Imps Agree Significant Six-Figure Fee For Top Transfer Target

December 15, 2025 Gary Lincoln City, Rumours, Transfers 0

The Imps have reportedly agreed a six-figure fee with Shamrock Rovers for Ireland defender Josh Honohan.

A report from the Independent in Ireland suggests the left-back has agreed to join us, and the deal could be announced over the Christmas period.

City have been tipped to land Honohan since early in the summer, and it was widely believed he rebuffed our earlier attempts as his side were poised to embark on their European adventure. That ended recently, but the 24-year-old still finished the season with a league and cup double.

It’s been a big season for the Carrigaline-born defender. As well as securing the silverware, he was named in the PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year for the second season in succession. That alerted Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson, who in May handed him his first full senior call-up for friendly fixtures against Senegal and Luxembourg.

Reports suggest we have agreed a €500,000 fee, which is in the region of £440,000. That will be somewhere in the region of the fee we paid for Ivan Varfolomeev over the summer, and represents a real step up in our recruitment policy in light of big-money sales such as Jovon Makama, Sean Roughan and Ethan Erhahon.

The Imps have looked sparse in terms of attacking left back cover. Adam Reach joined a couple of days before the transfer window closed, and has been a revelation, but would be equally adept further forward. Ryley Towler, a solid left-sided defender, did deputise early, but quickly collected five bookings and a suspension. As a player more suited to the centre, it would alleviate the pressure on him in the event of Reach’s absence.

Jez George alluded to the Imps’ transfer strategy being geared towards improving the starting XI, rather than adding squad depth, and the capture of Honohan would, at face value, certainly add to that. The last full back we aggressively pursued from Ireland was Trai Hume, although we were gazumped at the last minute by Sunderland. Since then, Hume has appeared 148 times for the Mackems and is a solid fixture in their Premier League XI.