REPUBLIC OF IRELAND international Darren O’Dea has joined Championship club Blackpool on a free transfer after enduring a period in the wilderness.
O’Dea, who has been training with Lee Clark’s side for a couple of weeks, has put pen to paper on a short-term deal which lasts until January 2015.
The 27-year-old has considerable experience in the English second tier having enjoyed spells at Reading, Ipswich and Leeds before heading abroad to Toronto and, more recently, Ukraine.
O’Dea signed a three-year deal with Metalurh Donetsk in 2013 but terminated his contract in August due to the unrest in the country.
“I had a tough year in Ukraine, so I’m delighted to be at a good football club with good people, and I’m looking forward to getting started,” O’Dea said.
“I was desperate to play football again and I’m looking to now help the team.”
Blackpool have been beset by financial turmoil in the past eighteen months and currently sit bottom of the Championship with just one win from 19 games.
O’Dea has won 20 Irish caps since being called up to the senior squad by Giovanni Trapattoni in 2008. He won the Young International Player of the Year award in 2012.
Kevin Foley is currently on the books at Bloomfield Road after being loaned out by parent club Wolves until next month.
O’Dea’s move is subject to both international and Football League clearance but could make his debut in Saturday’s game against Birmingham City.
