Peterborough midfielder Grant McCann joins Linfield

Image source, Press Eye

Image caption, Grant McCann has played 39 times for Northern Ireland international

Experienced Northern Ireland midfielder Grant McCann has completed a free transfer move from Peterborough United to Irish Premiership club Linfield.

Linfield manager Warren Feeney said that McCann would bring a "wealth of experience" to the Windsor Park club.

"I know for a fact that two League One clubs wanted to sign him," said the Linfield boss.

McCann, 34, has struggled to hold down a first-team place at Peterborough this season.

Earlier this week, Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson admitted that McCann would need to leave the League One club if he wanted to play more regularly.

Video caption, Right time for Linfield move - McCann

Former West Ham player McCann has 39 Northern Ireland caps and is a former international team-mate of Feeney.

"He's got quality throughout his game and he wanted to come home and play for Linfield," added the Linfield manager.

McCann supported Linfield as a boy and said that signing for Linfield would fulfil one of his career ambitions.

"I've always said that I wanted to play for Linfield and I feel as though it's right to be go back [home] now when I'm still in good condition," added the 34-year-old, who has signed for the Blues until the end of this season.

"I've played with Warren at international level for many years and we've always remained friends."

The Windsor Park club are currently second in the Irish Premiership table, one point behind Crusaders.

McCann, who has become a fans' favourite at Peterborough, recently combined his playing role with a coaching position at the club's youth academy.

He is no longer a first team regular, but manager Ferguson insisted there had not been any fall-out.

"Grant wants to play every week, but I think he would be better off doing more coaching," Ferguson told the Peterborough Telegraph.

"I have a lot of younger midfielders at the club and I think that is the way to go, and Grant respects that totally.

"Grant has done a great job with many of our younger players."

McCann's brother Ryan played for Linfield between 2002 and 2005 and helped the club the 2003-4 league title and a Setanta Cup triumph during his time