Walsall Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of defender Evan Weir on an 18-month contract, with the option of a further year in the Club’s favour, from Drogheda United.
The 21-year-old will join the Club on 1st January 2024 when the transfer window officially opens.
Weir will then immediately return to Drogheda on loan before he links up with the Saddlers in the summer of 2024.
Versatile defender Weir, previously joined Drogheda in December 2021, ahead of the 2022 campaign.
He has played 56 times and scored 5 goals in all competitions for The Drogs over the last two seasons.
The defender was also voted by supporters as their Young Player of the Year in the 2022 season.
Prior to his move to Weavers Park, he played for UCD and also had a spell at Maynooth University Town.
His form for UCD saw him earn a call up to the provisional squad for Republic of Ireland Under 21s match against Montenegro in 2021.
Weir is now excited to be embarking on a new challenge in England with the Saddlers.
“I am absolutely buzzing,” began Weir. “Freddie Draper is here and I have chatted a lot to him, he has told me all about the club and how well it is run and everything about it.
“I have looked at it myself, looked at the fans, looked at the training ground and the stadium, it’s just unbelievable and I can’t wait to get going.
“I think (the Irish connection) will definitely help me settle in. I want to be able to settle down and learn from them.
“I will get a run of games in (at Drogheda) and to keep some good form going and then hopefully come into preseason flying, I think that is the best for me and I can then really show what I am about.”
Head Coach Mat Sadler is also looking forward to the defender’s arrival.
“I am delighted to get the signing of Evan completed,” said the Head Coach.
“He is someone who we have watched at length with our links to Drogheda. He will head back to Drogheda to play now for the next six months and we are looking forward to seeing his progress over that time period with them.
“He is a really good young player with a fantastic future and we were pleased to get his signature over a lot of other clubs who were looking at him.
“It’s fantastic for us to have the link we have between ourselves and Drogheda. This is the start of the link up that we have.
“The standard of football in the Irish Premier League is a very good standard, we have seen that with the players that are coming over. We have seen it with Ross Tierney who we have in the building ourselves.”
Weir’s signing is subject to international clearance and is also subject to EFL and FA approval.