Hyde United have bolstered their midfield with the signing of former Northern Ireland U21 international, Jake Dunwoody.
The 26-year-old from Glossop arrives at Ewen Fields after spending four seasons playing in the Finnish top flight with HIFK, SJK and AC Oulu.
He began his career in Manchester City’s Academy before moving to Stoke City as a 16-year-old in 2016, where he progressed to captaining the club’s U23 side in the Premier League 2.
Dunwoody made his debut for Northern Ireland’s U21s in a 2-1 away win against Estonia in the summer of 2017, before helping them to a famous victory over their Spanish counterparts a year later by the same score.
His only goal from 15 appearances came in a 2-1 defeat in Denmark during qualification for the Euro 2021 U21 Championships.
He has previous Northern Premier League experience from a loan spell at Leek Town in 2016, as well a successful loan at National League North club Curzon Ashton in 2018.
After being released by the Potters in 2020, Dunwoody signed for Derry City, but only made eight appearances for the League of Ireland side before heading to Finland where he was almost ever-present in the Veikkausliiga.
He also played four times in the Europa Conference League for SJK, helping them to a 4-3 aggregate win over Estonian team Flora Tallinn, before succumbing 6-2 to Lillestrom from Norway in the Second Qualifying Round.
The midfielder has been without a club since leaving Oulu almost a year ago, but will be in contention for a place in the squad for Hyde’s FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round tie against Matlock Town on Saturday – the day before his 27th birthday.
