Goalkeeper Liam Hughes has joined Sligo Rovers on a one year deal, the club is delighted to confirm.
The 24-year-old joined up with John Russell’s first team recently following the return to pre-season training two weeks ago.
Hughes signs on at the Showgrounds having agreed terms on a twelve-month deal, with the option of a further year.
Born in Craigavon, County Armagh, Hughes made his first team debut for his local side Portadown at the age of just 15 before moving on to Dungannon Swifts on a long-term deal shortly after.
He was signed by current Scottish Premiership Champions Glasgow Celtic in 2018, featuring in the Scottish Youth Cup Final for the Hoops, one year later.
In 2021, he joined last year’s Premier League winners Liverpool and went on to feature regularly at underage level before being called up to the first team for a game against Sheffield United the same year.
Hughes has also been capped at under 17 and 21 levels by Northern Ireland and was called into their senior squad by former Rovers boss and then NI manager Ian Baraclough four years ago.
In early 2024, Hughes moved on to Finland and to Rovers’ 1983 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup opponents FC Haka where he featured regularly in the Finnish top-tier. He is the twentieth player to commit to the Bit O’Red for 2026.
“It is very important we have strength and depth in all positions”, Russell tells sligorovers.com having sealed Hughes’ signature.
“Players must be pushing to get in the team and that includes a top goalkeeper who is able to push Sam Sargeant for a starting place.
“I was keen to bring in a goalkeeper who is ambitious to break through straight away and who has the attributes to impact our team and Liam fits the bill.
“We’re excited to bring Liam to the club. He is a goalkeeper with an excellent profile and someone who has good first team experience from his time in Finland.”
Hughes has already linked-up with his new team-mates and is settling in well with his new Rovers team-mates.
He’s also had a chance to see his fellow net minder in action and knows both himself and Sam (Sargeant) will have to be at the top of their respective games to keep each other on the bench.
Liam is also hoping for a memorable first season between the sticks in the north west.
“I was here just before Christmas to have a chat with John and people at the club and just to see the place”, he tells the club website.
“It’s a great set-up. I knew before coming here how tight-knit the club is within the community and you can feel it just being here. It’s always come across as a very well supported and well-run football club.
“I was really impressed with John from our first talks. He wants to play a certain style of football that suits me as a goalkeeper and both the training set-up and recruitment process is extremely professional.
“Sam’s an excellent ‘keeper. I’ve seen it first hand in training the last few days. We want to push each other as much as possible this season, it’s important for both of us and the team as a whole.
“It’s also huge that we have a settled squad. It’s a great help to have the time to get to know your team-mates well. You have to have that trust in the players in front of you and having these few weeks now to work with everyone is going to hopefully stand to us in the first few weeks of the season.
“It looks like there’s already a great team of players here and there’s strong belief amongst us already that this can be a successful season. I think we have to look at the European spots this season. We certainly have the ambition and are building a squad capable of getting there.”
David Goulden
*Players signed for 2026 season: Liam Hughes, Ryan O’Kane, Ciaron Harkin, Jeannot Esua, Daire Patton, Alex Nolan, Carl McHugh, Ollie Denham, 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.