? There's a few different kinds floating around!

We've got:

1. Aging international coming back for their last rodeo (On paper McLean is a great signing)
2. Troubled/Declining superstar tumbling down the leagues and needing a reset (Dele Alli would be an utterly bizarre signing)
3. Data driven signings from leagues we don't usually target (TBD but I'm keen to see how if pans out)

And that's just in the past 24 hours.

I think the Jamestown Analytics stuff is being proven fairly useful at Hearts isn't it?

Listening to certain people at Dundalk the last decade rattle on about analytics had me scoffing at the model. Brentford had a good scouting system and top youth development, less of the analytics and more just old fashioned good work that was well managed and built upon year on year, a Charlton of their EPL vintage that were the model club before it went bad. Hearts seems a better example of quick success without breaking any bank in realtive terms but Old Frim have been pretty bad too so not totally convinced yet on moneyball bar it being a good film. Midtjylland gets a mention but they were playoff materiel in Europe and top 3 dometically already before the whole Brentford analytics connection so which came first, money, success, better staff and prep and then the stats...

I think McClean i a goo igning and its a homecoming rather than a last payday, he obviously loves his hometown club. There are no shortages of last chance saloon players turning up in LoI, not too many of this calibre, usually kids that 'fell out of love with the game'. A few forged a career here or Irish League, Sean Murray, Will Patching 2 players that could and should have torn up LoI and kicked on. Doubt there is much in the rumour. If some chap is scoring 25+ goals in senior full time or semi pro they are all the stats needed to have a look imo. Though maybe Northenr and Central European signings might adapt better.

[pineapple stu]

Which type? There's a few different kinds floating around!

We've got:

1. Aging international coming back for their last rodeo (On paper McLean is a great signing)
2. Troubled/Declining superstar tumbling down the leagues and needing a reset (Dele Alli would be an utterly bizarre signing)
3. Data driven signings from leagues we don't usually target (TBD but I'm keen to see how if pans out)

And that's just in the past 24 hours.

I think the Jamestown Analytics stuff is being proven fairly useful at Hearts isn't it?
Fair - there's a bit of a bingo card going lately.

The random signing from lower tier foreign football. I think they've almost without exception been flops. If there's data behind it, I guess my cynical view would be why hasn't someone better signed him?

Agree on the other two alright.

[BigEars]

Fair - there's a bit of a bingo card going lately.

The random signing from lower tier foreign football. I think they've almost without exception been flops. If there's data behind it, I guess my cynical view would be why hasn't someone better signed him?

Agree on the other two alright.

Fair questions, but you could have said similar about Claudio Braga before he signed for Hearts.

Not that I'm saying this will be a guaranteed success or anything, the jury will very much be out until he can show he can get goals at this level.

[ontheotherhand]

Fair - there's a bit of a bingo card going lately.

The random signing from lower tier foreign football. I think they've almost without exception been flops. If there's data behind it, I guess my cynical view would be why hasn't someone better signed him?

Agree on the other two alright.

Yeah I've no idea how it works tbf. I do think it's worth trying though. We don't have real scouting networks here, so teams are relying on Wyscout for the most part I think. Shel's are trying to go a level deeper so we'll see how it pans out. We do need to find a new way to find and attract talent here. It's a strange league we have, with relatively low wages given versus a relatively high cost of living.

Most of Rovers best signings have been from two buckets really:

1. Lads needing a reset/coming home after England/Scotland (Burke, Byrne, Gaffney)
2. Prospects from within the LoI (Grace, Pico, Honohan, O'Neill, Farrugia, Noonan etc.)

There's only so many to go after, and if we want to get to another level in Europe, we need to find some other markets imop. Kudos to Shels for giving something new a try. Will be interesting.

[bohsmug]

Fair - there's a bit of a bingo card going lately.

The random signing from lower tier foreign football. I think they've almost without exception been flops. If there's data behind it, I guess my cynical view would be why hasn't someone better signed him?

Agree on the other two alright.

Chorazka was playing 2nd Division football before signing for Bohs.
They do mostly seem to fade into obscurity though, with relatively short lived and forgettable stints here. Often a name you forget until you see an old photo/match report or something like that.

[brendy_éire]

Have you a back-up keeper?

No. There were rumours a month ago, but no word.

[yurt]

Shels signed a striker from the third division in Portugal. I guess we'll see if this data recruitment works here like it has elsewhere now.

Now this is exactly the kind of signing I was hoping we'd see in the LOI after Shels got access to Jamestown Analytics. I wouldn't be hopeful of your man being any good only for the fact that it was this software that identified him.

