Ireland defender Dara O'Shea signs new deal with West Brom until 2025

Ireland defender Dara O’Shea has signed a contract extension at West Brom, keeping him at the club until 2025.

The 23-year-old has made 66 senior appearances for the Baggies to date. O’Shea signed for the club in 2016 from St Kevin’s Boys and progressed through the U-18 and U-23 sides, before making his senior debut in August 2019.

After breaking his ankle in Ireland's 2-1 loss to Portugal, the centre back was sidelined for five months last year. O'Shea has 13 caps for Ireland under Stephen Kenny and last played for his country in the victory over Lithuania in March.

“Albion has been my home for six years and I’m delighted that will be the case for at least another three,” said O’Shea.

"The club has helped me grow throughout my career, and I will do all in my power to earn back their confidence and faith this season. I know I'm not the only one that is eager about the new season and cannot wait for us to begin.

On July 30, West Brom will play their first Championship match against Middlesbrough. According to manager Steve Bruce, Dara is a superb centre back and a role model for professionalism.

"At the end of the previous season, he got back in shape, and throughout the summer, he got stronger. I'm thrilled that we were able to extend Dara's contract by another three years. Dara is passionate about Albion and driven to succeed in this place. I have faith that we can accomplish that as a team.

Barry Cotter has been loaned out from Shamrock Rovers to St. Patrick's Athletic till the end of the current campaign.

Ten of the 23-year-old defender's 16 appearances for the Hoops this season have come as a substitute. If Cotter can play in Thursday's Europa Conference League match against Slovenian team Mura, St Pat's is awaiting word from UEFA.

The Clare native, who can also play wing-back, signed for Mick McCarthy's Ipswich Town in January 2018 after leaving Limerick FC, however he only made two professional appearances. Before joining Rovers in August 2021, he spent two loan seasons at Chelmsford. There, he won the Premier Division. In addition, Cotter has competed for Ireland at the U-21 and U-19 levels.

Following Jack Scott's return to Wolves last week, Cotter will don the number two jersey. This afternoon, the Inchicore team is practising in preparation for the sold-out European match at Richmond Park.