Derry City boss Ruaidhri Higgins says new Bolton Wanderers defender Eoin Toal had ambitions 'for a few years' to play in England but believes the Candystripes got a 'fair enough deal' for the player.
The 23-year-old centre half became Bolton's fourth signing of the summer transfer window. He joins Jack Iredale as a permanent acquisition made this summer, along with Manchester City and Liverpool loanees James Trafford and Conor Bradley.
Toal has put pen to paper on a three-year-deal at the University of Bolton Stadium and joins for an undisclosed fee. After a first bid was turned down by the Candystripes, Wanderers were successful with a second approach for the former Northern Ireland under-21 international. READ MORE:'Tough' - Ian Evatt discusses Bolton Wanderers attacker decision & makes squad judgement Toal has made more than 150 appearances for Derry and scored six goals, with his contract at the Candystripes expiring later this year.
This season, he has turned out 20 times in the League of Ireland Premier Division and scored once. His contract at Derry was poised to run out at the end of November.