[total hoofball]

The Swedish and Portuguese players Shels have signed are analytics driven experiments nobody can have any expectations over how they will work out, this will be interesting to watch if they hit the ground running. I'm just surprised Shels by LOI standards have paid a decent enough transfer fee for the Portuguese fella even if there is money left over from the Temple and Coyle transfer fees

Jamestown with Shels are branching downwards on the footballing chain after consistent positive returns at higher levels with Brighton, USG, Como and Hearts so it is important for them how the Shels partnership works out at this level, even if these two signings don't work out I'm sure they will try more data driven signings during the next two transfer windows

[RealJohn91]

Bohs signed Sadou Diallo from Derry. A nice surprise to start the day, didn't even hear any speculation about this.

[2 Year Contract]

So Pats supposedly outbid Derry for Ronan Boyce, Derry outbid Bohs for James Clarke and Bohs outbid Derry and Pats for Sadou Diallo. What a league :D

[Burnsie]

wait til you hear how many clubs are in a tie for the fourth largest budget

[Shinkicker]

So Pats supposedly outbid Derry for Ronan Boyce, Derry outbid Bohs for James Clarke and Bohs outbid Derry and Pats for Sadou Diallo. What a league :D
That one came out of the blue. A really good signing who will certainly add to the strength in depth of the squad

[ontheotherhand]

So Pats supposedly outbid Derry for Ronan Boyce, Derry outbid Bohs for James Clarke and Bohs outbid Derry and Pats for Sadou Diallo. What a league :D

Were Derry trying to keep Diallo? Heard he was leaving a while back...but to Pats!

Derry outbid Rovers for Clarke as well.

Diallo is a great signing for bohs imop. Think he has more in him than he showed at Derry.

Very quiet on our front. We seem to be missing targets. Possibly also waiting to see what happens with Noonan. Need Finn in asap to help as we need a striker, wingback and centre half to be properly set up I think.

[WeAreRovers]

Were Derry trying to keep Diallo? Heard he was leaving a while back...but to Pats!

Derry outbid Rovers for Clarke as well.

Diallo is a great signing for bohs imop. Think he has more in him than he showed at Derry.

Very quiet on our front. We seem to be missing targets. Possibly also waiting to see what happens with Noonan. Need Finn in asap to help as we need a striker, wingback and centre half to be properly set up I think.

Two more imminent, at least one is a centre-half.

[ontheotherhand]

Two more imminent, at least one is a centre-half.

Good to hear. Would be nice going into the season with at least one more wingback as well. Heard one very encouraging rumour of a player who can cover both roles. Fingers crossed.

[2 Year Contract]

Were Derry trying to keep Diallo? Heard he was leaving a while back...but to Pats!

Derry outbid Rovers for Clarke as well.

Diallo is a great signing for bohs imop. Think he has more in him than he showed at Derry.

Very quiet on our front. We seem to be missing targets. Possibly also waiting to see what happens with Noonan. Need Finn in asap to help as we need a striker, wingback and centre half to be properly set up I think.

Tiernan Lynch was quoted multiple times after the season ended saying he wants to keep Diallo and a contract was on the table for him. After it reached mid December with Diallo still not signing the contract for whatever reason (I guess money reasons as he had interest from Pats too, because there’s no other real reason he’d leave Derry for Bohs if it wasn’t money) Lynch seemed to move on and signed Olayinka then. Telling that Derry only today released a statement announcing Diallo left the club wishing him well, while they did similar before Christmas for the other lads who had left the club at the end of their contracts which ran until the end of November

[ontheotherhand]

Tiernan Lynch was quoted multiple times after the season ended saying he wants to keep Diallo and a contract was on the table for him. After it reached mid December with Diallo still not signing the contract for whatever reason (I guess money reasons as he had interest from Pats too, because there’s no other real reason he’d leave Derry for Bohs if it wasn’t money) Lynch seemed to move on and signed Olayinka then. Telling that Derry only today released a statement announcing Diallo left the club wishing him well, while they did similar before Christmas for the other lads who had left the club at the end of their contracts which ran until the end of November

Fair enough. Can't see bohs outbidding Derry for a player Lynch really wanted at the moment tho tbh.

[dcfc_legend9]

Reality is Lynch didn't want either Ronan Boyce or Sadou Diallo that much. He offered them contracts but there was no real desire to keep either.

Both where fan favourites so it was easier for Lynch to say he offered them a contract and they didn't want to stay rather than not offering them contracts at all.


I was sad to see Boyce go as I still feel he was quality. Diallo Will do a decent job for Bohs in a midfield with Devoy and Tierney.

