Waterford FC are delighted to announce the signing of experienced defender John Mahon, ahead of the 2026 League of Ireland season.
Mahon makes the switch to the RSC, having spent almost ten years with Sligo Rovers FC across two spells with the Bit O’Red.
The 26 year-old joined the Sligo Rovers academy in 2015, before making his first-team debut aged just 17 in 2017 in a 1-0 League Cup win away to Finn Harps in Ballybofey. He made his Premier Division debut the following season, before earning a new two-year deal with the club.
Mahon became a regular in the Sligo defence 2018, making almost 30 appearances whilst scoring his first senior goal in their final league game of 2018 in a 2-0 win against Shamrock Rovers.
2019 saw Mahon become a mainstay in the Bit O’Red’s starting-eleven, before suffering a broken tibia in pre-season of 2020 as he missed out on all but five games in a Covid-impacted season.
After returning to action, the centre-half signed a new deal with the club at the end of 2021, before earning a move to Scottish Premiership side St. Johnstone in January of 2022 – a season where he played an important role keeping the Saints in the Scottish Premiership as they defeated Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Premiership Play-Off Final to secure their status in the Scottish top flight for the 2022/23 campaign.
Mahon returned back to Sligo Rovers ahead of the 2023 League of Ireland season, where he made 28 appearances in all competitions. However just two games into the 2024 season, Mahon suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon that saw him sidelined until the final two games of the season.
2025 saw Mahon named club captain of Sligo Rovers, as he guided Sligo to an eighth place finish in the 2025 Premier Division campaign, as he now becomes Jon Daly’s latest permanent signing with the Blues.
With over 150 League of Ireland appearances to his name at just 26 years of age, Mahon is a welcome addition to the Blues squad as we gear up for the start of the 2026 SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division campaign.
Speaking to the club’s media team on his move to the Blues, Mahon gave us his first thoughts after joining the club, saying:
“I’m delighted to be here, it felt like the right time for a fresh start and after talking to Jon and seeing the training ground I knew this was the right place for me.
I’m looking forward to meeting the lads and getting straight to work now.”
Blues Head Coach Jon Daly is delighted to welcome Mahon to the club as his latest signing, saying:
“John is a top professional and a very reliable defender. He understands what it takes to compete in this league week in, week out, and he’ll add real strength and organisation to our back line.
I was keen to bring in someone with John’s experience and character. He’s a competitor, he sets standards, and he’ll be a big presence in the dressing room as well as on the pitch.”
Welcome to the Blues, John!
John Mahon’s Player Sponsorship is now available for 2026. Contact Waterford FC Commercial Manager Tony Kelly at tony.kelly@waterfordfc.ie to find out more.
