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Coleraine confirm Cooper capture on multi-year deal

Joel Cooper celebrates with the Gibson CupPress Eye

Joel Cooper has made his long-awaited switch to Coleraine from Irish Premiership champions Linfield

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Coleraine have announced the g of Irish Premiership title winner Joel Cooper on a "multi-year deal".

Cooper's contract at Linfield expired at the end of the season and the 29-year-old had been heavily linked with a move to the Showgrounds midway through the campaign.

However, it did not hamper the attacker's form as he scored 19 goals to help Linfield win the Irish Premiership for the first time in three seasons.

His performances throughout the season saw him win the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Player of the Year, Ulster Footballer of the Year, Northern Ireland Football League Player of the Year and PFA NI Player of the Year.

Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins he was excited to start working with Cooper, who he described as a "winner".

"He's won over and over again and knows what it takes," said former Derry City boss Higgins, who replaced Dean Shiels as manager in May.

"He's an extremely talented footballer that anyone would want to work with.

"I'm excited to start working with him and the conversations I've had with Joel, he's a very driven individual and he will come here looking to achieve and take this club to the next level."

Cooper started his career at Ballyclare Comrades and made the move to top flight side Glenavon, where he won the Irish Cup in 2016.

He made the switch to David Healy's Linfield in 2018 and helped the Blues win three Irish Premiership titles in a row as well as an Irish Cup.

Cooper's form saw him earn a move to League One side Oxford United, but he returned to the Irish Premiership with Linfield on an initial loan spell in 2022 before a permanent deal was struck between the clubs.

He played a key role in two League Cup triumphs and as the Blues won the Irish Premiership title this season.

"If you want to achieve and get other players to follow – you need winners in your changing room and I think he will lead with his actions," added Higgins.

"What he achieved last season was incredible and I think he will be absolutely brilliant for this football club."

Cooper is the latest high-profile addition to Coleraine, who have signed Kodi Lyons-Foster from Glentoran and Stephen Fallon from Linfield.

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