James Brown has completed a free transfer to Blackburn Rovers from Drogheda United.
The defender recently took part in a three-day trial at Ewood Park and despite reported interest from a number of League of Ireland clubs and League One Bristol City, Brown will now link up with Tony Mowbray's Championship side.
The 23-year-old full-back joined Drogheda in November 2018 and made 59 appearances for the Louth club.
His performances for United had earned him a spot on the 2021 PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year, while he made the First Division selection in 2020.
"It’s an unbelievable beginning to 2022 and I can’t wait to get started," Brown told RoversTV.
"Since I first came over in December, I’ve been itching for this deal to get done.
"It’s been a crazy last few weeks, I wasn’t thinking about Christmas really because my full focus has been on getting something with Rovers. Christmas dragged by and I just tried to keep myself ticking over and staying fit.
"I was nervous and excited when I first came over from Ireland, but I got here, met the lads and met Darragh [Lenihan], who’s from a place that’s five minutes away from me in Ireland.
"He settled me in really quickly, the lads are all great here and I felt comfortable after the first couple of hours. That really helped me when I got out onto the pitch. I felt comfortable and really enjoyed the experience."
🗣 James Brown: "I had offers in Ireland and had pressure to make a decision. But this was the number one goal, I had to grab the trial with both hands."
— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) January 6, 2022
📺 Watch the full interview on RoversTV, soon.#Rovers 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/aFF2AiWqCH
Brown believes that he is in a good position to take advantage of the opportunity afforded to him.
"A lot of lads go over to England when they're younger and then end up coming back to Ireland.
"It was different for me, I had a few trials that didn’t work out but everything happens for a reason, and I feel I’m mature enough now to take on the challenge.
"I had offers in Ireland and had pressure to make a decision. But this was the number one goal, I had to grab the trial with both hands."
Rovers are currently second in the Championship, three points behind leaders Bournemouth.
