Sligo Rovers have announced that young goalkeeper Charlie McGarvey has signed his first professional contract with the club, effective from July 1.
The long term deal ties the future of one of the brightest young talents in the country to the Showgrounds as the Bit O’Red continue to graduate their underage stars from our Abbvie Academy to pro-level.
Sixteen-year-old McGarvey is a native of Letterkenny in County Donegal and joined Rovers in early 2023 following time at local side Illistrin FC, Finn Harps and Sligo/Leitrim schoolboy outfit Yeats United.
The Summerhill College student has represented the Republic of Ireland at various schoolboy levels and travelled with the under 16 side to Holland in February of this year. He recently took part in a training camp in Dublin ahead of the FIFA Under 17 World Cup due to take place in Qatar this winter.
McGarvey has been a regular face at training with John Russell’s first team squad and the teen shot-stopper was named on the bench for their Premier Division game with Bohemians at the Showgrounds last month.
McGarvey says he is honoured to sign his first deal with the Bit O’Red and is looking forward to developing further under Russell and goalkeeping coach Richard Brush.
“I’m really proud to be signing my first deal and for it to be with Sligo Rovers, a club I’ve always dreamed of signing with. I’m hugely grateful to everyone who made it possible,” he told sligorovers.com.
“I know I wouldn’t be in this position without the support of my parents and their guidance over the years. I’d also like to thank my previous clubs Illistrin and Yeats and all the coaches who have helped me develop over the years, particularly those here at the Abbvie Academy.”