Sligo Rovers have signed former Northern Ireland underage international winger Daniel Kearns on an 18-month contract.
The 24-year-old began his career with West Ham United, who he played for at youth level between 2007 and 2010.
Kearns came to the SSE Airtricity League for the first time after signing with Dundalk in summer 2010. He enjoyed a successful 18 months at Oriel Park, playing in 49 games and scoring nine goals, which included a hat-trick at Windsor Park against Linfield.
Kearns' performances there earned him a move to Championship club Peterborough United on a three-year contact.
In 2013 and 2014 he had loan spells in League Two with both Rotherham United and Chesterfield, who he helped secure promotion.
Kearns spent the 2014-15 season with Carlisle United before returning to Ireland last October to sign for Glenavon in the NIFL Premiership. He has scored five goals in this 18 games with them since.
Sligo manager Dave Robertson expressed his delighted at Kearns' acquisition.
New @DKearns91 shirts ready for printing. Welcome to @sligorovers #exciting pic.twitter.com/Pych4QUJnd
— colin feo (@colinfeo14) July 5, 2016
“I am over the moon to secure the signing of Daniel, he is an exciting footballer," said Robertson. "He is an excellent attacking player and an exciting one to be working with. He's a player that I have been chasing to sign since I got here and it is magnificent to have secured him.
"There will be a chance for fans to get their first look tomorrow in Gavin Peers testimonial, he will play 45 minutes of that so fans can see him for the first time here. I am very, very excited to have him here and it is the type of signing we need to make to continue progressing.”
“He will bring versatility to us. He can play on the right and also higher up the pitch and as an attacker through the middle and on the wing.”
Sligo Rovers have also signed 19-year-old right-back Tobi Adebayo-Rowling on a new contract, which will keep him with Rovers until the end of the 2017 season.
The Brighton native joined The Bit o’Red at the start of the season from Peterborough United where he began his professional career and played five times.
His debut came on the opening night of the season at The Showgrounds against Shamrock Rovers.
