Dundalk add firepower with Rohan Vaughan signing

Dundalk FC have confirmed the loan signing of English striker Rohan Vaughan from Queens Park Rangers for the remainder of the season.

The 19-year-old, younger brother of fellow Lilywhites player Ethen Vaughan, was part of the QPR U21 squad that recently clinched the Premier League Cup.

Vaughan began his career at Burnley before joining QPR in 2024 and gained senior experience earlier this year during a short loan spell at Oxford City in the National League North.

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Though his registration was not completed in time for Friday’s 2-0 Sports Direct FAI Cup defeat to Sligo Rovers, Vaughan could make his debut this Friday night when Dundalk return to SSE Airtricity League First Division action against Wexford at Oriel Park (kick-off, 7:45pm).

“Rohan has played at a high level over at QPR,” remarked Dundalk manager Ciaran Kilduff of his new acquisition. “He’s very, very athletic. He’s very strong. He’s very powerful. He only came in on Tuesday, so we’re still getting to grips with him.

“I was hopeful he’d be available (against Sligo) with international clearance; we waited up until five o’clock. He was actually in my graphics inside. He was on the team sheet, ready to go—to come on if necessary—but the paperwork just never came through. He only got done at the tail end of the week.

“He needs to make an impact. I had a good chat with him earlier in the week. He’s coming from a level. He’s looking for an opportunity. He’s obviously Ethen’s brother, and he’s taken to the club very well. It didn’t take much to sell him to come here, and I’m hopeful that he kicks on now for the remainder of the season.”

Kilduff will be hoping Vaughan can make an immediate impact after watching his side draw a blank for the second consecutive week, succumbing to a 2-0 defeat against Premier Division strugglers Sligo and exiting the FAI Cup at the first hurdle, as focus now returns to the First Division title race with promotion to the League of Ireland’s top tier firmly in their sights.

“It’s a constant worry,” admitted Kilduff, reflecting on Dundalk’s missed opportunities during the clash with Sligo. “You have to convert these chances when they come because other teams are taking chances that aren’t as gilt-edged.

“The goal they’ve scored, to put themselves one up, isn’t even an open chance. It’s a half chance on the edge of the box, and he’s put it in the top corner and it turns the game.

“You’re looking for moments of quality, but we didn’t have one tonight. We didn’t have one last week. We’re hoping now in the coming weeks that some people will put up their hands, stand up and go, ‘We know there’s a league there to be won. We know there’s 13 league games left, and we need to go and approach them like we’re going to try and win the title.’”

Vaughan becomes Dundalk’s third signing of the July transfer window, following the arrivals of John Ross Wilson and Declan McDaid.

While Kilduff had previously stated his intention to limit summer additions to three, fresh injury setbacks—most recently to Sean Keogh and Sean McHale during the defeat to Sligo—have left the door open to further reinforcements, with an unnamed trialist finding the net in a 6-0 friendly win over Glebe North in Balbriggan the Monday before last.

“I have to see how many players we have left after tonight,” he said. “We’re never done. If something comes up that we think is going to really strengthen us, and it’s the right timing for all involved, we’ll definitely address it. But for now, we have what we have.”