Nathaniel Ferris insists he's "ready to fight" for his place after securing a big move to Glentoran. The former Loughgall striker has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the East Belfast giants.
Ferris admits it was an easy decision to say 'yes' to Declan Devine as he hailed the Glens' "high-intensity football" and "never-say-die attitude".
The 26-year-old Magheralin man leaves Lakeview Park as Loughgall’s all-time leading scorer, having scored 74 goals in 184 appearances for the Villagers.
This season he has bagged six goals in 23 games, including a well-taken strike against Glentoran in last weekend’s fixture at Lakeview Park.
Ferris becomes Glentoran’s fifth signing of the January transfer window, joining Christie Pattisson, Shane McEleney, Ciarán Coll and Joe Thomson at the BetMcLean Oval.
He said: “I’m absolutely delighted to join Glentoran. It’s a massive club, and when a team of this size comes calling, it’s hard to say no.
“Loughgall has been fantastic to me throughout my career and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time there, but I’m an ambitious player and I felt this was the perfect moment to take the next step and join one of the top sides in the Sports Direct Premiership.
“Declan and his coaching staff have the team playing exciting, high-intensity football with a never-say-die attitude. The squad is in excellent form, having already secured the County Antrim Shield, competing for two more trophies, and pushing hard for European qualification.
“It’s an exciting time to be joining the club and I can’t wait to get started. I’m ready to fight for my place, contribute to the team, and help the squad challenge for league titles and achieve even more success.”
Glentoran manager Devine is a big fan of Ferris, having tracked the progress of the striker "for some time".
He added: “Nathaniel is a player who has impressed us for some time and we’ve been tracking his progress closely, so we’re thrilled to welcome him to the BetMcLean Oval. He brings a new dimension to our forward line and perfectly complements the talent we already have in the squad.
“Nathaniel is an outstanding fit for Glentoran. He’s a proven goal-scorer with invaluable experience and a relentless determination to succeed at the highest level of the local game. This signing is a testament to our ambition to continually strengthen the team with players who possess the hunger, drive and ambition to achieve success for the club."
Paul Millar, Sporting Director at Glentoran said: “We’re thrilled to secure Nathaniel’s signature and bring him to Glentoran. His hunger and ambition to test himself at one of the top clubs in the league was evident from our very first conversation and that kind of determination is exactly what we look for in a player.
“Nathaniel is a proven goal scorer and players with his natural instinct and calibre are incredibly hard to find. We are confident we’ve secured one of the top strikers in the Sports Direct Premiership. He will be a key asset for the club as we continue to challenge for success on all fronts and build a squad capable of competing at the highest level.”
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