With the current SSE Airtricity League Premier Division not yet finished, Dundalk are already looking towards next season and have signed midfielder Chris Shields to a new two-year contract.
Shields is the club’s longest serving player alongside John Mountney, and like Mountney did last week, Shields has committed his future to the league champions.
Shields said: "It’s great to finally get it done. I am really happy to be signed for the next two years and to get everything sorted.
"I have had a great time here over the past few seasons and I want to continue that. I’m really enjoying my football now and want to keep that going."
The midfielder already has his eye on Europe next year and is hoping to help Dundalk make an impact on the Champions League.
"One thing we want to kick on is in Europe," he said. "We have been there the last 2 seasons and in the Champions League, after losing last year we feel that we have some unfinished business in the competition.
"We think we have something to prove and can go further than we had been. We can’t wait to get another crack at it."
Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny was full of praise for the midfielder and spoke of the improvement in Shields’ game since he came in.
“Chris has been a really influential over the last three seasons made a major contribution it has been great to see his development in that time.
"The main reason he is number five is because when he re-signed he was going to play beside Andy Boyle at centre-back, that was my initial plan but he has been a mainstay in midfield over the last three seasons.
“His all round game has really improved over the last couple of years. Richie Towell has 23 league goals and his attacking runs leaves huge spaces in our play and Chris Shields covers that quickly, it’s incredible how quickly he covers the grass.
"He anticipates danger really well. He is an extremely committed competitor, his passing has really improved. He was player of the year and I actually think he’s better now. His appreciation of the game has come on a lot.”
