2026 Transfer Window

[RealJohn91]

Have found some info on this guy actually! 23 goals for our U17s last season, as we almost won the league (Pat's denying us with a 96th minute winner on the last day). And actually I see he played as a sub against Dundalk for the first team, and made the bench a couple of other times. So I'd be surprised if he was involved in the first team for ye yet, but he could be a new Colm Whelan on the way. (Which of course will mean very different things for our two clubs!)
Well that sounds very promising! I heard Barry Murphy hyping him up as one of his players to watch during the last loi central of the season too.

[The Bowler]

Max Murphy Bray to Wexford, strange move, have Wexford come into a few quid ?

[ForzaForth]

Bowler, It's only the fifth of January, but that could be the most astute comment of the season!

[RealJohn91]

Max Murphy Bray to Wexford, strange move, have Wexford come into a few quid ?
He's not Premier quality, especially physically, so I'm not surprised he'll probably just bounce around clubs at that level.

[ger121]

Have found some info on this guy actually! 23 goals for our U17s last season, as we almost won the league (Pat's denying us with a 96th minute winner on the last day). And actually I see he played as a sub against Dundalk for the first team, and made the bench a couple of other times. So I'd be surprised if he was involved in the first team for ye yet, but he could be a new Colm Whelan on the way. (Which of course will mean very different things for our two clubs!)

Thanks for the info PS. One to watch I think.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Thanks for the info PS. One to watch I think.
Looks a decent player - hopefully he comes good in the next couple of seasons.

[Shinkicker]

Looks a decent player - hopefully he comes good in the next couple of seasons.
We'll need him to come good this season if we don't sign a few players soon.

[Jolly Red Giant]

We'll need him to come good this season if we don't sign a few players soon.
Yea - a lot of teams seem to be struggling getting players in

[D24Saint]

Yea - a lot of teams seem to be struggling getting players in

I wonder is cost of living and housing a factor ?

[ontheotherhand]

I wonder is cost of living and housing a factor ?

Absolutely. Our players tend to live together in shared housing unless they've been abroad and earned a bit previously. Id imagine most league one and even league two players in England can actually afford a mortgage? Hard to compete with that.

[D24Saint]

Al‑Amin Kazeem is back at Galway. He struggled with Pats tbh but if he can regain his form he will be a useful signing for Galway.

[Buckett]

I'd rather play with 10 men than have that rat in the team

[2 Year Contract]

I'd rather play with 10 men than have that rat in the team
Now now, play nice and he might even show you his photos from his 6 European trips ;)

Joking aside, despite being a poor enough player which resulted in him being a 2nd and often 3rd choice left back at Pats, you still can’t really blame him for going to Pats rather than Galway from Colchester. Particularly when you consider his bank balance is probably better off and he managed to make as many European appearances in 18 months as Galway have in their entire history and now he’s back where he was anyways where he’ll play regularly again. It’s not as if these sort of lads are going to be living off their LOI money when they retire so they may as well make hay while the sun shines

[Buckett]

Yeah, I'm still not having it.

[brendy_�ire]

Sadou Diallo has left Derry.
No word if he's back in England, or still thinking about going to Pat's.

[D24Saint]

Sadou Diallo has left Derry.
No word if he's back in England, or still thinking about going to Pat's.

We have been very quiet so far this years in terms of rumours never mind actual signings. He was linked to us at the end of last season but since that it has gone quiet. Perhaps our efforts to shift wasters like Mulraney is stopping us bring from new players in until we can get rid.

[sessylU]

Sadou Diallo has left Derry.
No word if he's back in England, or still thinking about going to Pat's.

Where are you seeing this?

[total hoofball]

Lewis Temple has left Shels to sign for Bolton rumoured to be a six figure fee involved though I can't see that is coming much above 100k

Tyriek Sammy (FW) and Taylor McCarthy (CB) from Shels' U20s have signed professional terms and both will immediately go out on loan for the season Sammy to Bray and McCarthy to Longford

[sbgawa]

Mulraney to Rovers supposed to be a done deal, cant say im over the moon but i would have felt the same about Danny Grant and Danny Mandroiu so hopefully a player not shooting the lights out for someone else can do it for us

[ger121]

Mulraney to Rovers supposed to be a done deal, cant say im over the moon but i would have felt the same about Danny Grant and Danny Mandroiu so hopefully a player not shooting the lights out for someone else can do it for us

I think he will do well for you lot. Bradley does seem to have a knack for getting the best out of players when they join the club.

