Eastleigh Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of Gerry McDonagh.

The striker was at Nottingham Forest as a youngster between 2013 and 2015 before he signed professional terms with the club.

He made his professional debut in the Championship as an 80th-minute substitute in Forest’s home game against Cardiff City in August 2015.

He enjoyed loan spells at Wrexham, Cambridge United, and Tranmere Rovers during his three years at the club.

His 2016-17 campaign saw him gain invaluable experience of the National League, featuring 22 times for Wrexham, including 15 starts. During that time, he scored five goals.

McDonagh then made the step up to League Two for the remainder of the campaign, with five starts and eight substitute appearances for Cambridge United.

The Dublin-born forward signed for Barnsley in 2018 before a loan move to Aldershot became permanent a year later.

Spells at Tamworth and FC Halifax Town would follow before a loan move to Kettering Town.

McDonagh spent time at Scottish Championship side Cove Rangers where he made a total of 21 appearances for the side in all competitions, scoring six goals.

The striker most recently played for Scunthorpe United where he made one appearance in which he scored on his debut before he had his contract mutually terminated.

He has represented Republic of Ireland at Under-17 level, gaining five caps. He scored on his debut against Austria’s Under-17s in 2014.

Upon joining the Spitfires, McDonagh said:

“I’m delighted to be here and to get started. It’s an exciting club to be at and hopefully, I can kick on here.”

Manager Lee Bradbury is excited to have him here, adding:

“Gerry will give us physicality and battling qualities. He’s also a good team player and someone who can provide a focal point in the forward line.”

“With Kairo Mitchell being suspended and having international duty coming up, we need extra bodies in at an important time.”