Brandywell transfer carousel: Brooklyn Lyons-Foster arrives as duo depart
Keeper Callister leaves on loan to Crusaders while academy graduate Callum Doherty departs to link up with Strabane Athletic
Derry City FC have have completed the signing of former Tottenham Hotspur academy defender Brooklyn Lyons-Foster from Finnish champions HJK Helsinki.
The 25-year-old right-back has flown straight to Croatia to hook up with his new teammates ahead of Thursday night's crunch UEFA Conference League clash against HNK Rijeka (7.45pm kick-off).
Lyons-Foster primarily plays as a right-back and spent his early career with Tottenham, coming through the academy system at the club.
He was a regular in the Premier League 2 side and was twice named on the bench for the Spurs first team during his time there.
The player moved to Finland in February 2024 and has appeared over 50 times for the Helsinki side, including playing Champions League and Europa League football.
In the current season, Lyons-Foster has appeared 15 times for HJK across League and Cup competitions.
With the Finnish League also in mid-season, the player will be immediately available to slot into the City defence.
Lyons-Foster would have been due to face-off against his brother, Kodi in tomorrow’s Conference League game with Coleraine in Helsinki, but has instead now joined up with his new Candystripes team-mates in Rijeka.
The transfer comes amid a busy week of squad rotation at the club. Promising young goalkeeper Shea Callister has secured a season-long loan move to NIFL Premiership outfit Crusaders FC to gain vital first-team minutes at Seaview.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old midfielder Callum Doherty has departed the Brandywell on a permanent contract, signing for NIFL Championship newcomers Strabane Athletic under manager Mo Mahon.
The 18-year old has come all the way through the City Academy, and Technical Director, Mark McChrystal was full of praise for the teenager's efforts at the Brandywell.
"I've worked with Callum from under-13 level up and he has been a pleasure to have at the club.
"He gives everything in training and in games and I know how much it meant to him to be invited to train with the senior squad.
"He went to Institute on loan last season, and understandably he wants to play regular men's football now and Mo Mahon was very keen to give him that opportunity at Strabane Athletic.
"We look forward to following Callum's progress going forward and wish him every success at Strabane."