Portsmouth sign Republic of Ireland international midfielder McLaughlin | OneFootball

Portsmouth have completed the signing of Republic of Ireland international midfielder Erin McLaughlin on a one-year deal with the option of a further year.

Pompey announced news of the transfer via a post on their official club website this afternoon.

The 21-year-old joins Portsmouth following her departure from SSE Airtricity League Women’s Premier Division club Peamount United. The midfielder signed for her former club ahead of the 2022 SSE Airtricity League Women’s Premier Division season. She previously spent two years with Northern Irish Sports Direct Women’s Premiership side Sion Swifts.

In the 2020 season, McLaughlin was the fourth-highest goalscorer in the Northern Irish Sports Direct Women’s Premiership with seven goals. In her time at latest club Peamount United, the midfielder played 63 matches and scored 21 goals.

On the international stage, McLaughlin collected her first senior cap for the Republic of Ireland against Albania in the UEFA Women’s Nations League in 2022. She has picked up two further caps since making her debut for The Girls in Green.

After adding McLaughlin to his squad, Portsmouth boss Jay Sadler said “I’m delighted that Erin, a player whose rapid development we have followed closely, has decided to join us at Portsmouth.

“Erin’s consistently impressive performances for Peamount and Ireland, at such a young age, have understandably caught the eye of many a club.

“She’s an excellent fit for the way we play, possessing strong technical ability, high pressing energy and a really good footballing brain.

“I am confident we have the perfect environment here to harness her undoubted potential, and we look forward to working closely with her.”

McLaughlin is Portsmouth’s fourth signing of the summer transfer window following the recent additions of Sophie Barker, Hannah Coan and Megan Hornby.