We are delighted to announce that forward Matty Lusty has been given a new three-year contract extension with the club until the end of the 2026/27 season.
The 20-year-old forward commits his future to the Inver Reds having come off the back of a fine goalscoring campaign during a loan spell at Dungannon Swifts, scoring 12 top-flight goals and 18 overall during the first half of the 2024/25 season before a shoulder injury brought his season to a premature end.
Lusty originally joined the club in 2020 as part of the then newly launched Scholarship Programme in partnership with the Steven Gerrard Academy, making his senior debut in the same year against Annagh United.
After continuing to impress, the striker became the first-ever student athlete to sign a professional contract at Inver Park and has since spent loan spells at Portadown and Newry City before a breakout season with Dungannon Swifts last campaign.
Commenting on his new deal, Lusty said:
“I’ve had an incredible experience with Larne since joining the Scholarship Programme in 2020, so I’m really pleased to extend my stay for another three years.
“During my time at Inver, I’ve really developed my all round game and that is no doubt a result of being in a full-time professional environment with top-quality teammates and coaches who push you every day.
“I feel I’ve improved each season, particularly during my time at Dungannon where I was in good form and scoring goals before a shoulder injury ended my season early.
“Thankfully I managed to get back on the pitch towards the end of last season and have came back to pre-season looking to hit the ground running and have another good season, this time with Larne.”
First team manager Tiernan Lynch, who gave the player his debut back in 2020, added:
“Matty was one of the first students to buy into our Scholarship Programme and has really grown into an exceptional young footballer during his time at the club.
“Despite being part of our first team set-up for a number of seasons, Matty is still just 20 years of age and has a really exciting future in the game.
“Coming off the back of a really productive loan spell with Dungannon, Matty will remain part of our first team squad for the upcoming season and I have no doubt that he will continue to work hard and improve within our environment this year.”
