Gibraltar International becomes first new player to sign for Dundalk in 2023

It has been a tough transfer window for all associated with Dundalk FC, be they the owners, the management team or the fans.

While other sides have been rebuilding for 2023, the Lilywhites have stayed quiet, missing out on the likes of Ben McCormack and Johnny Kenny to name just two.

However yesterday evening the club announced its first new signing of year, with the arrival of Gibraltar International Louie Annesley.

The defender, who largely plays mostly as a centre back, moves to Oriel Park from Blackburn Rovers.

He played just once at Senior level for the Championship outfit, who sent him out on loan to the likes of Woking and Barnet where he gained experience playing in the National League, the fifth tier of the English football pyramid.

The 22-year-old met up with his new teammates at training on Monday, where the high levels of their pre-season preparations impressed him.

“It was really intense,” Annesley told Dundalkfc.com. “The standard was excellent, and I really enjoyed it. I’m raring to go and can’t wait for the first league game of the season to come around on February 17th.

“Dundalk is a club I was aware of from the success they’ve had over the past decade and from playing in the Europa League group stages, so when Stephen (O’Donnell) rang me, my ears pricked up straight away.

“The vision he sold me, aiming to win league titles and cups, and making real progress in Europe, is something that definitely appeals to me, and everything added up to make it the perfect move for me at this stage of my career.”

Annesley was born in London and was a product of the Chelsea academy as a youth before making the switch over to non-league Cobham when beginning his senior career.

His performances there saw him snapped up by Barnet, however in July 2018 he would leave the club to sign for Gibraltar based side Lincoln Red Imps, where he featured in their Europa League clash with the New Saints from Wales. In early 2019 he returned to the England with Blackburn.

The defender has an impressive international pedigree, having been capped for Gibraltar 35 times. He also holds the distinction of being the only player to have played for the nation at every age group from U16 all the way up to the Senior team.

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With the senior side he has even locked horns with the Republic of Ireland, having featured in both of their Euro 2020 qualifiers back in 2019. The teams have been grouped together again for the next qualification campaign which starts later this year.

Given that he now plays for the Lilywhites, Annesley knows those fixtures will have an added significance, but he is still looking forward to the clashes.

“It’s going to be weird,” he smiled. “I’m excited for those two games, especially now that I’m at Dundalk. Hopefully, I’ll have a couple of supporters in the Irish end.”