The transfer window is finally closed – and across the Premiership, there was no shortage of movement.
From Coleraine’s record-breaking signing of Adam Brooks and Glentoran bringing Conor McMenamin back, to Ballymena’s extraordinary recruitment drive and Cliftonville’s major rebuild under Jim Magilton, clubs across the division have taken very different approaches.
Some have spent big. Others have focused on experience, loans or developing younger players. A number of clubs have also seen significant players leave, potentially changing the balance of power across the league.
So, which clubs improved most? Who took the biggest risks? And which teams could look back on the window with regret?
Here is our assessment of every Premiership club’s summer business.
—
BALLYMENA UNITED – A HUGE STATEMENT OF INTENT
Ballymena were the busiest club in the entire Premiership, bringing in 13 players and making a number of major moves within the Irish League.
Chris McKee, Micheal Glynn, Scot Whiteside, Joshua Archer, Stephen Fallon, Charlie Allen, David Walsh, Jonny Addis, Owen Mahoney, Caoimhin McConnell, Michael Leetch, Finley Thorndike and Kodi Lyons-Foster all arrived, with the latter joining on loan from Coleraine.
The scale of the recruitment is significant. Oran Kearney has essentially rebuilt large sections of his squad, bringing in players with proven Premiership experience alongside younger talent and players looking to establish themselves.
The arrivals of McKee, Whiteside, Archer, Allen and Walsh from Linfield are particularly interesting. Ballymena have taken advantage of a number of players becoming available and have added individuals who know exactly what is required at this level.
There have been notable departures too, including Patrick McEleney’s retirement, while Aaron Jarvis, Daniel Lafferty and Stephen O’Donnell all moved to Limavady. Kian Corbally left for Dunfermline Athletic, Daire O’Connor joined Carrick Rangers and Ben Kennedy moved to Portadown.
The result is a very different Ballymena squad – and the early-season results suggest Kearney’s recruitment has already made an impact.
Verdict: One of the biggest winners. Ballymena have spent heavily and recruited with a clear top-six objective.
—
BANGOR – CONSOLIDATION AFTER PROMOTION
Bangor’s approach was considerably more measured.
Lucas McRoberts arrived from Ayr United, while Steven McCullough joined from Portadown. Jeremí Rodríguez and Mackenzie Strachan also came in as free agents.
The standout addition is arguably McCullough, who brings valuable experience to a side that will need plenty of it during their second season back in the Premiership. McRoberts also offers another option as Lee Feeney looks to develop a squad capable of competing at the higher level.
There were some notable departures, with Robert Garrett retiring and Stephen Fallon leaving after his loan deal ended. Kyle Owens moved to Dundela, Mark Haughey joined Ballymacash Rangers and Michael Morgan departed for Newington.
Bangor have not attempted to reinvent themselves. Instead, they have made targeted additions and will hope the squad that secured safety last year can continue to develop.
Verdict: Sensible rather than spectacular. The challenge now is getting enough from the existing squad to survive once again.
—
CARRICK RANGERS – EXPERIENCE AND CONTINUITY
Carrick Rangers did not need a major rebuild after their historic campaign last season, and their recruitment reflected that.
Jordan Forsythe arrived from Crusaders, while Jack Hastings joined from Larne. Daire O’Connor moved from Ballymena, with Dylan Agnew and Kym Nelson also added.
The most important aspect of Carrick’s window may actually have been who they kept.
The club have retained the core of the side that achieved so much last season, while adding further Premiership experience. Forsythe and Daire O’Connor know the league well, while Hastings provides another option following his time with Larne.
There were losses, most notably Cameron Stewart’s retirement, while Reece Glendinning moved to Loughgall and Ryan Waide joined Glenavon.
But Stephen Baxter has not felt the need to rip things up. Given the start Carrick have made, that approach looks justified.
Verdict: A smart window. Continuity was the priority, with enough quality added to prevent complacency.
—
CLIFTONVILLE – A NEW-LOOK REDS
Cliftonville underwent one of the most significant rebuilds of the summer.
Jim Magilton brought in eight players, including Dan O’Connor, Kyle McClelland, Ben Quinn, Aaron Wightman, Joel Thompson, Dean McMaster, Alex Bannon and Ollie Samuels.
There is a clear theme to the recruitment: youth, athleticism and potential.
McClelland, Quinn and Wightman all arrived from Premiership clubs, while McMaster and Bannon came from the Scottish and English leagues respectively. Samuels joined on loan from Middlesbrough.
The departures were equally notable. Conor Pepper retired and is now part of the coaching set-up at Solitude, while Joseph Toole returned to Fleetwood Town and Josh Kelly’s loan ended. Micheal Glynn and Jonny Addis both joined Ballymena, while Conor Falls moved to Portadown.
Cliftonville have therefore lost experience but gained energy. The early performances have already shown the potential of that approach, with the Reds looking young, athletic and technically capable.
The question will be whether that youthful squad can maintain consistency across a full Premiership season.
