Dundalk FC have completed the transfer of 24-year-old Albanian goalkeeper Alessio Abibi.

Born in Umbertide, a town in the province of Perugia, Italy, Abibi started his career with Pescara and had loan spells at Perugia and Gavorrano as a teenager.

He made his senior debut for Gavorrano as a 17-year-old in a Serie D game against Triestina and was rewarded with international caps at underage level for Albania.

Abibi also spent nine months in Spain with Segunda Division B side Eldense in 2017 before moving to KF Tirana in Albania.

During his two seasons in the Albanian capital, he helped the club win promotion to the top flight and also collected Albanian Cup and Super Cup winners’ medals.

He returned to Italy in August 2019 and had stints at Serie C clubs Avellino and Cavese 1919 before a short spell in Albania with KS Kastrioti at the end of last year.

“Alessio was one of the goalkeepers that I studied and scouted and of them all, he was the one with the best characteristics of how we want to play,” said Lilywhites coach Filippo Giovagnoli.

“He is big, really good in the air, strong on defensive set-pieces, brave and good on the ball in the build-up. He is also young, only 24, and is a player that we can develop. He has a brilliant future ahead of him.”