Walsall FC are delighted to announce forward Caolan Lavery as the club’s 15th summer signing.
Born in Canada, the 26-year-old started his professional career with Sheffield Wednesday, where he scored six goals in 34 Championship appearances, including a brace in a 6-0 thrashing of Leeds.
He had loans at Southend, Plymouth, Chesterfield and Portsmouth before signing for Steel City rivals United and featured 27 times as the Blades lifted the 2016/17 League One title.
Lavery, who has represented both Canada and Northern Ireland at youth level, gained third-tier promotion again the following season, this time via the play-offs on loan at Rotherham.
He achieved his third promotion in as many seasons by helping Bury finish runners-up in League Two last term, scoring five goals during a 16-game loan spell.
“I’m delighted to be here,” said Lavery.
“I had really positive conversations with the manager from the start. I could tell that it was a good group of coaches, a good group of players and good people around the club. That is really important.
“I had a really positive feeling about the club and I am usually quite good when it comes to gut feelings.
“I am a very honest player and I leave everything out there on the pitch. I am a hardworking player and I like to put defenders under pressure. I am a striker that likes to get in behind the backline.
“At every club, no matter where you are up and down the country, you need to have a good strike force.
“Every club that I have been with, competition is always good. You’re always working on each other to better each other and you’re always looking to keep everyone on their toes.”
Manager Darrell Clarke added: “I’m pleased to get Caolan in. He’s another piece of the jigsaw that we’re trying to put together here.
"He’s experienced and a hard worker, a grafter, which fits the bill in terms of what I’m after from centre forwards.
“It doesn’t do players any good to keep going out on loan, but he’s got a home now and He knows where the back of the net is.”