Lincoln agree deal for Shamrock Rovers' Honohan

Lincoln City have reached an agreement to sign Shamrock Rovers defender Josh Honohan in January.

The 24-year-old will complete his move to the third tier of English football when the transfer window opens and both international clearance and English Football League approval can be given.

Honohan's final match for Shamrock Rovers was November's FAI Cup final victory against his former side Cork City.

He has made nearly 100 appearances across all competitions for the Dublin-based club since joining them in January 2024.

Imps director of football Jez George told BBC Radio Lincolnshire that they first identified Honohan as a target at the start of 2025 and have chased his signature ever since.

"It's a signing that has taken quite a long time to get over the line," George said.

"It's been in the public domain for some time, from the summer onwards, and we are delighted to get it done and are respectful that he is still someone else's player at this time.

"We think it's a really good signing for the football club for the short, medium and long term."

It was thought that Lincoln's move for Honohan would demand a club-record fee being paid, but it is understood that the £350,000 it cost the Imps to get Ukrainian midfielder Ivan Varfolomeyev from Czech side Slovan Liberec last summer was not surpassed.

Honohan, who remains uncapped at international level despite being included in the the Republic or Ireland squad earlier squad this year, joins a Lincoln side that are third in the League One table after 20 games - although every team around them has played at least one match fewer.