Michael Murphy is coming out of retirement to play for Donegal next year, it has been reported.
The 35-year-old called time on his inter-county career at the end of the 2022 season.
"I no longer feel I have the energy and capacity to reach the performance levels to give my best to Donegal," he said in 2022.
The Glenswilly club man worked on punditry duty for the BBC during his year off and the BBC's Thomas Niblock is reporting that Murphy will return to Donegal for 2025.
He’s back!
Michael Murphy will Play for Donegal in 2025. He’ll be a loss to punditry, but I’m delighted to see him back on the pitch.
More on BBC Sport website shortly pic.twitter.com/uxRcDJ6RIB
— Thomas Niblock (@thomasniblock) November 6, 2024
Donegal won the Ulster championship in 2024 in Murphy's absence before losing out to Galway by two points in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Murphy told Balls earlier this year that, '100%' he had no intention of coming back.
"We chat a lot, we always do still chat a lot," Murphy said at the launch GAAGO's 2024 match schedule.
"We chat every couple of weeks and since he came back in that hasn't stopped.
"For me, it hasn't changed since day one when I made the call to retire. That was it, I was out. Just because Jim has come back, as much as there's a loyalty there from me to him, and from me to Donegal, it still doesn't change in terms of the playing point of view.
"Definitely, it was never a case of ever going back and that's still the case now. I'll try to give to Donegal in another way. I'm heavily involved with my own club and I'll get back involved with Donegal at underage now and give back in that way. No playing for me, it's job done, 100 per cent."
23 September 2012; Donegal manager Jim McGuinness celebrates with captain Michael Murphy after the game. GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final, Donegal v Mayo, Croke Park, Dublin. Photo by Sportsfile
But the rumours have been swirling in recent weeks.
Writing in his Donegal Live column, Donegal legend Brian McEniff said that the new rules were a big part to play in the talk that Murphy would return, with the three up rule an obvious starting point. Murphy, of course, was a part of the FRC committee who proposed these new rules.
"What I would unequivocally say is that I still feel Michael has more to give," McEniff wrote.
"If our prayers were answered there is no doubt managers and full-back lines up and down the country would quaking in their boots at the thought of facing a Murphy.
"Even more so, under the new rules, stationed on the edge of the opposition square."
