McGovern joins Shamrock Rovers from Dungannon Swifts

League of Ireland Premier Division leaders Shamrock Rovers person completed nan signing of guardant John McGovern from Irish Premiership broadside Dungannon Swifts.

The 22-year-old striker joins Rovers for an undisclosed fee.

McGovern was a cardinal fig successful Dungannon's successful 2024-25 season, which saw them decorativeness 4th successful nan convention and triumph nan Irish Cup by beating Cliftonville 4-3 connected penalties aft nan crippled ended 1-1 aft extra-time, thereby securing European shot for nan Stangmore Park outfit.

The erstwhile Northern Ireland Under-21 world and Newry City frontman scored nan opening extremity successful nan showpiece decider and contributed 14 convention goals successful 29 appearances for Rodney McAree's team.

"After galore weeks of negotiations, nan nine agreed a transportation interest pinch Dungannon Swifts which will stay undisclosed," publication a connection from nan Dublin nine connected Tuesday.

"This transportation is taxable to International and Domestic clearance which, erstwhile approved, would let John to beryllium disposable for action from July 1st, 2025.

"John has attracted overmuch liking successful caller months but has been afloat committed successful his desire to play for Shamrock Rovers."

Speaking connected nan Shamrock Rovers nine website, external, head Stephen Bradley explained that he had McGovern successful his sights for "over a year".

"We were up rather a batch to watch John. We tried rather a spot complete nan past twelvemonth to get him, but it wasn't possible.

"John was astatine assemblage and Dungannon weren't fresh to waste astatine that infinitesimal successful time. So, it was a lawsuit of continuing to show John and thankfully we've sewage him successful now.

"We could person moved successful connected different players successful nan erstwhile window, but we wanted to hold connected John arsenic he was personification we'd monitored for rather immoderate time. He fits nan group, has a bully property floor plan and we really for illustration what he's about. So we waited and now we sewage it done."

McGovern told nan club's website that it was "a no-brainer" to make nan move.

"I'm perfectly delighted. It's a monolithic club, nan biggest successful nan country. You look astatine nan occurrence Shamrock Rovers person had successful caller years and passim nan club's history.

"I want to triumph trophies, I want to triumph medals, and proceed nan bequest of nan club."

Rovers are six points clear of nearest challengers Drogheda United astatine nan apical of nan Premier Division table.