Kevin O'Connor has gone back to Cork City on loan until the summer.
The defender moved to Preston North End in July, 2017. He joined Crewe Alexander last August on a loan deal that expired last month, and now comes back to Turner's Cross in time for next week's opening league clash against St Pat's.
"I’m happy; everybody knows how I feel about this club, so it is great to be back," the 23-year-old told CorkCityFC.ie.
"I’ve been in training with the lads, so I am looking forward to getting my head down, working hard and going again.
"There are still a good few of the lads here from when I was here before, and the new lads seems bang on. It seems like a really good bunch and hopefully things will go well on the pitch.
"I want to get games, that is my main target, but we want to be challenging up around the top of the table as well. I am just hoping to come back, work hard and play as many games as possible."
Sligo Rovers have confirmed the signing of Daryl Fordyce, while Waterford have landed Lithuania international Karolis Chvedukas ahead of the 2019 SSE Airtricity League season.
Former Linfield and Glentoran player, Fordyce, joins from FC Edmonton where he spent six years, ending when the club suffered difficulties from the change in league format.
The experienced 32-year-old can operate in a midfield and attacking role, including striker, and joins on a one-year contract.
"It is great to clinch the deal today," said Fordyce. "I played 90 minutes last Saturday in Athlone which was great for me and showed I have that fitness. I hope to do something similar against Longford."
The Belfast native had to take time away from football last year for family matters.
"Family came first for me last year, that was my priority and the way it transpired meant I couldn’t join a club. It was a hard year for all of us but it’s over and I’m focusing on the future. I think that this can be a brilliant move."
"Daryl brings a wealth of experience and a real composure and quality on the ball," said Buckley.
"He has impressed in the week he has been with us. It’s a great move from our end because it’s an area we’ve had to strengthen in and I think in Daryl we have a really good player to do that. He can offer a number of options."
Meanwhile, new Waterford signing, Karolis Chvedukas [pictured above], has been capped 19 times for his country and joins the south coast club having spent the 2018 season with Dundalk.
The midfielder, who is returning to fitness after a mid-season operation, has played in the top flight in Lithuania, as well as spells in Poland and Croatia.
"I had a good chat with Alan [Reynolds] and made the decision to come to Waterford," said Karolis.
"I've been working hard on my recovery from the operation with the help of Danny [Miller] at Dundalk and I can't thank him enough.
"It's going well, I'm back on the pitch and I can't wait to get playing again. That's the most important thing at the moment to work on my recovery and my fitness and help the team."
"We're really happy to bring Karolis to the club," said Waterford manager Alan Reynolds.
"He's a great reader of the game and likes to keep the ball moving, so will give us good options going forward. He's got lots of experience from playing in Europe too so that will stand to us as a group of players."
