Sligo Rovers are delighted to confirm that fans’ favourite Ollie Denham has extended his current deal to the end of the 2026 season.
Heading into what will be his third year with the club, Ollie finished 2025 on a high when he scored his first goal for Rovers in that pivotal win at Tallaght Stadium last Saturday.
The 23-year-old’s signature brings to 13 the total number of first team players contracted at the Showgrounds for next year.
Centre-half Denham initially joined the Bit O’Red on loan from Cardiff City ahead of the 2024 season, before making the move permanent last summer.
The former Manchester United youth has made 61 appearances for the club to date, with that single goal against the Hoops coming at a critical time.
“It was a great feeling and especially in such a big game”, Denham tells sligorovers.com.
“Goal-scoring is certainly something I want to add to my game. Once you’ve done it, you want a taste of that feeling again and again.”
Reflecting on 2025, Ollie has somewhat mixed feelings given he missed a portion of the season with a sports hernia. However, this has made him even more hungry to progress both personally and with the team in 2026.
“Last season didn’t go to plan”, he says.
“I suffered from an injury right from the start and it eventually led to me being out for a few months. Thankfully I’m recovered now. It was very frustrating but that’s part of football. For me, it was about remaining positive and being as fit as I could be to help me through. I’ll be using this off-season to strengthen myself and give myself the best chance of hitting 2026 in the best condition I can.
“For the team, we certainly should not have been involved in a relegation battle. We have some great players in this squad, a great management team and an amazing fan base. I know the lads feel the same, we should have finished much higher than we did. 2026 is about putting this all right.”
On his decision to extend his deal into the next twelve months, the Englishman says he’s taken aback in the last two years, by the dedication of the Red Army and by how the club is so embedded in the sporting culture of the north west.
“I’m really pleased to get the deal over the line and be here for another season”, he continues.
“I’m very happy here in Sligo and have been since day one. I feel we can build something really strong here both as a team and as a club.
“I have really begun to understand and appreciate the importance of Rovers being a community club and being run by the supporters. The time and effort our volunteers spend working and giving to the club is phenomenal. From fund-raising to travelling with us and helping out with match-day, the players see it and it’s unbelievable. There’s no club like us.
“It really focuses the players’ minds on giving everything both in training and match day. You’re striving to match the effort the fans put in.”
Ollie is also quick to note the input of his manager in his own development and in his reason to commit to the Bit O’Red.
“I’ve definitely grown both as a player and a person compared to when I arrived here. I want to keep progressing under John and help the club to keep progressing.
“John was a massive reason I joined here and was huge in my decision to stay here. He trusts me and I love playing under his style. I enjoy how he pushes all of us so much and how he gives balanced feedback to us. He’s highly focused on how he can make each player better and that’s massive for us.”
Outlining Denham’s importance to his plans, Russell says securing the Blackpool native’s future was top of his post-season list.
“Ollie is one of the best defenders in the country so we’re delighted he’s staying on”, Russell tells sligorovers.com.
“His signature was always a priority for us. This move shows how ambitious we are as a club moving forward.
“He’s a player of immense quality even at 23 and will only get better and better. People forget how young he is. He reads the game so well and brings a calmness to the pitch and to his team mates. He’s just an all-round brilliant defender and we’re excited to see how much further he can progress with us.”
Denham joins Sam Sargeant, Paddy McClean, Gareth McElroy, Conor Reynolds, Sean Stewart, Owen Elding, Cian Kavanagh, Archie Meekison, Will Fitzgerald, Seb Quirk, Kyle McDonagh and Jad Hakiki on the list of players under deals at the Showgrounds ahead of 2026.
David Goulden