Former Sunderland forward Aiden O'Brien has joined League One Shrewsbury Town. The Republic of Ireland international has signed a two-year contract with the Shrews, running to the summer of 2024.
The 28-year-old spent 18 months on Wearside before joining Portsmouth on a short-term deal on deadline day in the January transfer window. But, after scoring five goals in 17 outings for Pompey as the South Coast club finished tenth in the League One table, he has left Fratton Park after only five months.
O'Brien was brought to Sunderland by Phil Parkinson in the summer of 2020, joining the club after his contract at Championship side Millwall expired. Despite being capable of playing across the front line, he struggled to nail down a regular place in the side and looked set to leave Sunderland to join Doncaster Rovers last summer but his deadline-day move to South Yorkshire fell through.
READ MORE: Sunderland's contract clean sweep means Black Cats retain Championship knowhow
He made just seven league starts for Sunderland last term under then-boss Lee Johnson before moving on to Portsmouth. O'Brien later described his time at Sunderland as 'absolutely abysmal', saying he 'didn't enjoy it at all', and that he felt he was 'kind of rotting away'.
In total, O'Brien made 66 appearances for the Black Cats in all competitions and scored 12 goals.
READ NEXT:
