With increased investment across Northern Ireland’s top-flight, clubs are now casting their net wider when it comes to recruitment and can value previous Irish League experience as they assess targets.
Here's a list of 10 players who have spent time at Irish League clubs and are currently available on free transfers having departed their teams in England and Scotland.
9. Brett Long
Former Northern Ireland youth international Brett Long has spent almost the entirety of his career in Scotland after joining Motherwell as a teenager from Cliftonville. He briefly returned to Solitude for a loan spell in 2017 and is a free agent after leaving Dumbarton, where he broke clean sheet records. Photo: Stephen Hamilton
10. Ally Roy
Former Northern Ireland U21 international Ally Roy has also spent the majority of his career in Scotland. He has previous Irish League experience having played for Glentoran during the 2022/23 campaign, scoring once in his 15 league appearances. The 28-year-old is set to leave Dumbarton this summer after playing 27 times in League Two last term. Photo: INPHO/Presseye/Brian Little