Dungannon Swifts captain Ryan Harpur makes the move to table-toppers Ballymena United

Premiership leaders Ballymena United have signed Dungannon Swifts captain Ryan Harpur on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

The Sky Blues announced on Wednesday they had agreed a deal to sign the 30-year-old at the end of the season but have instead reached agreement with Swifts to make the deal effective immediately.

The midfielder has signed a deal until the end of the 2020-21 season that ends the Portadown native’s seven-year association with the Tyrone side.

The former Everton trainee joined the Swifts midway through the 2011-12 season from Glenavon and quickly became a cog in the team, inheriting the captaincy later the same year.

Harpur turned down the option of a move to champions Crusaders in 2015, and signed a new deal in 2017, but has decided now is the right time to make the move away.

"The main reason for coming here is David Jeffrey,” Harpur told the Ballymena official website.

“I've always admired him from afar and to have the chance to work with him, I couldn't turn down that opportunity.

“I'm particularly looking forward to link up with Ryan Mayse again. It's only been six months but I've missed him and I know some of the other boys as well so there'll be no problem there.

“Obviously the team is flying and there's a lot of good players here so I'm looking forward to playing with them and taking it from there.

“I've always played well at the Showgrounds, I've scored a hat trick here and always seem to manage to nick the odd goal, so hopefully that continues."



Jeffrey added: "He brings something different, he's technically very good, he goes forward and scores goals but he's also steely and solid in the middle," added Jeffrey.

"He’s a bit older than the other players we have brought in but as good a player he is, we all agree that he can be even better again and we'll work hard to make him the best that he can be."

Harpur’s transfer will come into effect on January 1st, and he could make his debut away to Crusaders the same day.