[ontheotherhand]

Reality is Lynch didn't want either Ronan Boyce or Sadou Diallo that much. He offered them contracts but there was no real desire to keep either.

Both where fan favourites so it was easier for Lynch to say he offered them a contract and they didn't want to stay rather than not offering them contracts at all.


I was sad to see Boyce go as I still feel he was quality. Diallo Will do a decent job for Bohs in a midfield with Devoy and Tierney.

That's what I was getting at. Surprised by it tbh. Diallo looked quality when I saw him. Why do you think Lynch wasn't too pushed? Just had a better option lined up?

[dcfc_legend9]

That's what I was getting at. Surprised by it tbh. Diallo looked quality when I saw him. Why do you think Lynch wasn't too pushed? Just had a better option lined up?

I'd likely just say he wanted to put his own stamp on the team. He inherited both Boyce and Diallo and potentially just didn't fancy them.

Derry have Dummigan, Winchester, O'Reilly, Olayinka, Markey, Clarke along with McClean and Doherty who can potentially play in the middle. So we are fairly stacked there now at this stage. Game time may have been limited for Diallo.

The Boyce decision I'd assume he has a right back coming in unless he wants Dummigan to be his right back.

[brendy_éire]

Diallo is a great signing for bohs imop. Think he has more in him than he showed at Derry.

Not sure about that. On his day, he's brilliant. Can control a midfield, create space, get passes away, and scores the other cracker (see Waterford at home last season).
However, for too many games, he went missing. He'd end up anonymous, bypassed by the ball.
Overall, I think we saw at Derry the levels Bohs can expect. FWIW, I'd have kept him, but presumably the money and lack of game time didn't appeal to him.
I'm surprised he didn't get a deal he wanted over in Britain, but then LoI clubs are likely playing a bit over the odds for British players these days.

[desaintsno.12]

I have been gutted about losing out on Diallo to Bohs, I had him down as a massive signing. Interesting that Derry fans arent overly fussed about losing him.

[WeAreRovers]

Not sure about that. On his day, he's brilliant. Can control a midfield, create space, get passes away, and scores the other cracker (see Waterford at home last season).
However, for too many games, he went missing. He'd end up anonymous, bypassed by the ball.
Overall, I think we saw at Derry the levels Bohs can expect. FWIW, I'd have kept him, but presumably the money and lack of game time didn't appeal to him.
I'm surprised he didn't get a deal he wanted over in Britain, but then LoI clubs are likely playing a bit over the odds for British players these days.

This is why I was always a big fan of Diallo and then we signed Matt Healy.

[ontheotherhand]

Not sure about that. On his day, he's brilliant. Can control a midfield, create space, get passes away, and scores the other cracker (see Waterford at home last season).
However, for too many games, he went missing. He'd end up anonymous, bypassed by the ball.
Overall, I think we saw at Derry the levels Bohs can expect. FWIW, I'd have kept him, but presumably the money and lack of game time didn't appeal to him.
I'm surprised he didn't get a deal he wanted over in Britain, but then LoI clubs are likely playing a bit over the odds for British players these days.

Obviously your opinion carriers more weight here, having watched him week in week out, but my fear is that Derry didn't always play to Diallos strengths. Much more goes through the middle at bohs, with Devoy being their architect. Derry, at least in the games I watched, tend to prioritise Duffy getting the ball and rightly so. As you said Diallo can control the midfield and is good on the ball. Himself and Devoy could be very dangerous. Hopefully I'm wrong.

[brendy_éire]

.....Derry didn't always play to Diallos strengths. Much more goes through the middle at bohs, with Devoy being their architect... Himself and Devoy could be very dangerous.

That's a fair point, but moreso for last season than ones before, due to Duffy being fit all year.
Diallo and Devoy could be great combination, an awkward one for defenders.

Worth pointing out that Diallo does Ramadan properly, so he will have a drop in performance during it. With the dates of it this year, shouldn't be as much of an issue for Bohs though.

[nigel-harps1954]

Finn Harps confirmed the signings of Portguese winger Bernardo Monteiro, French defender Alex Fanle and Swiss midfielder Perrault Tokam.

[ontheotherhand]

Finn Harps confirmed the signings of Portguese winger Bernardo Monteiro, French defender Alex Fanle and Swiss midfielder Perrault Tokam.

Fantastic. I hope Shels have a mole who is sharing the data with you.

[Longfordian]

Harps must have a house that they fill with randomers every year. Like a LOI Big Brother.

[nigel-harps1954]

Harps must have a house that they fill with randomers every year. Like a LOI Big Brother.

