'First of many': Dundee United confirm first summer signing ahead of Premiership return

Dundee United have confirmed their first summer signing as they look to bolster their squad ahead of a return to the Premiership.

The Tannadice side sealed their top-flight status for next season by winning the Championship title.

They have now signed Republic of Ireland under-21 international Will Ferry which the club’s head of recruitment promises will be the “first of many”.

Ferry joins from English League Two side Cheltenham following their relegation to the fourth-tier.

The 23-year-old winger made 82 appearances for Cheltenham over the past two seasons and manager Jim Goodwin is excited about adding the attacker to his squad as they prepare to return to the top flight.

He said: “Getting some solid business done early was imperative to our summer plans, and the signing of Will represents just that.

“He possesses all of the attributes necessary to be a successful player in the Scottish Premiership, with pace, tenacity and a fabulous level of technical ability. His versatility will also prove vital throughout an unrelenting league campaign.

“Furthermore, at just 23, he still has room to develop into a valuable asset for the club. I’m excited to start working with Will come the beginning of pre-season and look forward to closely tracking his progression.”

Ferry says he is looking forward to testing himself in Scotland.

He said: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to prove myself at the top level of Scottish football, it’s a challenge that really excites me.

“I’ve kept a keen eye on the club’s progress throughout recent seasons, with some of my close friends in football, such as Ross Graham, playing here – I’m looking forward to reuniting with him.

“I’m counting down the days until we can get to work in pre-season and kick on, I can’t wait to get started!”

Ferry represents United’s first signing since they appointed Michael Cairney as their new head of recruitment in April.

Cairney said: “I’m really pleased to have secured Will’s services for the following three seasons.

“He’s a player that has been on our radar for a considerable period of time and we had to fend off stiff competition for his signature.

“Not only is he an incredibly talented young footballer who perfectly matches the profile for his position, but he personifies the exact type of character we wish to continue bringing to Dundee United.

“This deal represents the first arrival of many this summer and we are working tirelessly behind the scenes, exploring various markets both on home soil and across the continent to continue improving our first-team squad. We look forward to announcing more new faces in due course!”