Ex-Sunderland academy winger Rhys Walsh has returned to former club Glentoran following the expiration of his contract on Wearside.
The Northern Irish attacker initially joined the Black Cats from the East Belfast outfit in February 2024, and would go on to feature regularly at both U18 and U21 levels. Despite his repeated involvement with their development sides, however, Sunderland confirmed back in May that the teenager would be leaving the club this summer.
And Glentoran have now announced that Walsh has signed a long-term deal with the side who he made his senior debut for as a 17-year-old back during the 2023/24 campaign.
For his part, in his first interview since being unveiled as a Glentoran player once more, the forward was quick to express his gratitude for his time in England. He said: “Coming back to Glentoran feels really special. This is the club where I grew up, where I developed as a player and where I made my first steps into senior football, so to be back means a huge amount to me and my family.
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“I loved my time at Sunderland and I’m grateful for everything the club did for me. Training and playing in that environment every day helped me develop a lot and I feel I’ve come back a better player because of it. But now I’m back home and my focus is fully on Glentoran. I feel this is the right place for me to kick on and take the next step in my career.”
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