As the new NIFL Premiership season draws closer, anticipation is high following a summer of intriguing transfer moves and changes of ownership at several clubs.
As ever, multiple teams across the league will be eyeing silverware – many of whom will be buoyed by Dungannon Swifts’ Irish Cup success last season, which proved that you don’t need the biggest budget to compete for the biggest honours.
Here are some of the storylines to watch as the 2025/26 season gets underway:
Can Linfield Compete in Europe and Retain Their Title?
Reigning champions Linfield enter the 2025/26 season aiming to strike a difficult balance: mounting a genuine challenge in Europe while defending their domestic crown.
The club has reaffirmed its long-term faith in manager David Healy, who signed a new three-year contract following interest from Scottish Premiership side Dundee. This new deal extends Healy’s tenure into a second decade at Windsor Park, having taken charge of the Blues in October 2015.
However, Healy faces a fresh challenge this year following the departure of last season’s star man Joel Cooper, who has made a high-profile move to Coleraine.
Cooper was instrumental in Linfield’s title-winning campaign, scoring 19 league goals and providing multiple assists.
His goalscoring and creativity will be sorely missed, and replacing his output will be critical if Linfield hope to progress in European qualifiers and stay ahead in what is expected to be a tighter title race.
Will the January arrivals of Callumn Morrison and Kieran Offord shine with a full pre-season under their belts, or will Healy need to return to the market for more attacking impetus?
Can Larne Reclaim Silverware Under Nathan Rooney Without Kenny Bruce at the Helm?
After a season of relative underachievement – following the abrupt end of the Tiernan Lynch era – Larne are determined to return to the top under new manager Nathan Rooney.
The Englishman arrived midway through last season to replace Lynch but moved into a Head of Football Operations role as he lacked the necessary UEFA qualifications to manage the club in Europe.
That led to assistant Gary Haveron taking charge of his hometown club and leading them to a second-place finish.
This season, Rooney once again takes the reins after enrolling on the IFA’s UEFA Pro Licence course, with Haveron reverting to his previous role as assistant manager.
So far this summer, Rooney has recruited experienced midfielder Dan Bent and centre back Matt Ridley to his ranks.
However, the biggest change at Inver Park is in the boardroom rather than the dugout. Local businessman Kenny Bruce has sold his majority shareholding in the club to Redball Global FC’s Nick Giannotti and Eric Perez.
Bruce transformed Larne both on and off the pitch over the past eight years, guiding the club from the NIFL Championship to the UEFA Conference League via back-to-back top-flight title wins.
On the pitch, title-winning centre-back Shaun Want has left Inver Park to return to Scottish football with Ayr United, delivering a further blow to Rooney’s plans.
Despite the upheaval on and off the pitch, expectations remain high that Rooney can deliver one of Northern Irish football’s three major trophies: the Premiership title, the Irish Cup, or the League Cup.
Can Declan Devine Inspire a Glentoran Resurgence?
Declan Devine’s arrival at Glentoran in early 2024 marked the beginning of a new era. Now the question is whether his leadership can translate into sustained success.
Last season brought steady progress for the Glens, who won the County Antrim Shield by defeating Larne on penalties in January and reached the League Cup final, ultimately losing out to Cliftonville.
With one full season already under his belt and another full pre-season completed, Devine will be under pressure to push the club into serious title contention especially with the signings of experienced striker Pat Hoban, Jordan Stewart, Ryan Cooney, Liam Burt and Daniel Larmour.
There is cautious optimism at the Oval that Glentoran can mount a stronger challenge this year.
Will Big-Spending Coleraine Hit the Ground Running Under Ruaidhrí Higgins?
No team has made more noise in the transfer market this summer than Coleraine. Backed by significant investment, the club pulled off the headline signing of Joel Cooper from Linfield and added several other experienced players, including Kodi Lyons-Foster and Stephen Fallon.
Yet with new manager – and former Coleraine player – Ruaidhrí Higgins taking the reins at the Showgrounds, one question remains: will success come immediately given the level of investment?
If things click early, Coleraine could be genuine title contenders. If not, the domestic cup competitions may be more realistic targets in the short term.
How Will Bangor Cope With Life Back in the Premiership?
Bangor’s long-awaited return to top-flight football has delighted fans at Clandeboye Park, but survival will surely be the primary objective in their first season back.
The Seasiders have strengthened wisely by signing experienced duo Gareth Deane and Mark Haughey from Glenavon, as well as defender Stephen McGuinness from Cliftonville who joins permanently following a loan spell last season.
Their home form will be vital, and early results could set the tone. While simply retaining Premiership status would represent success, Bangor have the potential to be this season’s surprise package – if they can adapt quickly to the demands of the top flight. Manager Lee Feeney remains highly regarded within the Northern Irish game.
As always, the new 2025/26 NIFL season promises drama from start to finish.
Time will tell whether Linfield can continue their dominance, Larne can reassert themselves, or if Glentoran and Cliftonville can return to serious title contention or whether a new force like Coleraine can disrupt the established order from the very start.
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Callum McFadden 