Shamrock Rovers F.C. confirm the signing of Welsh International, Adam Matthews ahead of the 2025 season.
Speaking to shamrockrovers.ie about this exciting signing, head coach Stephen Bradley said:
You’ve signed vastly experienced former Welsh international defender Adam Matthews. You must be happy to have acquired such a seasoned and successful professional as Adam?
“We’re absolutely delighted. He’s one we’ve been working on for a while now and had many conversations. We are delighted to get Adam in, with the level he has played at. Stephen McPhail had actually played with Adam, so we knew quite a lot about him. He will bring really valuable experience, and his ability on the pitch speaks for itself so we’re really looking forward to getting Adam in.”
What was the timeline or thinking that led to Adam’s arrival at the club?
As I said, he’s someone we’ve been working on for a number of weeks, been talking to Adam, also Stephen (McPhail) was talking to his agent. The conversations were really positive, but like anything, these things take time. So, we’re delighted to get it done and looking forward to working with Adam.”
Adam has played at the highest level of professional football, won trophies for Celtic including a four in a row league title run there and is arriving following a two-year stint with Omonia in Cyprus where he won Cypriot Cup winner’s medal in 2023. What do you expect Adam can bring to this season’s group?
“As you mentioned there in terms of the level he’s played at, we all know what you need to play at that level in terms of ability, so he’s obviously got that. Also, anyone you speak to, or worked with or played with Adam will tell you he’s a top-class professional. He’s one we think is really important for the group. We’ve obviously signed some young players, so it’ll be nice to have that bit of experience and understanding around them. So, he’s one we think can help the group go to another level.”
His recognised position is probably a right back. Would that be his expected role at Rovers or do you see other positions where he can perform?
“When you look at Adam and speak to people, you see the career he’s had, he’s played all five positions across the defence. He’s actually played mostly on the left-hand side of a back four or five. He’s very versatile and clever, which is also really appealing to us. When we were looking at Adam it was very clear he’s comfortable in any of those five defensive positions. That’s really important for us.”
With our big Conference League play off against Molde looming large, do you see Adam as adding invaluable experience against Molde should he be available for selection for those games?
“The level Adam has played, that will be really important in the lead up to the Molde games and the games themselves. But obviously we haven’t just signed Adam for those Molde games, we’ve signed him as he’ll add real value to the group on and off the pitch.”
Are you still in the mix for any other additions before the transfer window closes?
“Yes, we are. We’re still talking with people and that will continue. As I said before, these things take time, but we’re definitely still talking to one or two others that we’d like to bring in. Also, as we’ve done every year, we’ll be patient in what we do, we have our targets, and we’ll work on them and do our best as a club to make them come off.”
SRFC TV welcomed Adam to the club in an interview recorded earlier today:
Player Bio:
Adam began his career at Cardiff City. After making his way through the youth side, he signed a professional contract in January 2009. He went on to make his senior debut at the start of the 2009/10 season when he replaced Paul Quinn during a 1–1 draw with Blackpool in August, scoring his first goal for the Bluebirds two months later.
Adam’s performances during his first season also saw him named as the Football League Apprentice of the Year for the Championship.
The right-back joined Celtic in July 2011, making an impressive debut in a 1–0 win over Aberdeen, and his European debut came against Atletico Madrid in September of that year.
Adam went on to score five goals in 150 appearances for the Glasgow club in all competitions, in four seasons at Celtic Park, collecting four league medals and one Scottish Cup.
The Welshman then moved to Sunderland in the summer of 2015 but struggled to regain a place in the first team after suffering an ankle injury, spending one season on loan at Bristol City.
Adam signed for Charlton Athletic in 2019, who were relegated to League One in 2020, making 89 appearances. In the Summer of 2022, he joined Omonia FC, reuniting with his former manager at Celtic, Neil Lennon.
