Linfield have confirmed the signing of Joel Cooper on a long term contract following the winger’s recent decision to return home after parting company with Oxford United.
Cooper, who spent the latter half of the 2020/21 season on loan at Linfield after joining Oxford from the Blues in 2020, has put pen to paper on a three year deal.
The 26-year-old, who has scored 26 goals in 106 previous appearances for the Big Two giants, will join the club when the transfer window opens next month.
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The deal is also subject to international clearance.
Linfield boss David Healy said: “I'm really looking forward to working with Joel again and I know he can't wait to get started in pre-season in the weeks ahead.
“Joel is an experienced player who knows this league and who will have benefited greatly from the experience he gained while in England. He also fits into our way of playing.
“It's great that he has shown faith in the club and the squad, by committing himself to this three-year contract I know our supporters will be excited about the news of Joel returning.
“I want to thank our recruitment and development manager Willie McKeown for his support in securing this signing. I also want to thank our board for their backing in this matter.
“I'm really pleased to have got this business concluded now, to assist with our pre-season preparations in advance of an eagerly anticipated European and domestic campaign.”
Cooper is the first new arrival of the summer at Linfield, but Healy hopes to be busy in the transfer market, with striker Chris McKee also being linked with a return to the club.
McKee, who scored six goals in 16 games for the Blues after joining the club on loan from Rangers in January, is a free agent after parting company with the Glasgow club earlier this month.
Healy said: “I want to assure all our supporters that we are continuing to make plans to try and bring in further players, to strengthen the squad for what is sure to be an even tougher league season next year.”
New signing Cooper joined League One Oxford on a three-year deal in 2020 but struggled to settle for personal reasons and left the Us by mutual consent earlier this month.
The talented winger, who was voted Northern Ireland Footballer of the Year prior to his move to England two years ago, scored twice in just 12 appearances for Oxford.
He moved to Port Vale on loan in January, where he made six appearances, but didn’t feature for the League Two club beyond the end of March.
His last appearance for Oxford was a three minute cameo as a late substitute in a scoreless draw with Rotherham on November 27.
Cooper helped Linfield win the double, scoring in a 2-1 Irish Cup final win over Larne, in his last period on loan with the club in 2021.
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