Verdict: A fascinating rebuild. There is genuine potential, but Magilton will need his young squad to mature quickly.
—
COLERAINE – THE TITLE CHALLENGERS MEAN BUSINESS
If there was any doubt about Coleraine’s ambitions, their transfer window removed it.
Jay Henderson, Ben Doherty, Aidan Wilson, Finn Tonks, Joe Thomson and Adam Brooks all arrived.
The Bannsiders already had one of the strongest squads in the league. They have now added further quality and depth across the pitch.
The signing of Adam Brooks is arguably the headline move. The 22-year-old arrives from Crusaders for a record transfer fee within the Irish League, underlining just how seriously Coleraine are taking their title challenge.
Joe Thomson also adds Premiership experience, while Henderson, Doherty and Wilson have the quality to strengthen a squad already packed with options.
There were significant departures, however. Captain Mark Connolly retired, Zane Okoro returned to England and Jamie Glackin moved to Dungannon. Conor McMenamin’s stunning departure to Glentoran was a late surprise, while Kodi Lyons-Foster and Jamie McGonigle left on loan.
The McMenamin departure in particular could have been damaging, but the sheer amount of attacking quality Higgins has retained – and added – means Coleraine still look exceptionally well equipped.
Verdict: A title-winning squad on paper. The pressure is now enormous, but anything less than a serious title challenge would be disappointing.
—
CRUSADERS – A MAJOR LOSS, BUT RECRUITMENT TO MATCH
Crusaders had one of the more intriguing windows, strengthening in several areas while losing some significant names.
Graham Kelly arrived from Coleraine, while Aaron Reid, Thomas Maguire, Owen Wardell, Ryan McKay, Shea Callister and Donal Rocks all joined the club.
There is plenty to like about that recruitment. Wardell has already shown his quality, while Kelly provides experience and Callister adds another goalkeeper option. The loan arrivals also give Declan Caddell additional depth without requiring permanent commitments.
But the biggest loss is undoubtedly the departure of Fraser Bryden.
The 22-year-old carried the Crues through many games last season and his departure, along with that of Adam Brooka, leaves a sizeable hole in the Crusaders attack.
Jordan Owens and Jonny Tuffey also retired, while Jordan Forsythe joined Carrick and Musa Dibaga moved to Dunfermline.
The club have therefore lost some serious experience and quality. Their challenge is ensuring the new arrivals can collectively replace what has gone.
Verdict: Good recruitment, but Bryden is a huge loss. How well Crusaders replace his goals could define their season.
—
DUNGANNON SWIFTS – BUILDING ON WHAT THEY HAVE
Dungannon opted for a relatively compact window, bringing in five players.
Michael McElhatton, Jamie Glackin, Barney McKeown, Kris Lowe and Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe all arrived, giving Rodney McAree a mixture of experience and attacking options.
The signing of Glackin is particularly interesting after his departure from Coleraine. He brings significant Premiership experience and should add creativity to a side that has established itself as a consistent top-half team.
Lowe and McKeown also arrive from Glenavon, while Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe provides another attacking option.
Dungannon did lose Thomas Maguire to Crusaders and Caolan Marron to Newry City, while James Knowles retired and Peter Maguire joined Glenavon.
But there is no sense of a major rebuild. McAree appears to have identified specific areas that needed strengthening and addressed them.
Verdict: Targeted and sensible. Dungannon have maintained continuity while adding quality.
—
GLENTORAN – QUALITY ARRIVALS AND A HUGE STATEMENT
Glentoran’s recruitment was ambitious, and the return of Conor McMenamin from Coleraine may be the most eye-catching move of the entire window.
Greg Sloggett, Zeno Ibsen Rossi, Rhys Walsh, Lekan Sule and Ethan Schilte-Brown also arrived, giving Declan Devine plenty of options.
McMenamin’s return is particularly significant. The winger was one of the standout performers in the league during his previous spell with Glentoran, and bringing him back represents a clear statement of intent.
There have been departures, including MJ Kamson-Kamara, Danny Amos, Cameron Palmer and Joe Thomson. But the Glens have retained enough of their core to ensure the new arrivals are additions rather than a complete reset.
The question for Devine is how quickly the new players settle. There is enough quality here to compete near the top, but expectations will inevitably rise with it.
Verdict: A strong window. Glentoran have recruited like a club that wants to be competing at the top end of the table.
—
LARNE – A SIGNIFICANT SQUAD REFRESH
Larne’s transfer window was another example of a club looking to evolve rather than simply stand still. The Invermen brought in Josh Ukek, Sam McClelland, Montel Gibson, Kevin O’Hara, Jacob Carney, Alex Wilkie, Noah McDonnell and Greg Sandiford, giving Gary Haveron plenty of new options across the squad.
There is a clear mixture of experience, youth and players with something to prove. The arrivals suggest Larne are looking to maintain their status among the Premiership’s leading sides while refreshing a squad that has undergone considerable change in recent windows.
There were also notable departures, with Andy Ryan moving to Hamilton, while Cian Bolger was released and Ryan Nolan joined Linfield. Those exits leave gaps in both experience and defensive depth, although the volume of recruitment suggests Larne have planned for those changes.