Couple of the imports get their own places, to be fair. Brazilian goalkeeper and his wife got themselves their own apartment and the wife works locally too.

[brendy_éire]

Few rumours from the Derry Journal; Barry Cotter, Henry Rylah and Shane Duffy.

Henry Rylah coming on loan from Charlton to Derry. Definitely the sort of player LoI clubs should be looking at for loans.

Barry Cotter would be a decent one, even if it's just a short loan.

The Shane Duffy one has been doing the rounds for a couple of years now. I'll believe it when I see it.

[2 Year Contract]

Barry Cotter would be a great signing. He was an absolute joy to watch while with Pats when he was last in the league. A really exciting player on the ball

[nigel-harps1954]

With James McClean at Derry now, and they're realistically short a centre half, you'd think Shane Duffy, at 34 years old, isn't completely out of the question at this point, considering he's only played four games for Norwich this season.

[SwanVsDalton]

I have been gutted about losing out on Diallo to Bohs, I had him down as a massive signing. Interesting that Derry fans arent overly fussed about losing him.

I am - a lovely, lovely player to watch when he's purring. One of the most naturally gifted midfielders in the league imo. He had some issues with consistency but basically if he was motoring, Derry were motoring.

[sessylU]

I thought he was great. Really intelligent player who never seems to be in trouble. Other midfielders catch the eye because they look like they do a lot because of all the hustle and bustle they have to do and it looks like they're working hard to dig an opportunity out of nothing. You don't see that with Diallo because it's rarely necessary. He's always in the right place to receive the ball and usually knows where it's going when he does. Gorgeous footballer.

When it's working, he sort of reminds me if Kante at Leicester where you'd be watching a match and you'd swear there's two of him.

I thought Diallo and Winchester was a brilliant pairing. Winchester deep, anyone you like at number 10, and Diallo to make it work.

I agree with a previous comment that Derry didn't always play in a way that made use of his talents.

[nigel-harps1954]

Ronan Finn departing UCD to take up Director of Football role at Shamrock Rovers, vacated by Stephen McPhail.

[ontheotherhand]

Ronan Finn departing UCD to take up Director of Football role at Shamrock Rovers, vacated by Stephen McPhail.

Thought it would be a few seasons from now before it happened but it was always gonna happen. Great to have him back. Hope he keeps a pair of boots handy.

[Shearer]

Ronan Finn departing UCD to take up Director of Football role at Shamrock Rovers, vacated by Stephen McPhail.
Finn stepping away from UCD in taking up his new role with Shamrock Rovers, as you'd expect.

And yet there's some dim people that think Lee J Lynch should have feet in both Limerick FC and Treaty United.

[ger121]

McEneff leaving Rovers for the Glens is not one I had on the transfer bingo card.

[ontheotherhand]

McEneff leaving Rovers for the Glens is not one I had on the transfer bingo card.

We need the space. Think he was offered to Pats as part of the Mulraney deal so was expecting him to leave. Glad he ended up leaving the league instead. Absolutely fantastic player in his first spell, probably the best box to box midfielder in Ireland, but never really got back to that level in the second. Hope the move goes well for him.

[TonyD]

wait til you hear how many clubs are in a tie for the fourth largest budget

Thats the really prestigious title every club wants :D

[brendy_éire]

Derry have signed a Portuguese winger, Kévin dos Santos from Atletico Ottawa.
Complete unknown and very random. Ottawa won the Canadian league last year, if that's anything to go by.

I believe that's our first EU signing since Brexit too.

https://www.derrycityfc.net/2026/01/bem-vindo-kevin-dos-santos/

[sessylU]

Feel a bit underwhelmed by that signing, but not sure why. I know nothing about Atletico Ottawa, apart from their awful name, or the Canadian League, but somehow I feel pretty certain that he'll be ****e.

[nr637]

Any Premier & First team squad updates available, with in & outs for 2026! 🤔

[2 Year Contract]

Sligo have agreed to sell Owen Elding to Hibs last night according to Jessica Farry in the Independent. Surprised at that one considering the asking price was supposedly set to be over a million, while Hibs transfer record was 700k in 2001 until they signed a lad in July for 1.15-1.20 million.

EDIT: just seeing now that the fee is a six figure sum, with add ons that could see it rise ‘significantly’ whatever amount that is

[Nesta99]

rise to 7 figures it seemss, Would have kept Longford running for 70 year!

[placid casual]

They should have held out for more, much more. He's a real prospect

[RealJohn91]

Bohs sign ex-Dundalk defender Senan Mullen on loan from Torino till the end of the season.