COLERAINE FC have confirmed the signing of Mark Coyle from Shelbourne.
The midfielder joins the club on a two-and-a-half-year deal after an undisclosed fee was agreed with the League of Ireland side.
Coyle started his career at Finn Harps and had two spells at the Donegal side, which was sandwiched by a brief stint at Cockhill Celtic.
His final season at Harps saw him win the club’s Player of the Year gong in 2021, before he was signed by Shelbourne in December of the same year.
Coyle’s tenure at Shelbourne was a golden one as he captained the Reds to lift the Premier Division in 2024.
The 28-year-old also played a pivotal role as Shels qualified for the league phase of this season’s UEFA Conference League, where he featured in all six games.
Coyle’s capture means the Burt native will bring both technical ability and a physical presence to the squad.
Speaking about the latest addition to his squad, Bannsiders boss Ruaidhri Higgins, said: “We are delighted because Mark will bring so much to the group.
“He’s got fantastic leadership; he captained Shelbourne to winning the league title and qualifying for the league phase of Europe.
“He brings quality and a know-how but it’s also about day-to-day behaviour and habits in terms of how he trains and conducts himself.
“He will help to build a culture here that eventually turns us into winners, so to bring Mark with that experience and quality is huge for us.
“When we got permission from Shelbourne to speak to him, we had some brilliant conversations and he showed a real commitment and is excited about what we are trying to build here.
“He’s in his prime years for a midfielder. He’ll bring a real drive, a real hunger and quality to the group.”
