Kyle Lafferty joins Linfield until end of season
The striker has moved back to Northern Ireland after leaving Kilmarnock on transfer deadline day
Last updated 8th Feb 2023
Kyle Lafferty has joined Northern Irish side Linfield on a deal until the end of the season.
The striker left Kilmarnock on transfer deadline day and has decided to move back to his home country.
His exit from Rugby Park was a surprise to supporters and manager Derek McInnes.
On his departure, his former boss said: "All I can say is, it wasn't something that I wanted to happen. It was a conversation between the board and Kyle. I don't really want to say any more than that. It's left us really short, so we're disappointed that's the outcome.
"It was between the club and Kyle and unfortunately for us he has left. I can't say anything more, it was a conversation between the club and Kyle, and we move on."
In Lafferty's second spell at Kilmarnock he scored vital goals to help them reach promotion to the Premiership last season.
However, the 35-year old scored just three times this campaign and also served a ten-match ban after being found guilty of using sectarian language.
His final appearance for them was as a subsitute in their 3-0 defeat to Ross County on 28 January.
On his signing, Linfield boss David Healy told the club's official website: "He’s an out of contract player with vast experience at all levels of the game and he’s a player I know very well.
"His signing will strengthen the squad and he will give us a different attacking option, ahead of the remaining games in this hard fought and fiercely competitive league campaign.
"I’ve no doubt that this signing will give everyone at the club a real boost and he can certainly make a significant contribution and impact over the course of the short term contract that he has signed here today."