Darren Kelly, the former Northern Ireland under-21 international, has returned to Derry City after spells in England and over the border but he can not feature in a competitive game until the transfer window reopens in July.
Kelly left Derry for Carlisle in 2002 but joined Portadown when the club was relegated from the English football league. He has spent the last two seasons at Shamrock Park but his contract was due to expire next month
Just last month he looked destined to join Jim Gannon's League Two strugglers Stockport County while Linfield and Glentoran also held talks with the 26-year-old. A number of other prominent eircom League clubs were also monitoring his situation.
"I'm delighted to be back playing for my home town club," Kelly said. "I've watched the team improve steadily under Stephen Kenny and am just looking forward to working hard to try to get my place on the team".
Kelly's time at Portadown had grown increasingly fractious after he criticised the attitude of some of his team-mates. The defender had been full-time in England but part-time with Portadown.
With the transfer window opening on July 1st, Kelly is likely to be available for Derry's League Cup quarter-final tie - the draw for which will be made this weekend - on the week of July 3rd.
He will, though, play in a friendly at the Brandywell on Tuesday when Derry host Castlebar Celtic who are using the fixture as a warm-up for their FAI Cup clash with Shamrock Rovers later this month.
