RONAN Curtis knows he has a point to prove after signing for AFC Wimbledon on a deal until the end of the season.
Curtis, 27, had been without a club after his contract with Portsmouth expired last summer. The seven-cap Ireland international had been using Pompey’s facilities in his recovery from a torn cruciate ligament he suffered against Bolton Wanderers last February.
Curtis said in an interview with the Derry Journal in December that he hoped to be ready to return to action this month.
Winger Curtis started his career at Derry City before joining Portsmouth for £100,000 in 2018 and going on to score 57 goals in 226 appearances for the club.
That kind of form and his international call-ups made him one of the most sought-after players in the EFL.
Now he is ready for his next challenge.
“It feels amazing to be here,” Curtis said on the Dons’ official website. “I have to pay my respects to Wimbledon for letting me come in and get back fit. It’s a lovely stadium and we have a great bunch of lads here. There’s good players that can give me the ball – I thrive on my goals and assists.
“The message is plain and simple: I need to go and express myself, do what I do best, score goals and set up goals. Hopefully we can get in the play-offs and see what happens. I’m here to be a team player.
“I’m always confident. I scored a lot of goals at Fratton Park, I was the longest servant there and the highest scorer in the 21st century. I’m hoping to keep that good run going here and hopefully get promoted.”
Curtis is from London but grew up in Ireland.
He said: “It shaped me in a particular way. I was born in London, my mum is from Ireland so we moved back to Ireland when I was very young. I’m part of a big family of eleven siblings. All the boys played football when they were young. It’s always been a big joy for me to have a big family and to play football. I class myself as Irish, it’s my country and it’s my home roots.
“Of course I do [have a point to prove]. I’m a new player, a new signing that wants to come through the door, start on fire, score some goals and get involved with the lads.”
