2026 Transfer Window

[RealJohn91]

I know last week Bohs were closing in on Hickey and Todd, are they any closer? Any word on anyone else coming in?
McDonnell was saying on his last podcast that a lot of clubs are probably waiting till the 30th when most contracts end

[Shinkicker]

McDonnell was saying on his last podcast that a lot of clubs are probably waiting till the 30th when most contracts end
Cheers for that, I'd like to see Bohs get their business done early and without loan players.

[Neish]

Back to Athlone maybe, if they're throwing out a few quid on experienced players

His dad and bother used to be regulars at Athlone but havn't gone now in several seasons due to the ownership structure, so I can't see him going back there. He be great in the First Division though

[Buckett]

Garry Buckley gone to Cobh

[nr637]

Niall O'Keeffe signs for Cork City after ending his contract with Cobh Ramblers.

[Nesta99]

Should merge the 2 clubs and become Cork County FC!

[Mr A]

Should merge the 2 clubs and become Cork County FC!

I like how you took the first 2 letters from Cobh and second 2 from Cork to merge the names in such an egalitarian manner

[Nesta99]

Makes perfect sense! and play out of PUiC...

[Shearer]

Seems that Kerry FC are going full time in 2026 and are raiding both Cobh Ramblers and Treaty United.

Pressure will be on to achieve the playoffs now.

[Stiof]

Dan McDonnell reporting James McClean to Derry a possibility:

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/james-mcclean-could-return-to-league-of-ireland-as-derry-city-planning-official-move/a1378938755.html

[joey B]

Alex Nolan signing for Sligo Rovers

[pineapple stu]

He's almost done the four corners of the country at this stage?

UCD, Pat's, Kerry, Athlone, somewhere up North, now Sligo

[listowelceltic]

Don't think he played with Kerry

[culloty82]

They're getting confused with Alex ​Dunne.

[2 Year Contract]

Yeah Alex Nolan has been at Shels, UCD, Pats, Cork and now Sligo, all since 2021

[pineapple stu]

They're getting confused with Alex ​Dunne.

I am, yep - Alex Dunne was also at UCD, but just did UCD, Kerry and Armagh

[joey B]

Luke Heeney leaving Drogheda

[RealJohn91]

James Clarke on his way to Dundee apparently

[donnrua]

Seems that Kerry FC are going full time in 2026 and are raiding both Cobh Ramblers and Treaty United.

Pressure will be on to achieve the playoffs now.

Who have they signed from Treaty?

[culloty82]

Nobody as of yet, maybe we'll hear more in December - in any case, the traffic has been very much in the opposite direction over the last two seasons!

[McDee]

Markey confirmed at Derry:

Darragh Markey 'excited' to challenge for silverware after completing Derry City move (https://www.derryjournal.com/sport/football/darragh-markey-excited-to-challenge-for-silverware-after-completing-derry-city-move-5412355)

[yurt]

Seems that Kerry FC are going full time in 2026 and are raiding both Cobh Ramblers and Treaty United.

Pressure will be on to achieve the playoffs now.

Is this something you heard from someone or has it been reported? Seems like it could be a step a year or two too early for Kerry. Maybe they could prove me wrong and investing now and being competitive in a weak first division could be smart move to increase support.

I really hope they aren't putting themselves in huge debt this early in their senior football life.

[culloty82]

Cian Murphy, at any rate, has signed from Cobh:

https://kerryfc.com/cian-murphy-becomes-colin-healys-second-signing-of-the-winter-transfer-window/?fbclid=IwY2xjawONeKJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9p ZA80MDk5NjI2MjMwODU2MDkAAR5SufXuNziIRUkjMMkpBLuSUH 0QgDnFCPMfEKDFHQcT6KoDBO6u7TaVj82cqA_aem_MglvrpqkH 3Oa8AbRTFcwow

Technically, Wall has enough of a personal fortune to underwrite the budget, but one presumes that there will only be new arrivals to offset the departures from earlier this month, with Hakkinen and Murphy direct replacements for McQueen and Cleary, for instance.

[Shearer]

Is this something you heard from someone or has it been reported?
I've heard it from sources I'd trust.

Wouldn't be shocked to see Karl O'Sullivan on the way to Kerry next. They've significantly increased their budget.

[2 Year Contract]

Pats have confirmed the sale of Brandon Kavanagh to Drogheda for an undisclosed fee. Pats paid a fee for him to Derry and I think Derry paid one for him to Rovers. Must be a record (or close to one) that an LOI player has gone 3 times for a fee within the league

[joey B]

Jeannot Esua departs Galway

[sessylU]

Pats have confirmed the sale of Brandon Kavanagh to Drogheda for an undisclosed fee. Pats paid a fee for him to Derry and I think Derry paid one for him to Rovers. Must be a record (or close to one) that an LOI player has gone 3 times for a fee within the league

Hmmmm, I wonder which player holds that record: highest cumulative transfer spend by LoI clubs. So not counting moves abroad.

Given that contracts are usually on the shorter side and players tend to see them out and then move, I reckon Kavanagh could be a good shout.

Tricky one to work out, given that sums aren't always published.

Sort of like when Robbie Keane was one of the most expensive players in the world, because he was always fulfilling his boyhood dream of signing for YOUR CLUB FC.

[joey B]

Waterford confirm departures of Ryan Burke, Grant Horton, Darragh Leahy, Ben McCormack, James Olayinka, Adam Queally, Kacper Radkowski, Jordan Rossiter & Brad Wade following the expiration of their contracts

Stephen McMullan & Conan Noonan also return to parent clubs following end of loan…

[placid casual]

Could be a good move for kavanagh to Drogs, he's a tidy player who can replace markey imo.
As for Noonan coming back to Rovers, with Mandriou out injured long term , it could be the right time for Conan to come back and stake his place in the Rovers midfield.

