Martin Ling and Justin Edinburgh have completed their first signing this summer ahead of the 2018/19 season

East London Advertiser: Dale Gorman in action for Stevenage (pic: Tim Goode/PA Images).Dale Gorman in action for Stevenage (pic: Tim Goode/PA Images). (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

Leyton Orient have signed Dale Gorman on a free transfer from Stevenage on a two-year contract.

The midfielder is the club’s first signing of the summer and is likely to fill the void in the centre of the pitch

Orient currently have Charlie Lee, Craig Clay and Alex Lawless as options in that role and Gorman will provide much-needed competition.

The Northern Ireland youth international has a wealth of experience despite being only 21, though he will turn 22 on June 28.

Gorman started out in the Letterkenny Rovers academy set-up before catching the eye of Stevenage scouts.

He completed a move to the Hertfordshire club in the summer of 2013 and signed his first professional contract two years later.

After making his debut for Stevenage under Teddy Sheringham, he continued to earn opportunities under new boss Darren Sarrl.

It was during the 2016/17 season where Gorman established himself as a first-team regular and went on to make 30 appearances in all competitions.

Following an impressive breakthrough campaign, the Northern Irishman continued to show his quality in the 2017/18 term, but found chances harder to come by after the turn of the year and once Sarrl was sacked in March.

A fractured ankle brought his season to a premature end in April and he left the club a month later stating it was “time for a new chapter”.

Orient have provided that and the midfielder will be keen to hit the ground running when the O’s returns for pre-season later this month.