Sligo Rovers are thrilled to announce that midfielder Matty Wolfe is the latest player to join the club. The 24-year-old has signed a one year deal with the Bit O’Red ahead of the 2025 League of Ireland season which gets underway in just over three weeks time.

A native of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Wolfe joined League One side Barnsley when he was ten and made his debut for the Tykes against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Championship in 2020 before spending time on loan at both Notts County and Danish side Esbjerg. He returned to his parent club ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, featuring for Barnsley in the Championship once again and in League One. He won Barnsley’s Young Player of the Year award at the end of the 2022 season.

Wolfe has been training with Rovers since the return to pre-season and having impressed boss John Russell, has today signed a 12 month deal. Matty revealed that words from former League of Ireland players, in particular his old teammate and once Shamrock Rovers player Barry Cotter, played a part in convincing him that the Showgrounds was the place to be for 2025.

“I’ve spoken to a few players about playing here”, he tells sligorovers.com.

“Barry said ‘just go’ and that I’d enjoy it. The football seems to be very under-rated over here and the way the teams play in the League of Ireland should suit my style.

“Training has gone really well so far, so I’m really looking forward to getting started now.

“The gaffer was in touch with me through Zoom and I was really interested in what he had to say. The ideas he had, the way he wants this team to play and the ambition he shows really impressed me. I want to be a part of that.”

Wolfe has already tasted life in football away from his homeland following a successful time in the Danish league with the aforementioned Esbjerg.

He’s now focusing on making his second spell away from home as enjoyable as the first.

“I really enjoyed Denmark, it was something new and a very different culture. I was out of my comfort zone, a little like coming over to Ireland, which is good. But everyone here is so welcoming and you can really feel that Sligo Rovers is one of those clubs that matters a lot to the local community.”

Adept at operating in the centre of the park, Wolfe explains his strengths.

He continues: “I can play anywhere in midfield whether that’s as a holding midfielder, securing the defensive side of things, keeping the ball moving. Or whether that’s playing higher and getting in and around the box. I’m happy to play anywhere really though.

“I want to help the team as much as I can and help us get as high up the table as we can.

“I’m looking forward to myself and the team putting in the performances and the rest takes care of itself.”

A recent knee injury affected Wolfe’s game time over the past few seasons. But speaking about his latest acquisition, Russell says he is confident the player is ready to make a big contribution at Rovers.

“It’s exciting to be able to bring a player of the calibre of Matty to the club”, Russell tells sligorovers.com.

“He’s a player with huge potential and is exactly the type of midfielder we need here.

“He’s aggressive and covers the ground as well as being comfortable in possession. A player like Matty really adds quality to the team.

“He has been unfortunate with injury which stalled his early promise at Barnsley. But he has fully recovered now and we want to get him back playing and enjoying his football again.

“I know from our conversations he is excited by the opportunity here and I’m looking forward to working with him this year.”

David Goulden