Sligo Rovers have signed Lithuanian defender Sigitas Olberkis from Maltese club Senglea Athletic.
The 23-year-old, who won nine Under-21 caps, has agreed an initial deal until the end of the season.
And the centre-back, who has also played in Lithuania, Belarus and Latvia, won't have to quarantine as Lithuania is on the Irish government’s green list.
Olberkis is awaiting international clearance ahead of Saturday’s home game against Shelbourne.
“When football stopped (because of the Covid pandemic) at my previous club, the league was declared over for the season so that was it, I had to go home,” he said today.
“I've been waiting for a new season. When it was put to me about moving to Sligo, I know it's a good league and it's a good option.”
Olberkis streamed the Bit O’Red’s 2-0 win away to Derry last Friday, adding: “It showed me why Ireland often comes up as a league for players to go to.
“It's a good league and a good standard. I’m here for this season but I’d like to be here for longer. But I’m ready to play.”
Rovers boss Liam Buckley was eager to sign more defenders owing to a spate of injuries to the likes of John Mahon.
“Sigitas is a great addition, a really good ball player and he has played in a few leagues so it’s not a major transition to come here,” said Buckley.
“He was with Žalgiris last season who are one of the leading teams in his country and was doing well in Malta before that league stopped.
“He’s available straight away once we get clearance, any player we would bring in now has to be from a country where it is safe to do so.
“We’re getting close to some of the defenders coming back and we’ll be really strong in that area.”
