Dimech says yes to Birkirkara

Luke Dimech, the Malta international defender, will don the yellow and red shirt of Birkirkara for the next four months after he accepted the Stripes' offer to play for them till the end of this season.

The 26-year-old Dimech was widely tipped to return to Maltese football this week as Shamrock Rovers, his Irish club, will finish their league commitments today with a match against Longford Town.

A clutch of Premier League clubs had expressed an interest in taking Dimech on board till the end of this season.

Birkirkara were firm favourites to land his signature even if Valletta were also in the frame.

Yesterday, Dimech's representative in Malta told The Sunday Times that the Malta international defender has given his nod to Birkirkara. Dimech will thus spend the rest of this season with the Stripes but plans to return to the UK in the summer to try and secure a contract with a club there.

Dimech also has the option to rejoin Shamrock Rovers in July, his representative said.

Dimech is expected to arrive in Malta tomorrow night and will put pen to paper on his four-month contract with Birkirkara on Tuesday.

Provided that Dimech's transfer papers are faxed through to the Malta FA before Thursday evening, the international defender is likely to make his first appearance for Birkirkara against his former club Sliema next Saturday.