WANDERERS have signed Irish defender Ryan Delaney from Rochdale on an 18-month deal.

The 23-year-old played under Keith Hill at Spotland and has been on loan at AFC Wimbledon this season.

Delaney – who can play as a centre-half or left-back – has represented the Republic of Ireland at Under-21s level and has made 72 appearances since moving to English football, scoring five goals.

The majority of those games came under Hill’s command at Dale, although he failed to find regular football under his successor Brian Barry-Murphy.

He was recalled from his loan at Wimbledon on January 5 and becomes Hill’s second signing of deadline day after the loan arrival of Anthony Georgiou from Tottenham.

Meanwhile, George Thomason has also joined Bamber Bridge on loan for the rest of the season.

The former Blackpool youngster, who has only recently been signed by the Whites from Longridge Town, was an unused substitute in the 2-0 defeat at Rochdale earlier this month.