Sligo Rovers are thrilled to confirm that Republic of Ireland underage international Kevin Zefi has joined the club on a deal which will run until the end of the current season.
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has agreed a contract having spent the last few weeks training with John Russell’s first team squad.
It is hoped that the former Inter Milan and Roma player will be eligible in time for Friday’s Premier Division clash with Bohemians at the Showgrounds, but this is subject to international clearance.
The Clonsilla man has represented the Republic of Ireland all the way to under 21 level. He made his U21 debut in a friendly match with Sweden in 2024, replacing his new teammate Jad Hakiki in the second half of that game.
Making his breakthrough in 2020, Zefi, who can operate behind the striker or on both sides of the attack, made his League of Ireland debut at just 15 for Shamrock Rovers’ ‘B’ side and became the league’s youngest goal-scorer at the same age.
In August 2021, he made the move to Italy and to Inter where he scored twice and assisted in three goals on his U17s debut. After three years in Milan, he moved to Rome where he spent a year with Roma’s academy before moving on last summer.
He also qualifies for Albania through his family heritage and was called up to the Albanian U21 squad last year but withdrew due to injury.
Rovers fans will remember Zefi from his stand-out performance as a trialist in a mid-season friendly with Mansfield Town at the Showgrounds last July in which he found the net.
Zefi says both the homely feel of the Showgrounds and his ambition to make an impact at senior level, played a big part in his decision to choose Rovers.
“John gave me a huge opportunity to come up here and train with the team”, he tells sligorovers.com.
“This place feels like home straight away and I feel I’m settling in already. Once the offer was there, signing wasn’t really a question.
“The conversations I’ve had with the people at the club swayed me. The players, staff, volunteers. There was such a welcome for me from the first day and that was important both for myself and my family.
“The lads here have a huge hunger and the ambition here both on and off the pitch is huge. That was a big attraction for me and it’s a massive opportunity for me to make a difference.
“We work hard and we have some really top lads who can play football. I’m looking forward to adding to that in games. I’m hoping to bring a lot of creativity in the final third here and chip in with assists and goals.”
Kevin was hugely encouraged by Rovers latest outing, a dramatic late win over his former club Shamrock Rovers as Sligo became the first club this season to beat the Hoops on their own turf.
“I was at the game and it was a really good performance, particularly in the second half when we were calm and took our chances”, he says.
“The three points were hugely deserved. Taking three points from Shams in Tallaght is a big deal, nobody else has managed it this year. But looking forward, we’re taking it game by game. We have a great group here and we’re looking to push on now with the Bohs game and then we’ll look into the break and beyond. I’m working hard to get up to speed with things and hopefully get going against Bohs.”
The move was some time coming given that Russell has kept the Dubliner on his radar for almost a year. The Rovers boss is over the moon to get his man and says he feels Sligo is the ideal place for Zefi to get his career back on track following an extended period out of the game.
“Kevin has been with us for training recently which has allowed me to have some conversations with him about his next step”, Russell says.
“We both feel the Showgrounds and Sligo Rovers provides the ideal environment for him to progress his career.
“I’m always looking to add quality to what we have here, especially in the final third. Kevin is a player who would add creativity to any side so we’re delighted he’s opted to come in and be part of what we’re building in Sligo.”
David Goulden