Bohemians have secured the return of midfielder Dawson Devoy on a multi-year contract.
Devoy, 22, returns to Dalymount Park where he made his breakthrough in senior football, and is the sixth addition to Alan Reynolds' squad in the July transfer window following the return of Ross Tierney and additions of Leigh Kavanagh, Archie Meekison, Alex Greive and Lee Smith.
It's a major boost for Bohs after a run of one win in 11 matches and they face the possibility of being dragged into the relegation play-off picture if results don't improve.
Having come through at Home Farm and St Kevin's, Devoy progressed through the Bohemians academy where he was a key man for the Bohs Under-19s - most notably in the UEFA Youth League - and was handed his first-team debut by Keith Long five years ago yesterday as a substitute against UCD.
His real breakthrough season with the first team came in 2021 which saw him play in all six games of Bohs’ memorable run in the Europa Conference League, and he helped the club to the FAI Cup final for the first time in 13 years.
He won the 2021 PFA Ireland Young Player of the Year, earning him a move to MK Dons in the summer of 2022
Devoy has played 70 games in England during his time with MK Dons and a loan spell last season with Swindon Town.
Reynolds said: "Bringing Dawson back to Bohs is a massive coup.
"He is only 22 years of age now but he was one of the best midfielders in the league when he left two years ago and having watched him over the last couple of years, I know he is going to come back even better.
"Bohs fans know well what he is capable of, and the potential he had when he was here last, and I'm really looking forward to him coming in and giving the team a massive lift.
"We know the team is suffering at the minute, and the fans are too. We have a clear medium and long-term plan of where we want to go, and Dawson is a huge part of that."
Devoy said he is not returning to Dalymount to settle into "an easy life".
He explained: "I’m absolutely buzzing to be back, and can’t wait to get back playing for Bohs again. This is where I played some of my best football, and I want to do even better again.
"I’m not coming home for an easy life - I loved my time at Bohs before and I want to be a part of getting the club back to where we belong.
"I had really good conversations with the manager, who obviously I knew well from the Ireland U21s, and with Stephen O’Donnell and Derek Pender. The plans that they have for the club and how they want to play really excited me."
Devoy could go straight into the squad for Friday’s Sports Direct FAI Cup clash with Shamrock Rovers.
He added: "For a first game back, it doesn’t get much bigger than that. If I get a chance to play, I’ll be looking to grasp it."
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