[TVFBLOCKF]

Now now, play nice and he might even show you his photos from his 6 European trips ;)

Joking aside, despite being a poor enough player which resulted in him being a 2nd and often 3rd choice left back at Pats, you still can’t really blame him for going to Pats rather than Galway from Colchester. Particularly when you consider his bank balance is probably better off and he managed to make as many European appearances in 18 months as Galway have in their entire history and now he’s back where he was anyways where he’ll play regularly again. It’s not as if these sort of lads are going to be living off their LOI money when they retire so they may as well make hay while the sun shines

I have no particular issue with a player moving for a bit extra money or a chance to play in Europe but I do take issue with how you conduct yourself in trying to engineer that move and it was well known here in Galway that his behaviour around that time was atrocious. Some of the players were even hinting about on social media at the time. I'm surprised that Caulfield has gone back for him but probably an indication of where we are at when we are going back for him and Lomboto. It'll take a lot for Kazeem to win the fans back, he'll need to hit the ground running.

[2 Year Contract]

Coleraine are after Mark Coyle apparently. Would make sense geographically for him anyways

[joey B]

Coleraine are after Mark Coyle apparently. Would make sense geographically for him anyways

It’s done and dusted,thought it was pretty obvious that O’Brien didn’t see him as a starter last season not really a surprise….

[2 Year Contract]

It’s done and dusted,thought it was pretty obvious that O’Brien didn’t see him as a starter last season not really a surprise….

His game time dropped off in the league alright but he started all bar the first of their games in the conference league

[joey B]

His game time dropped off in the league alright but he started all bar the first of their games in the conference league

Yeah but did he play quite a few games in defence last season? I just get the impression that he probably wouldn’t be satisfied as the captain at his age to be not playing as a guaranteed starter in his preferred position….

[2 Year Contract]

Yeah but did he play quite a few games in defence last season? I just get the impression that he probably wouldn’t be satisfied as the captain at his age to be not playing as a guaranteed starter in his preferred position….
Yeah true, he did fill in at centre half in a few of the games I saw him in person playing against Pats come to think of it. You’re right in that if he was badly wanted at the club by O’Brien he’d probably still be there. Coleraine is a good move for him though with it being relatively close to home and they seem to be throwing around good money these days too

[nigel-harps1954]

An hour drive from home, and no away game more than 2.5 hours away from home, and a good wage while remaining in full time football. It's a no brainer really.

[nr637]

Cobh Ramblers confirm Cian Coleman, defender signs on for the 2026 season.

[total hoofball]

An hour drive from home, and no away game more than 2.5 hours away from home, and a good wage while remaining in full time football. It's a no brainer really.
I'm sure it's a no brainer for Coyle but I don't see what's in it for Shels to lose our captain brilliant footballer exemplary leader unless Coleraine have paid us some ridiculously stupid money which they may well have

The 2024 Shels title winning team from only 14 months ago lost it's mastermind last summer and is now is down to just 10 remaining members, in the Jamestown analytics algorithms we trust!

[desaintsno.12]

Absolutely delighted to have Jake Mulraney gone. A terrible professional, such a waste of talent.

[nr637]

Shane Griffin (Cork) has committed to Cobh Ramblers for the 2026 season, thats the two Shane Griffin's from Cork & Waterford added to the 2026 squad.
:) COYR

[2 Year Contract]

Cobh Ramblers confirm Cian Coleman, defender signs on for the 2026 season.

I can’t decide which is more mental, the fact that Cobh have a “market value” of their players on their website, or the fact that they think Cian Coleman is worth €75k :D

https://cobhramblers.ie/player/cian-coleman/

[nr637]

Cathal O'Sullivan, ex Cork City is in advanced talks to join Preston North End on a two-and-a-half-year contract.
Cathal O'Sullivan (18) became a free agent after his contract ended at the end of November, so City will only be entitled but to compensation for training and development under Fifa’s statutes.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41772440.html

[Nesta99]

Thought Cork and PNE were besties bailing them out and all! not helping much signing a player for token payment.

