Dean Shiels 'delighted' to capture first January signing as defender Patrick Burns seals switch to the Coleraine Showgrounds

The former Glenavon and Cliftonville ace – who won the Irish Cup during his time at Solitude last season – has put pen-to-paper on a deal at The Showgrounds until the end of the season.

After making the breakthrough at Glenavon, Burns moved to the United States to combine his football with studying at Notre Dame University in Indiana, where he won the Atlantic Coast Conference title in 2021.

Having returned to Northern Ireland last year, the former Northern Ireland youth international signed for Cliftonville and helped the Reds end their long wait for Irish Cup glory.

“I’m delighted to sign Paddy,” head coach Dean Shiels said.

“He’s a proven Irish league player who recently won the Irish Cup during an impressive spell at Cliftonville.

“He loves defending and has really impressed since training with us the last three weeks.

“He will give us more depth in an area in which we need it.”