Dundalk have completed the signing of Albanian goalkeeper Alessio Abibi.
The arrival of the Italian-born shot-stopper goes some way to replacing Lilywhites stalwart Gary Rogers who confirmed his retirement last month.
With Aaron McCarey's release, Dundalk had been left without a senior goalkeeper on their books with the 2021 season looming.
The County Louth club also saw goalkeeping coach Steve Williams leave to take up a role with Mickey Harte's backroom team with the Wee County's senior footballers.
McCarey has since joined Cliftonville, with Rogers also entering the gaelic football realm as Seamus McEnaney's goalkeeping coach with Monaghan.
24-year old Abibi's most recent outpost was Albanian top flight side KS Kastrioti whom he joined in September, staying for only two months.
Prior to that were spells at Italian Serie C sides Cavese and Avellino, and Albanian club Tirana.
"Alessio was one of the goalkeepers that I studied and scouted and of them all, he was the one with the best characteristics of how we want to play,” Dundalk head coach Filippo Giovagnoli told the club's website.
“He is big, really good in the air, strong on defensive set-pieces, brave and good on the ball in the build-up.
"He is also young, only 24, and is a player that we can develop. He has a brilliant future ahead of him."
Abibi is Dundalk's second signing of the close season, following the arrival of KI's Norwegian striker Ole Erik Midtskogen.
The club have also secured the likes of Michael Duffy, Sean Murray, Daniel Kelly, David McMillan and Cameron Dummigan to new deals.
"Mikey was a player that we really wanted to keep at Dundalk,” Giovagnoli said.
"It was just a matter of trying to find a deal for him because he was out of contract.
"I think he was always willing to stay but when you have to sign a contract then it becomes a bit of business between the player and the club.
"The club always wanted Mikey to stay and they did their best to keep him.
"He is a top player for us and I think the chairman Bill Hulsizer and the sporting director Jim Magilton did a good job keeping him here.”
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