Football: Glentoran snap up former Rangers and Celtic midfielder
Glentoran have signed of Scottish midfielder Liam Burt on a two-year deal, with the option of a third season.
The 26-year-old becomes the club’s first signing of the summer and joins the Glens following the mutual termination of his contract with League of Ireland Premier Division side Shamrock Rovers.
Burt spent last season on loan at Shelbourne, playing a role in Damien Duff’s League of Ireland Premier Division title-winning side. He made 35 appearances, scoring twice.
"I'm absolutely delighted to sign for Glentoran - one of the biggest clubs in Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland," says Burt.
"I’ve played for big clubs in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, so I know the expectation, pressure and responsibility that come with that and I enjoy that challenge.
“When I spoke to Declan about his plans for the squad and the club’s ambitions, his passion and love for Glentoran really stood out – and that sold it for me. He and Paul Millar made a brilliant pitch, and I knew straight away it was the right move," he added.
“I’ve done my homework on Glentoran and have been hugely impressed by the progress the club has made over the past year. Declan and his staff have reshaped the squad and built strong foundations for long-term success. The ambition here matches my own – I’ve come to win trophies and achieve as much as I possibly can.”
A product of the Celtic and Rangers youth systems, Burt made his senior debut for Rangers at the age of 17, before loan spells at Scottish Championship sides Dumbarton and Alloa Athletic.
He later joined Celtic before moving to the League of Ireland in 2021 with Bohemians, where he made 62 league appearances and scored 15 goals during a two-year spell at Dalymount Park.
The Glasgow native, who has represented Scotland at every level from U16 to U21, spent the 2023 season with Shamrock Rovers, making 16 appearances as they secured the League of Ireland title, before joining on loan for the Shels’ 2024 title-winning campaign.
"I'm absolutely delighted to bring Liam to Glentoran," said Manager Declan Devine.
"I only had a brief opportunity to work with him when I first took over at Bohemians, but even in that short time, I was hugely impressed by his talent, attitude and footballing intelligence.
“Since then, I’ve followed his progress closely. He won the league with Shamrock Rovers and then played a major role in Shelbourne’s title-winning campaign. He’s a winner and that mentality, combined with his natural ability, really stood out to me. He’ll add a completely different dimension to our midfield – he’s creative, versatile and a real attacking threat.
“This signing is a real statement of intent from the club and from our owner, Ali Pour, as we continue building for next season and beyond. It shows we are targeting the very best players available and Liam is undoubtedly one of the finest midfield talents to have played in the League of Ireland in recent years," Devine added.
“We are identifying key areas to strengthen and are determined to continue assembling a squad capable of pushing for the league title and challenging for trophies. I'm excited to see Liam pull on the Glentoran shirt and I know our fans will love what he brings to this team."