Former Inter Milan defender Ryan Nolan signs for Northampton Town

Irish player (23) signs contract with League Two outfit after spell at Getafe in Spain

Ryan Nolan in action for Inter Milan under-19s during a Serie A Primavera match against US Citta di Palermo at Stadio Breda on May 25th, 2019. Photograph: Claudio Villa – Inter/FC Internazionale via Getty Images

Irish defender Ryan Nolan has joined League Two side Northampton Town.

The 23-year-old from Co Clare has signed a contract until the end of next season.

The former under-18 Republic of Ireland international spent three years at Inter Milan and made his senior debut for SS Arezzo in the Italian lower leagues in 2019.

He last played for Getafe B in the Spanish fourth tier in 2021. He was brought up in Spanish having moved to Murcia with his family as an eight-year-old.

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Northampton manager John Brady told the club website:

“Ryan is a player who is very much one for the future.

“He is a talented young player who was on a great career path before he suffered an injury but he has been training with us for a few weeks and has done well.

“We see a lot of potential in him and we think, as we have with a number of players, we can develop him further.

“We have taken him on board now and we may look to loan him out in the next few weeks so he can get a regular run of games under his belt as games and regular football is what he needs.

“As his background shows, he is a player with an excellent pedigree and a good upbringing.

“Ryan was in line to make his first team debut for Getafe before he was injured and you can see the potential he has.

“He has really impressed us so we wanted to tie him down ahead of securing him a potential loan move, which might be ideal for him at this stage.”

Simon Bracken

Simon Bracken

Simon Bracken is a journalist at The Irish Times