Goalkeeper Gabriel Sava swaps Dundalk for the seaside and Bray Wanderers

Goalkeeper Gabriel Sava has signed up for a second spell at Bray Wanderers following a trophy-laden five-year spell with Dundalk.

32-year-old Sava signalled his intent to leave Oriel Park at the end of this season and Seagulls manager Gary Cronin wasted little time in tempting him back to the seaside.

The Romanian goalkeeper, who grew up in Rome before moving to Drogheda as a teenager, has spent the past ten-and-a-half seasons with various in the League of Ireland.

Sava has won seven major trophies – including four league titles – since joining the Lilywhites ahead of the 2014 season, adding to his 2012 EA Sports Cup crown with Drogheda United.

A statement on Bray’s social media channel read: “We are delighted to announce that Gabriel will join the Seagulls for the coming season, adding a wealth of experience both on and off the pitch to Gary Cronin’s squad.”

Sava came through the ranks with Drogheda United before making the move to non-league side Drogheda Town.

After impressing in an FAI Cup game with Bohemians, Sava joined Bray in 2008 before returning to Drogheda United the following year.

He made his breakthrough to first team football with Monaghan United the following season, helping the club to promotion in 2011, before returning to Drogheda United once more.

He made the short move across Louth to Dundalk ahead of the 2014 season and, as an understudy first to Peter Cherrie and then Gary Rogers, he was part of a history-making Lilywhites side.

He was named in the starting line-up for Dundalk's Europa League group stage tie at home to Zenit in November 2016, a game the Lilywhites narrowly lost 2-1 after leading.