Conor Downey was a full-time professional at Linfield

Conor Downey has left Linfield to re-join former club Cliftonville after the clubs agreed a fee on Monday night.

Downey left the Solitude club to join the Blues in January 2007 but has now returned to the Reds after a year and a half at the Windsor Park outfit.

Downey submitted a transfer request during the summer and was the subject of a bid from Ballymena United.

Linfield turned down an offer of �10,000 for the player who indicated he did not want to join the Sky Blues.

"In the last few days Conor re-initiated contact with Cliftonville asking them if they were still interested in signing him," Linfield manager David Jeffrey told the Linfield website.

"I was contacted by Eddie Patterson on Sunday, discussed the matter with the Linfield Management Committee and we agreed to Conor's transfer request subject to satisfactory transfer terms.

"I contacted Gerard Lawlor at Cliftonville and terms were agreed with the Solitude club.

"Conor is therefore rejoining Cliftonville for the amount we paid them when he joined us.

"The bottom line is we only want players at Windsor Park who want to be here and are totally committed to this club.

"I would like to thank Conor for the contribution which he made to this club and wish him all the very best for the future."