What David McGoldrick said to Conor Hourihane to make Barnsley FC transfer happen | OneFootball

The 37-year-old penned a one-year deal with the club earlier this month.

Barnsley boss Conor Hourihane has revealed that David McGoldrick specifically asked his former teammate to bring him to Oakwell this summer.

Hourihane's first summer in charge of the Barnsley first team isn't complete yet, with a bit of work still to do to round out the squad, but the jewel in his transfer window crown has most certainly been the addition of McGoldrick.

The 37-year-old turned down the opportunity to remain with Notts County in League Two and instead signed with the Tykes, who have also brought in Reyes Cleary and Caylan Vickers to help out with the duties up front.

A former Irish international, who played alongside Hourihane for both club and country, McGoldrick's impact, even in pre-season, has been clear. The quality and personality that he will add to the group is what their young head coach is most looking forward to about the goalscorer, who has proven his desire to work with his friend once again.

Conor Hourihane reveals David McGoldrick conversation that led to him signing for Barnsley

"First and foremost, I've played with Didzy at Sheffield United, Derby [County] and Ireland, so I know Didzy very, very well. We've grown quite close over the years," Hourihane told Football Heaven.

"Kind of a funny story: just before he was coming back for pre-season, I was at the wedding of a previous Derby player and he [McGoldrick] was there, because me and Didzy would be close to the player, and he was like 'Come on, can you sign me? Can you sign me?' And that's how it kind of started really.

"I knew straight away when there was an opportunity to sign him that I have to try and fight tooth and nail to get him over the line and get him done.

"His quality. His mentality. How he is going to handle the dressing room. The experience that he brings, just in terms of full package. He's been huge in terms of impact and he'll continue to be that.

"The smile on my face is because I know what type of man, first and foremost, I'm getting, and then, secondary to that, the quality of player that I'm getting as well."

Barnsley have been crying out for a player like David McGoldrick

With the threat of Davis Keillor-Dunn potentially being snapped up by a Championship side this summer, Barnsley needed to bring in someone like McGoldrick to offer more of a threat in front of goal.

For anyone uncertain about his potential production next term, forget that he's been in the division below for the last two seasons; he was doing this same stuff with Derby in League One before his move back to Meadow Lane.

He's got that magic ability to create a goalscoring opportunity from a very slim chance. That is gold dust for a team like Barnsley who hope to challenge for promotion.