Dundalk continue to cast their net far and wide in assembling a squad for the 2021 season. 

They've signed Scottish midfielder Sam Stanton, whose most recent outpost was the USL Championship in the United States.

The 26-year old parted ways with Phoenix Rising in December, having joined the Arizona club from Dundee United in January of 2020.

Dundalk have already signed defender Sonni Ragnar Nattestad and Norwegian striker Ole Erik Midtskogen from Faroese football, Latvian international defender Raivis Jurkovskis, Albanian goalkeeper Alessio Abibi.

Head coach Filippo Giovagnoli and sporting director Jim Magilton have had something of a rebuilding job on their hands.

Oriel Park stalwarts Gary Rogers, Sean Gannon, Dane Massey and John Mountney have all departed since their FAI Cup triumph in December.

The likes of Jordan Flores, Stefan Colovic and Sean Hoare have all found new clubs as well.

Stanton made his professional bow at the age of just 17 when then Hibs manager Pat Fenlon sprung him from the bench away to Rangers.

Since then he's had spells at Dumbarton, Dundee United and - most recently - Phoenix.

I had a phone call with Filippo Giovagnoli and I really liked what he said to me,” Stanton told dundalkfc.com. “Dundalk is a good club and I’m really excited to be here. I felt it was an opportunity I couldn’t really turn down.”

A left-footed midfielder, he'll be seen as a like-for-like replacement for Mountney.

Magilton said of their new signing, "I’m delighted to welcome Sam to the club.

"He will provide real competition and experience to an area of the pitch where we needed strengthening following recent departures and I know we are all really looking forward to working with him and developing his game even further."

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