Rochdale have confirmed on their club website the signing of Keith Keane, following his release from Cambridge United.
The 30-year-old signed for Cambridge in the summer of 2015 from Preston North End but made just six appearances during his time with the League Two club. He spent time on loan at Stevenage before signing for Rochdale on loan in August last year.
Keane has made 17 appearances for Keith Hill’s side and now joins them on a permanent basis on a 18-month deal, keeping him at Spotland until the summer of 2018. The former Republic of Ireland U21 international has become a fan favourite for the Dale.
“It was an easy decision to sign a permanent deal,” said Keane.
“I’ve really enjoyed being at the club, and since I’ve been here, I’ve found that love for playing football again. There’s a great bunch of lads here and I like playing for the manager and the staff.
“Everyone gets on, the banter is good every day and everyone is on the same wave length. The Gaffer is straight forward – he tells you exactly what he wants from his players. The players are on the same page as the Gaffer and we’re transferring what he wants out onto the pitch.”
Keane was also quick to praise the fans,
“I think the fans have been absolutely fantastic with me – I couldn’t have asked or wished for more from them. They’ve really got behind me and supported me since I’ve been here. They’ve made it really enjoyable and I look forward to coming to play in front of them to try to get the three points for them to make sure they go home with a smile on their face.”
Rochdale are currently fourth in League One and Keith Keane is likely to feature in Saturday’s FA Cup trip to Barrow.
