Former Ballymena striker Aaron Boyd signs for Coleraine

Aaron Boyd in action for Ballymena United against Coleraine

Coleraine have completed the signing of young striker Aaron Boyd from their Premiership rivals Ballymena United.

Boyd, who left Ballymena earlier this week, has signed a contract taking him to the end of the 2012-13 season.

Bannsiders boss Oran Kearney said he had been watching Boyd's progress.

"I know Aaron from my playing days at Linfield. We missed out on signing him during the summer, but he felt he is career at Ballymena was stagnating," Kearney told the Coleraine website.

"He is a strong targetman, who scored a lot of goals through the ranks at Linfield and will add further strength to our options up front.

"He is just about to turn 21 and has the potential to be a big asset to this club."

Ballymena said that, as Boyd was an amateur player, it had been agreed that he was free to move to Coleraine.

Boyd, who trained with his new team-mates for the first time on Thursday night, is not available for Saturday's game away to Cliftonville.

But he be eligible to make his first Coleraine appearance against Carrick Rangers on 7 January.