Higgins becomes a Lilywhite
Dundalk have completed their fifth new signing of the transfer window by bringing in experienced midfielder Ruaidhri Higgins.
The 29-year-old has been a free agent since his contract with Derry City expired and he admitted he was “gutted” at not having that deal renewed.
That hurt seems to have instilled a new motivation in Higgins who said to the Derry Sentinel last month: “There was a wee bit of interest [in me] but I had it in my mind I wanted to stay at Derry which I thought was going to happen but obviously it hasn’t.
“Now I have to look onwards and upwards and it has actually made me very, very hungry to go and prove a point.”
A former Coventry City youth team player, Higgins was a stalwart of the Candystripes side under Stephen Kenny during two separate spells at the Brandywell.
A regular at the club since 2004, Higgins only departed for a brief season’s stint at Dalymount Park where he helped Bohemians to Setanta Cup success.
The central midfielder, who is equally adept on the wing, was a popular figure in the ‘Maiden City’ having chalked up close to 200 appearances in all competitions in his time there, winning five League Cups and two FAI Cups.
Linfield, Glentoran and Coleraine had all held talks with the player but ultimately Higgins chose to become a Lilywhite, joining Sean Gannon, David McMillan, Daryl Horgan and Gabriel Sava as the new faces around the Carrick Road this season.
In other Dundalk news, striker Tiarnan Mulvenna has departed Oriel Park to join Danske Bank Premiership club Glenavon.