Glentoran Football Club is delighted to announce that defender Harry Murphy has signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract extension and joined Sports Direct Premiership side Glenavon on loan for the remainder of the 2024/25 season.
The 21-year-old has committed his future to The BetMcLean Oval until the end of the 2026/27 season. He makes the move to Mourneview Park to gain valuable first-team experience after spending the first half of the season as a member of Glentoran’s first-team squad.
Murphy, who joined the Glens in 2022 from Portadown, has made 22 senior appearances for the club. His progress was interrupted by a significant knee injury sustained in April 2023, before making a successful return to first-team action in October 2023.
He has made four appearances this season for Declan Devine’s side, but opportunities in the starting lineup have been limited due to the consistent form of central defenders Marcus Kane, Frankie Hvid, and Kodi Lyons-Foster, along with the recent arrivals of Ciarán Coll and Shane McEleney.
Speaking about his new contract and loan move, Harry Murphy said: “I’m absolutely delighted to commit my future to Glentoran. Declan and I had a great discussion about my development and we both agreed that going on loan to Glenavon for the rest of the season is the right step for me at this stage in my career.
“Glenavon is a great club and I’m looking forward to pushing for first-team minutes and gaining valuable experience. After missing time due to injury, I’m determined to play regularly and continue improving all aspects of my game.”
Declan Devine, First Team Manager at Glentoran said: “Harry is a talented young player with great potential and this loan move to Glenavon is an excellent opportunity for him to gain regular first-team football. Paddy McLaughlin is a fantastic manager and Glenavon provides the ideal environment for Harry to develop further.
“Harry has been unfortunate with game time this season due to the form of our other central defenders, but we see Harry as a key part of Glentoran’s future. This loan spell will hopefully allow him to play regularly at a competitive level and come back to us as an even better player.
Paul Millar, Sporting Director at Glentoran said: “Harry has immense potential and we see him as an integral part of Glentoran’s squad moving forward. This loan move is an excellent opportunity for him to gain regular game time and continue his development in the Sports Direct Premiership.
“We’ll be closely monitoring his progress at Glenavon and we’re confident this spell will provide him with the platform to take his game to the next level. It’s another example of our commitment to nurturing young talent and ensuring they’re prepared to play a key role in the club’s success.”