We are very pleased to announce the signing of 29-year-old Gibraltar international midfielder Dan Bent.
Dan arrives at Inver Park, following his departure from Lincoln Red Imps earlier in the summer, having earned a league title in his season with the club.
Having grown up in England, Dan began his career at Gillingham before a move to the United States saw him involved with a number of clubs including Columbus Crew.
The 6’2 foot midfielder arrived in Gibraltar in 2019 with Bruno Magpies, working under now Larne boss Nathan Rooney for four years and finishing off his time on the Rock with league Champions Lincoln Red Imps – involved home and away in last summer’s Conference League play-off against the Invermen.
Having spent five years in Gibraltar, Dan qualified for the national team and has now racked up nine appearances, scoring two goals in the process.
Larne boss Nathan Rooney is delighted to welcome a player he has worked with in the past and feels will bring plenty on and off the pitch.
“Dan was my player when I first arrived at Magpies and we enjoyed some really good times together,” he said.
“In our first six months managed to get the team from second bottom to European qualification and into a national final.
“In the second season we went one better by getting into Europe and winning a trophy and Dan played a big part in that success.
“When I returned to Magpies he was with Lincoln Red Imps and he always caused us problems playing against us!”
Nathan also feels his new arrival will fit in quickly with what is needed to play Irish League football.
He added: “I think first and foremost Dan will fit in really well with the group, personality wise.
“He is the sort of player who understands that hard work comes first and that gives you the foundation to show what you’re about tactically and technically after that.
“In the team he will give us a different type of dynamic as someone who can run beyond.
“Having been here since November I feel I know what the fans want to see, which is someone who sets the tone in outworking the opposition and then gets people off their seats and in Dan I feel we have that.”
Dan arrives at the club having been part of the Gibraltar side who took on Croatia and Faroe Islands at the beginning of the month and his new manager feels this will be an extra string to his bow.
“Dan obviously has a lot of European experience in the last number of years and he qualified for the national side in 2024.
“He has shown he has the attributes to keep up to the pace of the game at that level, and he will bring that extra knowhow here.
“Dan also knows that he has to keep performing well with us to keep his place in the national squad, which will help him and us.”
Dan will wear the number 26 shirt at Inver Park.