[culloty82]

Oran Crowe apparently a trialist for Cobh against Waterford today - certainly gave his all for Kerry last season, so very much a disappointment if he has indeed been released.

[joey B]

Barry Robson named manager of Cork City

[nr637]

Barry Robson named manager of Cork City

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2026/0111/1552559-former-aberdeen-boss-robson-takes-charge-of-cork-city/

[RealJohn91]

Bohs sign Ryan Burke from Waterford

[Shinkicker]

Bohs sign Ryan Burke from Waterford
I'll take that as a positive and a great addition to our defense. One more defender and we'll tighten the defense and not leak soft goals like last year.

[outspoken]

Been a keen admirer of Burke the last few seasons, good signing that

[2 Year Contract]

Yeah Burke is solid squad depth for Bohs, I’m surprised it took him until now to get a club. There are a few other lads like Darragh Leahy that I’m surprised haven’t picked up a club yet

[2 Year Contract]

Dundalk have signed Rob Cornwall. Bit of a risk there with it being an Astro pitch and the word being that Bohs didn’t re-sign him as his knee isn’t in great shape anymore. If the knee can holdup then it’s a decent signing for them I suppose

[2 Year Contract]

Looks like shels are about to break the record fee paid by a LOI club. They’ve had bids of 50k and 75k turned down for Cliftonville defender Odhran Casey but it looks like the deal will be done apparently. You’d imagine the fee will surpass the current record of 80k that Drogheda paid to Bray for Eamon Zayed in 2006

https://www.thesun.ie/sport/16376257/shelbourne-cliftonville-odhran-casey-joey-obrien/

[pineapple stu]

That's the current record? Wow

Is Robbie Benson still unattached? Be great to see him link up with Ronan Finn, but that's probably hoping too much!

[ontheotherhand]

That's the current record? Wow

Is Robbie Benson still unattached? Be great to see him link up with Ronan Finn, but that's probably hoping too much!

I think it is yeah. Which is mad considering how much the transfer fees received have jumped in recent years. I'd expect a club to break 100k for a transfer in the next season or 3. We will probably have to if we want to kick on in Europe, when you look at what the likes of Celje do each year.

Is Finner definitely staying with UCD? We have a vacancy at Rovers....

[nr637]

Yes, you will be disappointed as Oran Crowe has signed on with Cobh for the 2026 season.

[pineapple stu]

Is Finner definitely staying with UCD? We have a vacancy at Rovers....
Well he scored against Athlone in our first pre-season friendly at the weekend, so I'm guessing so based on that

[2 Year Contract]

Looks like shels are about to break the record fee paid by a LOI club. They’ve had bids of 50k and 75k turned down for Cliftonville defender Odhran Casey but it looks like the deal will be done apparently. You’d imagine the fee will surpass the current record of 80k that Drogheda paid to Bray for Eamon Zayed in 2006

https://www.thesun.ie/sport/16376257/shelbourne-cliftonville-odhran-casey-joey-obrien/

The Belfast telegraph now saying that it looks like this will be done today for a fee of £100k, or around €115k, including the add ons. The boom is back!

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/irish-league/league-of-ireland-side-set-to-pay-six-figure-sum-for-in-demand-cliftonville-ace/a494466506.html (https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/irish-league/league-of-ireland-side-set-to-pay-six-figure-sum-for-in-demand-cliftonville-ace/a494466506.html)

[2 Year Contract]

Well he scored against Athlone in our first pre-season friendly at the weekend, so I'm guessing so based on that

Might not be there for too much longer by the looks of things

https://www.thesun.ie/sport/16383804/shamrock-rovers-ronan-finn-stephen-mcphail-bradley/

[Nesta99]

I think it is yeah. Which is mad considering how much the transfer fees received have jumped in recent years. I'd expect a club to break 100k for a transfer in the next season or 3. We will probably have to if we want to kick on in Europe, when you look at what the likes of Celje do each year.

Is Finner definitely staying with UCD? We have a vacancy at Rovers....

Im not sure its that mad. Clubs that have forked out significant domestic transfer fees pretty much ended up in trouble no too long down the line (which i suppose is nearly everyone).