JORDAN Stewart has become the first of Swindon Town’s summer departures to find a new club after the young forward signed a pre-contract agreement with Northern Ireland Premiership champions Linfield.

The former Northern Ireland U21 international Stewart is one of four players confirmed to have been released by Town following their relegation to League Two, after the club opted not to trigger the one-year extension in his contract last week.

Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill, Bradley Barry and Jamie Sendles-White were also allowed to leave the County Ground.

Stewart has since returned to his homeland to join Linfield, who clinched the NIFL Premiership title last month, with his arrival announced in a triple signing for the Belfast club alongside Robert Garrett and Andrew Mitchell.

Linfield boss David Healey said: “I'm delighted to confirm that Jordan Stewart has agreed to join us on a pre-contract at the start of the new season.

“I'd like to welcome Robert, Andrew and Jordan to the club and I'm looking forward to working with them once we return for pre-season training.”

Stewart signed for Town from Northern Irish side Glentoran in the summer of 2015 for a reported £55,000 but struggled with homesickness and made just one appearance that season before being sent on loan to Grimsby Town in the National League at the end of the season.

The 22-year-old began his second season at the County Ground with a goal in his first game of the campaign in the EFL Cup tie at Queens Park Rangers last August but played just eight more times after struggling with a knee injury.