Larne sign defender Sam McClelland from St Johnstone

Irish Premiership champions Larne have completed the signing of 24-year-old defender Sam McClelland. The defender joins the club at Inver Park after a four-year spell in England and Scotland. McClelland moved from Coleraine's academy to Chelsea in 2018. He spent the 2022-23 season on loan at Barrow in the English Football League. In 2023 he signed for St Johnstone, playing at McDiarmid Park. A subsequent loan to Dundee United saw him help the Tannadice club win the Scottish Championship. Internationally, McClelland has been capped at youth level up to the under‑21 side, making ten appearances. He made his senior debut for Northern Ireland against Ukraine in a friendly in June 2021. A ruptured Achilles injury kept him out for a year, but he has returned to fitness. Larne manager Gary Haveron said McClelland is fully fit after a swift medical and will add presence, leadership and composure to the squad. Haveron added he expects the defender to boost Larne ahead of their European and domestic campaigns.