Football: Coleraine confirm capture of Cooper from Linfield
Coleraine have confirmed the signing of Joel Cooper from Linfield.
The 29-year-old attacker makes the switch to The Showgrounds on what is being called a multi-year deal.
Cooper arrives after his 19 goals helped Linfield win the Sports Direct Premiership title, while the NI Football Writers’ Player of the Year, the Ulster Footballer of the Year, the NIFL Player of the Year and the PFA NI Player of the Year.
Cooper started his career at Ballyclare Comrades before joining Glenavon, where he helped the Lurgan Blues win the Irish Cup in 2016.
He then joined Linfield for the first of his two permanent spells in 2018 and played a pivotal role as David Healy’s men won the Irish Premiership in three successive seasons, which also included the Irish Cup in 2021.
His performances drew the attention of English side Oxford United, before Cooper returned home to Northern Ireland where a loan move back to Linfield was made permanent – sandwiched between a temporary spell at Port Vale.
His second spell at Windsor Park yielded another league title success and two League Cups as Cooper continued to deliver in the big moments.
On the international scene, Cooper featured five times for Northern Ireland U21s and was called-up to the senior squad in 2020 under Ian Baraclough.
First-team boss Ruaidhri Higgins admitted he is excited to start working with Cooper ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
He said: “Joel is obviously a winner, he’s won over and over again and knows what it takes.
“He’s an extremely talented footballer that anyone would want to work with.
“I’m excited to start working with him and the conversations I’ve had with Joel, he’s a very driven individual and he will come here looking to achieve and take this club to the next level.
“If you want to achieve and get other players to follow – you need winners in your changing room and I think he will lead with his actions.
“What he achieved last season was incredible and I think he will be absolutely brilliant for this football club.”
Cooper becomes Coleraine's second signing from Linfield in 24 hours after the Bannsiders captured Midfielder Stephen Fallon yesterday.
They've also brought in centre-back Kodi Lyons-Foster from Glentoran in the Sumer transfer window.