Morecambe Football Club is delighted to confirm the signing of defender Ryan McLaughlin on a one-year deal.
The 26-year-old right-back, who has represented his native Northern Ireland five times as well as 32 times as youth level, brings a wealth of experience to the squad.
Having progressed through the youth ranks at Liverpool, including two loan spells with Barnsley and Aberdeen respectively, the defender linked up with Shrimps boss Stephen Robinson at Oldham Athletic in 2016.
After making 62 appearances for the Latics, McLaughlin signed for Blackpool before joining Rochdale most recently in 2019, making 55 appearances for the Lancashire side.
Speaking after joining the reds, McLaughlin said: “It’s a great feeling."
“I’ve had to wait a while, I finished the season in May and we’re in September now, but it’s great just to finally get it going and I’ve been training with the lads all week, so I’ve been really enjoying it.
“I know the gaffer from when I was 13 or 14 with the underage groups at Northern Ireland so I’ve always been looking out for his results.
“I’ve seen the performances and how good a lot of them have been, especially getting good results against the bigger clubs as you would say in League One, we can obviously hold our own and I’m looking forward to getting started.”
The Belfast-born man, who scored five goals and provided three assists in 42 appearances for Liverpool U23s alongside the likes of Raheem Sterling and Conor Coady, promises to give everything when he pulls on the Morecambe shirt.
“I want to provide as many assists as I can as a full-back,” he added.
“Obviously keeping clean sheets, and as long as we keep picking up points and keep doing well, then that’s the main thing really.”
McLaughlin becomes Robinson’s 19th arrival since taking over at the club at back in June, and the boss is delighted with his latest recruit.
He said: “It’s a position I felt we were light in with Kelvin Mellor going.
“I believe that we’ve got a very good player in Ryan McLaughlin, I’ve worked with Ryan since he was 15 years of age and all the international levels, and I signed him at Oldham as well.
“He’s now become a more mature player, he’s played a lot of games at League One level, he’ll certainly rival Ryan Cooney now and really push Ryan on as well hopefully, but he also gives me options in other positions.
“Ryan can play in a variety of different positions, at full-back, right-wing, left-side he’s played as well, left-back, left-wing, so he’s another one that I believe adds to the squad.”