Ballymena Utd transfer window review

2024-25 league position: 9th

Manager: Jim Ervin

Next five fixtures: Glentoran (H) - 6 September; Cliftonville (A) - 13 September; Linfield (H) - 16 September; Crusaders (A) - 20 September; Dungannon Swifts (H) - 27 September

Just like last season, it has been a busy summer at the Ballymena Showgrounds with plenty of ins and outs.

Some of the new arrivals like David Toure, Ali Gould, Joel Thompson and Matthew Clarke have gone straight into the side and settled quickly.

Daire O'Connor, one of the eye-catching additions, has yet to really see minutes due to Ballymena's impressive start to the campaign but will be keen to make an impact after previous good spells in the league with Glentoran and Cliftonville.

It has been a pretty good window for Jim Ervin as the Sky Blues have brought in better quality players and seem to have more depth, but the one glaring position they failed to upgrade on was in the striker department.

Ervin lamented their lack of cutting edge in their first defeat of the season against Larne and like last season, an overreliance on Ben Kennedy may come back to bite them.

2025-26 signings so far: Ryan McNickle (Newry City), Declan Breen (Cliftonville), Matthew Clarke (Livingston), Jack O'Reilly (Carrick Rangers), Daire O'Connor (Hamilton Academical), David Toure (Glenavon), Joel Thompson (Finn Harps), Ali Gould (Watford)

2025-26 departures so far: Luke Hawe (Southampton), Johnny McMurray (retired), Sam Johnston (unattached), Caleb Crawford (unattached), Fiontan O'Boyle (Ballyclare Comrades), Shane Flynn (unattached), Jordan McMullan (Glenavon), Duncan Idehen (Derry City, end of loan), Conor Barr (Derry City, end of loan), Ethan Devine (Linfield, end of loan), Joe Moore (Armagh City), Shea McAuley (Coagh United, loan), Lewis Tennant (Dundela, loan), Caolan Loughran (Ards, loan)