Following disappointment in Europe, the focus now shifts firmly towards domestic competition. Larne have the resources and infrastructure to challenge at the top end of the Premiership, but with several new faces coming in, how quickly this group settles could determine whether they can turn another busy window into a genuine title challenge.
Verdict: Strong window, with a few questions. A significant squad refresh with plenty of quality added, but Larne have lost some experience too. With Europe over, the focus is now firmly on challenging domestically.
—-
LIMAVADY UNITED – RECRUITMENT BUILT FOR SURVIVAL
Limavady have embraced the challenge of returning to the Premiership by making a significant number of additions.
Sean Carlin, Aaron Jarvis, Stephen O’Donnell, Leon Boyd, Ronan Wilson, Daniel Lafferty, Oisin Duffy, Alfie Gaston and Jamie McGonigle all arrived.
There is plenty of Premiership experience among those names, while the loans of Gaston and McGonigle from Coleraine give the Roesiders access to players from one of the division’s strongest squads.
The additions from Ballymena are particularly interesting. Jarvis, O’Donnell and Lafferty all know the level, while Ronan Wilson and Leon Boyd provide further options.
Limavady have not simply relied on the squad that won promotion. They have recognised that the step up is significant and recruited accordingly.
Verdict: An ambitious survival window. The squad now looks better equipped for the challenge, but results will ultimately determine whether the investment pays off.
—
LINFIELD – A LOT OF CHANGE
Linfield’s window was notable for the number of players who departed Windsor Park.
Chris McKee, David Walsh, Charlie Allen, Joshua Archer and Scot Whiteside all joined Ballymena, while Cameron Ballantyne moved to Greenock Morton and Euan East was released.
That represents a substantial amount of first-team experience leaving the club.
David Healy did, however, bring in six players: Ryan Nolan, Aidan Glavin, Dylan Wells, Kobei Moore, Kitt Nelson and Rhys Brennan.
The arrivals provide a mixture of experience and potential, with several coming from clubs across Britain and Ireland. Ryan Nolan’s arrival from Larne is particularly interesting given his experience at the top end of the Premiership.
But compared with previous seasons, Linfield’s squad now looks different in character. The club have allowed a significant number of established players to leave and will be relying on the new arrivals to fill those gaps.
Their early-season form suggests the transition has not prevented them from competing, but the longer-term question is whether this new-look Linfield squad can challenge consistently.
Verdict: A significant reset. There is quality coming in, but the number of departures means the pressure is on those new arrivals to deliver.
—
PORTADOWN – A REBUILD UNDER PRESSURE
Portadown were another club to make wholesale changes, with 11 players arriving.
Rhys Breen, Mikey Hewitt, Matty Carson, Sean O’Mahoney, Conor Falls, Dominic Dos Santos Martins, Liam Jessop, Jamie Barry, Oisin Gamble, Finn Flanagan and Ben Kennedy all joined David Jeffrey’s squad.
There is a lot of experience and potential within that group, with players arriving from both the Irish League and clubs across Britain.
The return of Ben Kennedy is particularly interesting, while the addition of Rhys Breen and Conor Falls strengthens the defence. Finn Flanagan also provides another young option.
However, Portadown have lost a significant number of players too. Shay McCartan was released, Jordan Gibson joined Annagh United, Ben Quinn moved to Cliftonville, Josh Ukek joined Larne and Steven McCullough went to Bangor.
The sheer scale of the changes means patience may be required. A new squad does not automatically become a settled squad, and David Jeffrey’s challenge is to get his players functioning as a team quickly.
Verdict: Plenty of recruitment, but it needs time to gel. Portadown cannot afford for that process to take too long.
—
SO, WHO WON THE WINDOW?
There is no single answer, because clubs entered the window with very different objectives.
Coleraine made perhaps the clearest statement. Their recruitment has reinforced the idea that winning the Premiership is the objective, while the record signing of Adam Brooks demonstrates the scale of their ambition.
Ballymena United also deserve enormous credit. Thirteen arrivals represents a huge commitment, and Oran Kearney has assembled a squad that looks capable of challenging significantly higher up the table than in previous seasons.
Glentoran have strengthened intelligently, with the return of Conor McMenamin potentially one of the signings of the summer.
Cliftonville are perhaps the most fascinating. Their strategy is different – younger, more athletic and built around potential – but the early evidence suggests there is plenty to like about Jim Magilton’s rebuild.
Further down the table, Limavady United have recognised the scale of their challenge and recruited accordingly, while Dungannon Swifts and Carrick Rangers have shown the value of continuity.
The biggest question marks arguably surround clubs who have lost significant players. Crusaders losing Adam Brooks to Coleraine could have a major impact, while Linfield have allowed a large number of players to leave Windsor Park.
Ultimately, though, transfer windows are judged by what happens on the pitch.
The names, fees and reputations only tell part of the story. By May, we will know which clubs got their recruitment right.
