ROSS TIERNEY has returned to Bohemians after a two-and-a-half-year absence.
Tierney, 23, had 12 months remaining on his Motherwell deal but has signed up with the Gypsies for a second spell in what the club said was a ‘multi-year contract’.
The ex-Ireland under-21 international had left Bohs for ‘Well in January 2022 and spent all of last season on loan at Walsall.
Although there have been two changes in manager since his departure, he has maintained strong links with the club which has paid an undisclosed fee to secure his services.
It follows last month’s formal signing of Jake Carroll, who had been training with the club with a view to joining prior to Alan Reynolds’ appointment in March.
Reynolds – who worked with Tierney with the Ireland under-21s – said: “I see getting Ross back to the club as a coup, and a reflection of the ambition we have to get Bohs back to where we belong.
“He is the calibre of talent I want to bring to this club.
“He has turned down bigger offers from other clubs to come back to the club that he loves, and there has been a huge amount of work in the background to get this over the line.
“Bohs means an awful lot to Ross, and it is clear that he wants to come back and be part of something new and exciting here.
“He is a player with passion, an eye for goal, and real quality in the final third. He also has the work ethic that I want to see from players.
“He has a great profile, and has already been a great player for Bohs, but what is most exciting for me is that I feel that the best is yet to come for Ross.
“He is a great guy, on and off the pitch, and I believe our fans will take to him again like they did here before.”
Tierney came through the ranks at partner club St Kevin’s before progressing through Bohs’ underage teams with his first-team debut coming in 2019.
He starred in Bohs’ Europa Conference League run in 2021, scoring a vital goal away to Dudelange, and his form that season helped Keith Long’s side reach the FAI Cup final and saw him nominated for the PFA Ireland Young Player of the Year Award.
His last appearance for Bohs was their defeat on penalties to St Pat’s in the Cup decider.
He made a good initial impression in Scotland, wining a penalty on his debut against Greenock Morton and scoring against Rangers.
But he spent last season on loan to Walsall, where he chipped in with three goals and three assists in 35 appearances.
Tierney’s capture is a boost to Rennie who is under fire after his team slipped to eighth in the table following a last-gasp defeat to Derry City last week.
He came in for criticism having missed much of the preparations as he was away with the Ireland under-21s.
Tierney said: “I am buzzing to be back. I am not just coming back to be happy being home – I am coming back to help Bohs push on, get back to where we belong, challenging for trophies and getting back into Europe.
“I have spoken to Rennie quite a bit since he came in and when I knew there was a chance I might come home.
“I know Rennie from the Ireland Under-21s. I know what he is about and what he wants to achieve here. I want to be a part of that and I can’t wait to get started.
“I’ve been to a good few games since I came back for the summer and I’ve always gone to games when I’ve been back home for breaks. The atmosphere in Dalymount is still there – we just need to start paying back that support with results on the pitch now.
“Those nights we had in Europe when I was here before are still the best nights I have had in my career and that’s where the club needs to be. That’s what I am here for.
“I am young, and I want to have a big career here with Bohs and to perform the way I was before I left and to push on further.”