Glentoran Women are delighted to confirm the signing of Northern Ireland youth international Naomi McLaughlin from Scottish Women’s Premier League side Aberdeen.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder becomes the latest addition to Kim Turner’s squad as the Glens continue to strengthen ahead of a pivotal second half of the season and their forthcoming UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign.

McLaughlin joins the club as Glentoran prepare to face Latvian champions Riga FC Women in the First Qualifying Round of the UEFA Women’s Champions League on Wednesday 22nd July.

The Northern Ireland Under-17 and Under-19 international arrives from Aberdeen after making ten senior appearances and scoring twice in the Scottish Women’s Premier League.

Prior to her move to Scotland, McLaughlin established herself as one of the Sports Direct Women’s Premiership’s brightest young talents during a highly successful spell with Cliftonville.

Having joined Cliftonville from Sion Swifts in January 2024, McLaughlin played her part in a domestic treble-winning campaign, which included an unbeaten Sports Direct Women’s Premiership title, before helping the club retain the Irish Cup the following season.

Her performances earned widespread recognition, with McLaughlin named Sports Direct Women’s Premiership Player of the Month for June 2025 and shortlisted for the NIFL Women’s Young Player of the Year award.

Speaking after completing her move to The BetMcLean Oval, Naomi McLaughlin said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Glentoran. It’s a massive club with a fantastic reputation, and after speaking with Kim it was clear this was the right place for me.

“I really enjoyed my time at Aberdeen and I’d like to thank everyone at the club for the opportunity they gave me. I’ve grown so much in such a short space of time, both on and off the pitch, and I’ll always be grateful for that experience.

“When I spoke to Kim about her plans for the team, how she sees me fitting into it and how she wants to help me continue developing as a player, I knew this was the challenge I wanted to take on.

“I’m ambitious and I want to win trophies. Glentoran is a club that’s consistently challenging for honours and that’s exactly the sort of environment I want to be part of.

“I’ve already had the chance to train with the girls and they’ve made me feel really welcome. There’s a lot of quality within the squad and I’m excited to get started and hopefully help the team enjoy another successful season.”

Kim Turner, Glentoran Women’s Manager said: “We’re delighted to welcome Naomi to Glentoran. She attracted interest from a number of clubs, both here and across the water, so we’re really pleased she chose Glentoran as the best place to continue her development.

“We know exactly the quality she brings. Naomi is a talented attacking player who adds real depth and competition to our squad. Of course, her goals from midfield are a huge asset, but it’s her all-round game, technical ability and understanding of the game that really stood out to us.

“At just 20 years of age, Naomi still has enormous potential and we’re looking forward to helping her continue her development. She’s settled into the squad really well already and we’re confident she’ll make a significant contribution during what promises to be a hugely exciting second half of the season.”