Salford City have made their first statement signing of the summer with the capture of Richie Towell on a two-year deal after his contract with Brighton expired.
The former Dundalk star has spent the last two seasons on loan at Rotherham - first helping them gain promotion to the Championship before suffering relegation back down to League One this season.
Now Towell makes the short trip west to team up with the League Two newcomers, best-known for the fact they are owned by Manchester United legends Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, David Beckham and Gary and Phil Neville.
Speaking about the move, Towell said: "I'm really excited to join Salford City, I know it's a club with a lot of ambition.
"Ever since I first watched the documentary last year, you can see that the club is going in the right direction, it has the right people on board and I'm really excited to be a part of something special.
"I want to add to what the team has already been doing, they have been doing really well over the last few seasons so hopefully I can just add to that."
It is quite the coup for Salford, who will play in the Football League for the first time next season after winning promotion from the National League via the play-offs, to make a signing of someone like Richie Towell.
Having spent the last two seasons in the Championship, it is a surprise to see the 27-year-old drop down to the fourth tier where he will inevitably be one of the highest paid players in the league.
Unsurprisingly, not everyone is happy to see the Ammies sign a player of Towell's quality, with many feeling that Salford are simply buying their way up the leagues by outspending their rivals thanks to their millionaire owners.
Salford signing Richie Towell is bonkers, the money they're going to spend this summer will be ridiculous.
— Trent (@TrentSUFC) May 31, 2019
Richie Towell signs for Salford City? Any debate about footballers having ambition and not just chasing money is officially over.
— Colin Jordan (@Gricehead) May 31, 2019
Richie Towell signs for Salford! Can’t wait to see which loophole Salford use to bypass FFP, a la Derby/Wednesday etc @KieranMaguire
— The_RUFC (@The_RUFC) May 31, 2019
I think that shows you how much money Salford have got if Richie Towell has agreed to go to them over any other League 1 or 2 club when they've just come up from the National League. He's a top end League 1/bottom half Championship player.
Everything that's wrong with football.— Liam (@LMcVann44) May 31, 2019
Richie Towell to Salford. Ridiculous signing for League 2! #moneytalks 💷💷💷💷
— Lucy Wray (@lucywrayx) May 31, 2019
How the hell have Salford signed Richie Towell ??!!
— Matt Moore (@mattbfc93) May 31, 2019
