Dundalk have signed Nottingham Forest goalkeeper George Shelvey.

Shelvey leaves the City Ground in a permanent transfer.

“Forest spoke to me when the transfer window opened and said that Dundalk were really interested in signing me," said Shelvey. “I just kept my focus on training and playing and tried to let other people sort it out but I knew in the back of my mind that coming here would be a big step for me.

“I spoke to a couple of the Irish lads at Forest and they told me that the League of Ireland is very competitive and every game is a tough environment. It's time for me to play every week and show people what I can do and try and achieve stuff at Dundalk. It's a massive club with a rich history and I can't wait to get going."

Dundalk manager Stephen O'Donnell also said: “George is a player we have been looking at for a long time so we're delighted to have brought him to Dundalk and we're looking forward to getting him integrated into the group.

“He has been in and around a Premier League environment, trained with many top keepers and is at a good age to establish a career for himself so we are looking for him to come in and make a big impact."