General
- Monday November 11th, 2024 @ 12:48
Simon Power Joins The Saints
St Patrick's Athletic have continued to build for 2025 and beyond with the addition of winger Simon Power, who joins from Sligo Rovers.
The 26-year-old, who played under Manager Stephen Kenny for the Republic of Ireland U21s, has signed a two-year contract at Richmond Park.
The Greystones native began his League of Ireland career with Cabinteely, making his LOI debut in 2015 before joining UCD.
Power joined Championship side Norwich City in January 2018, and had loan spells at Dutch side Dordrecht and Ross County in Scotland before a move to English League Two side Harrogate Town in January 2021.
Simon returned home to Ireland in July 2022 to Shamrock Rovers, and was part of their 2022 and 2023 Premier Division winning squads, before a move to Sligo Rovers at the beginning of the 2024 campaign.
Power made 19 appearances last season, scoring four times.
He said:
"I'm absolutely delighted to have joined St Patrick's Athletic, I heard of the interest a couple of weeks ago and there was also interest in myself from elsewhere, I'm relieved to have got it over the line and I'm looking forward to it all starting.
There were many factors in me joining. The idea of working under Stephen Kenny again was a major pull, working under him at the Ireland U21s was some of the best times of my career, and I think it's a really exiting time to be at St Pat's, off the back of their form at the end of last season, we've got European football to look forward to next season as well, and ultimately I want to come here and win."
Watch Simon's full interview on our Youtube below.
Manager Stephen Kenny said:
"We're delighted to welcome Simon to St Patrick's Athletic.
Simon has always had electric pace, his recorded level of speed is on a par with Chiedozie Ogbene, but much more than that, he is a very skilful footballer, an exciting dribbler, and has added different facets to his game, playing off the right or the left wing.
His crossing ability has been of a high standard, so much so that he was taking all of the set pieces last season and he also scored four goals last season.
Often with players of that level of explosive speed, injuries can be challenging, so we've got to formulate a programme that works for Simon with our medical and sport science team, so that he can maximise his potential.
Simon played for me with the Ireland U21s in the Toulon tournament in 2019 against Mexico and Brazil, with Zack Elbouzedi and Jamie Lennon, and he will be a real addition to St Patrick's Athletic over the next few seasons."
Director of Football Ger O'Brien added:
"Simon is one of the most exciting wide players in the country and someone who we have watched closely this season, I'd like to welcome him to St Patrick's Athletic.
He's got fantastic attributes that we feel will fit in well with how Stephen wants the team to play, Simon will excite our supporters with his pace and directness and will complement our other attacking players."
Power is the first new recruit of this off season, with Danny Rogers, Anto Breslin and Jamie Lennon all signing new contracts over the last couple of weeks.
