Bray Wanderers sign defender Derek Foran

Bray Wanderers have announced the return of defender Derek Foran for the 2017 season.

The Dublin native has spent the last two years with United Soccer League side Sacramento Republic. He made a total of 37 appearances in all competitions for the California side.

Derek Foran’s previous spell in Bray colours lasted two seasons. After joining from St. Patrick’s Athletic, Foran played 56 times for Wanderers. The Co Wicklow faithful voted Foran their Player of the Month in March 2009.

The 27-year-old moved west to Sligo Rovers in January 2010 and was a substitute in the Bit o’ Red ‘s FAI Cup final wins of 2010 and 2011. Foran made 20 league appearances, scoring once, and picked up a League Cup winner's medal.

Next Foran switched back east and joined Sean McCaffrey’s Dundalk. He featured regularly during a tough 2012 season in which the Lilywhites narrowly avoided the drop to Division One and was voted player of the season.

A productive 2013 season at Tallaght Stadium followed, in which Foran helped Shamrock Rovers to the Setanta Cup, EA Sports Cup and Leinster Senior Cup treble. Foran’s first Rovers appearance was away to Coleraine in that Setanta Cup. He played 26 times in League for the Hoops that season.

In January 2014, Foran returned to St. Patrick’s Athletic. After making eleven League appearances for Pats in 2014, Derek picked-up his third FAI Cup medal as an unused substitute when Pats defeated Derry City 2-0 in the final. He saw Champions League action for Pats against Legia Warsaw.

He returns to a rejuvenated Bray Wanderers club. The Wanderers enjoyed a huge revival under new boss Harry Kenny in the second half of the 2016 season and hopes will be high for the new campaign.