We are delighted to announce the signing of goalkeeper George Shelvey from Nottingham Forest, pending international clearance.

The 22-year-old arrives at Oriel Park on a permanent transfer ahead of the start of the 2024 SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division season on Friday night.

“Forest spoke to me when the transfer window opened and said that Dundalk were really interested in signing me,” said Shelvey.

“I just kept my focus on training and playing and tried to let other people sort it out but I knew in the back of my mind that coming here would be a big step for me.

“I spoke to a couple of the Irish lads at Forest and they told me that the League of Ireland is very competitive and every game is a tough environment.

“It’s time for me to play every week and show people what I can do and try and achieve stuff at Dundalk. It’s a massive club with a rich history and I can’t wait to get going.”

New signing George Shelvey poses for a portrait after he was unveiled at Oriel Park. Photos by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

After signing for his hometown club in the summer of 2018, Shelvey helped Forest’s Premier League 2 side to the play-off final in 2022 and had brief loan spells at Truro City, Wealdstone and Mansfield Town.

He was drafted into Forest’s first-team squad during the 2022/23 season, where he trained alongside international goalkeepers Keylor Navas, Dean Henderson and Wayne Hennessy.

Shelvey was named on the bench for Forest’s Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur and the Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester United at Old Trafford and started in several pre-season friendlies last summer.

“George is a player we have been looking at for a long time so we’re delighted to have brought him to Dundalk and we’re looking forward to getting him integrated into the group,” said Lilywhites head coach Stephen O’Donnell.

“He has been in and around a Premier League environment, trained with many top keepers and is at a good age to establish a career for himself so we are looking for him to come in and make a big impact.”

Pictures: Ben McShane/Sportsfile