[legendz]

I've heard it from sources I'd trust.

Wouldn't be shocked to see Karl O'Sullivan on the way to Kerry next. They've significantly increased their budget.
As someone else said, all players who have come in so far have been direct replacements. Signings last winter didn't bring about the consistency needed to push for the playoffs. Will be hoping for better from signings this winter but no guarantees.
An increase in budget and no return doesn't end well. The last 8 league games without a win - a reflection of the mountain to climb. Miles off challenging for the playoffs.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Jeannot Esua departs Galway

Looks like he’s coming our way. Should be a good signing.

[D24Saint]

Could be a good move for kavanagh to Drogs, he's a tidy player who can replace markey imo.
As for Noonan coming back to Rovers, with Mandriou out injured long term , it could be the right time for Conan to come back and stake his place in the Rovers midfield.

He has a good pair of feet but has nowhere near the same work rate as Markey. That can be worked on and he could prove to be a good signing. He was frozen out at Pats at the end of last season and him moving on looked inevitable. I thought he was out of contract but maybe we had the option to extend his contract and Drogs bought us out of that of that.

[CorribsideSteve]

Looks like we're going to have to make about 10 new signings just to make up the squad numbers required for next season. Barely stayed up this year, we'll definitely be one of the weaker teams next year.

[RealJohn91]

Sam Todd to Bohs confirmed by the club

[legendz]

Ryan Kelliher commits to Kerry on a multi year deal. Quickly ends wild speculation around Cian Murphy's arrival.

[RealJohn91]

Sam Todd to Bohs confirmed by the club
Hickey confirmed too

[nr637]

Dylan McGlade (F) signs on for Cobh Ramblers 2026.
Cobh getting their squad together nicely now, Luka le bervet (D), Gary Buckley (D), Jason Abbott (M) & Brendan Frahill (D).
I think Timothy Martin (GK), Cian Coleman (D) & Shane Griffin (D) were on 2 year deals

[TonyD]

He has a good pair of feet but has nowhere near the same work rate as Markey. That can be worked on and he could prove to be a good signing. He was frozen out at Pats at the end of last season and him moving on looked inevitable. I thought he was out of contract but maybe we had the option to extend his contract and Drogs bought us out of that of that.

Yeah, he is good on the ball, good eye for a forward pass and good dead ball delivery too. Should be a good signing for Drogheda, and I could see him being the type who could come back to haunt Pats when we play them next season.

[nr637]

Can anyone explain what a 'multi-year deal' actually means or what ir could involve as I usually take it to be a player signs with a club for a fixed wage for a number of years with reviews for each year following!

[joey B]

Hickey confirmed too

Bohs are signing a type for sure! Was physicality a problem for you last season?

[Jolly Red Giant]

Bohs are signing a type for sure! Was physicality a problem for you last season?
Yes - there was a bit of a soft underbelly

[Jolly Red Giant]

Can anyone explain what a 'multi-year deal' actually means or what ir could involve as I usually take it to be a player signs with a club for a fixed wage for a number of years with reviews for each year following!
The details of any contract won't be made public - (basic + bonuses + extension or cancellation clauses + option clauses, etc) - the multi-year simply means that the contract covers at least 2026 and 2027, but possibly could be longer. In the LOI most deals would be one or two year deals (with a possible extension clause) - that is why there is so much of a merry go round in the LOI. EPL is different - clubs tie players into longer term contracts are part of their manipulation of the PSR (what will become SCR and SSR from next season) - its part of the reason why there tends to be so few players moving when out of contract (which becomes much more noticable as you go down the divisions to the point where the National League and lower is very similar to the LOI).

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

It means 99.9999999% of the time 2 years

[sessylU]

Reposting/quoting into the correct thread:


Derry not in talks with Sam Todd, so we can all assume he's definitely away to Bohs.
Chat of Ben Doherty following him, which would be strange. Always did the job for us, but maybe he's thinking he won't get as much game time next season, especially if McClean is coming in.

Yeah, another strange one. He's been great and definitely stepped up when he needed to. Suppose he has Fleming ahead of him. I wonder would his departure suggest that there is someone else lined up, McClean or otherwise.

I'm a bit uncomfortable with the quality that's leaving Derry. I suppose that's an inevitable part of upgrading your squad, though. You want better players, that letting go of good players to get better ones still means letting go of good players.

[2 Year Contract]

Galway have announced Vincent Borden, Regan Donelon, Bobby Burns and Jeremy Sivi have left the club. It’s more or less looking like an entire squad rebuild bar maybe a couple of players that they haven’t announced yet

[Buckett]

And yet Caulfield got a new two year contract

[Glen Of Aherlow]

Yes - there was a bit of a soft underbelly

That's something i think Pat's need to adress as well

[nr637]

And yet Caulfield got a new two year contract

Does that mean its 99.9999999% of the time 2 years of a multi-year contract! :confused:

[Buckett]

It means we're getting relegated!

[oriel]

It means 99.9999999% of the time 2 years

I think the multi year deal is effectively 1+1 years, meaning the club are in stronger position, but it can suit both, for example if player does not do well in first year, they can be released, all parties walk away. If player does well, it triggers year 2, but there is def something in this for the player as I think it also triggers an auto increase in wages / other terms for year 2.

No idea beyond this, for ex is if it goes to year 3, possibly deal would need to be adjusted at later stage.