Trialists under the microscope as Dundalk step up recruitment drive

Dundalk FC are intent on further strengthening their squad as the new year approaches, ushering in their return to the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division after a solitary season in the First Division.

With the 2026 campaign drawing ever closer, manager Ciaran Kilduff has so far overseen the arrival of just four new faces: Harvey Warren from Bray Wanderers, Ronan Teahan from Kerry, Keith Buckley from Bohemians and Bobby Burns from Galway United.

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From the title-winning 2025 First Division squad, 16 players have already committed their futures to the club, with the latest being Declan McDaid and JR Wilson, who both arrived from Athlone Town last summer and have now signed new contracts at Oriel Park.

McDaid, a Scottish winger with prior Scottish Premiership experience at Partick Thistle and Dundee and two-and-a-half seasons in the League of Ireland with Bohemians, arrived midway through the 2025 campaign and went on to record two goals and four assists in 14 appearances for The Lilywhites.

Wilson, a Dublin-born right-back with Premier Division experience at Bohemians, Shelbourne and Sligo Rovers, proved equally influential after his move from Athlone, starting all 14 matches of Dundalk’s promotion charge, which culminated in a convincing 3–0 victory over Finn Harps at Oriel.

Those renewals, along with reserve goalkeeper Sammy Safaei’s loan move to NIFL Championship side Harland & Wolff Welders, take Kilduff’s squad to 19 players.

However, despite securing promotion, the Dundalk boss remains eager to strengthen further, with The Lilywhites installed by bookmakers as early favourites for relegation ahead of the upcoming season.

A goalkeeper and a striker are understood to be priority targets, with Sam Hornby the latest name linked to a move to Oriel.

The 30-year-old English goalkeeper is currently contracted to League Two side Walsall until 2027, having signed a new deal only last summer, but could be available after failing to make a league appearance this season.

A Birmingham native, Hornby has previously represented Port Vale, Bradford City and Colchester United.

Dundalk are also running the rule over a number of trialists, with Chrisnovic N’sa and Steinar Bjornsson having trained with the club in recent weeks.

N’sa, a 26-year-old Canadian defender capable of operating at right-back or centre-back, has just seen his contract expire with Ostersunds in Sweden.

He has also featured for Halifax Wanderers and York United in Canada and was previously on the books of MLS side Nashville SC before moving to Sweden in 2024.

Bjornsson, a 21-year-old Icelandic attacking midfielder, has experience in the top flight with Vikingur Reykjavik and has represented Iceland at underage level.

Over the past year, he has been plying his trade in the United States collegiate system with the Santa Barbara Gauchos.

While the club has yet to make an official announcement, The Democrat understands that Luke Mulligan and Norman Garbett have agreed to stay on at Dundalk, with young prospect Sean Spaight also expected to remain at Oriel for the 2026 season.

However, Aidan Russell-Vargas—who scored in his sole appearance last term, a Leinster Senior Cup tie—appears set for a move to Longford Town.

Elsewhere, Eoin Kenny continues to attract attention, with Blackpool and Lincoln City both reportedly monitoring his situation.

Scottish Premiership champions Celtic have also revived their interest in Vinnie Leonard, with the intention of securing the Meath native on a pre-agreement before his 18th birthday next March, ahead of a formal move next summer.

With additional interest coming from Genoa in Italy and Lyon in France—both of whom could move to sign him next month before he turns 18—Dundalk are holding out for a substantial six-figure fee, plus add-ons, for the highly-rated youngster.

Dundalk’s January pre-season schedule will mark the opening chapter of their Leinster Senior Cup title defence, featuring group-stage encounters with Shelbourne, Athlone Town and St Peter’s, alongside a friendly against UCD and the Jim Malone Cup clash with Drogheda United on January 30th.

The Lilywhites commence their Premier Division campaign a week later, on Friday, February 6th, with a trip to Tallaght Stadium to take on reigning champions Shamrock Rovers—a fixture scheduled for live broadcast on Virgin Media Television.

2026 Dundalk FC Squad (as of December 28th): Enda Minogue; Conor O’Keeffe, Mayowa Animasahun, Luke Mulligan, Vinnie Leonard, JR Wilson, Harvey Warren, Bobby Burns; Aodh Dervin, Daryl Horgan, Harry Groome, Leo Gaxha, Norman Garbett, Shane Tracey, Declan McDaid, Ronan Teahan, Keith Buckley; Gbemi Arubi, TJ Molloy

Confirmed Departures: Sammy Safaei (Harland & Wolff Welders – loan); Sean McHale (St Patrick’s Athletic – end of loan), Ethen Vaughan (released); Andy Paraschiv (released); Dean Ebbe (Ballymena United), Rohan Vaughan (Queens Park Rangers – end of loan).