DURHAM WOMEN have signed Northern Ireland international Megan Bell ahead of their new campaign in the FA Women’s Championship.

The 18-year-old midfielder has become the Wildcats’ first summer signing, with the Durham club targeting promotion to the Women’s Super League after challenging in the top half of the table last season.

Bell is regarded as one of the most exciting prospects to have been developed in her homeland in recent years, and progressed through the Northern Ireland youth sides before making her mark in the senior squad.

Domestically, the teenager was part of a Linfield side who were unbeaten before her departure - putting in a number of impressive performances in an advanced attacking-midfield role.

And Bell is now excited to test herself in the English second tier, having put pen to paper on a deal with the Wildcats which will also see her study for an undergraduate degree at Durham University.

Bell said: “It’s been really good so far. I feel settled already and I can’t wait to get pre-season started and be ready to go.

“International football has obviously helped me a lot as a player, and hopefully I can bring what I’ve learnt there and make an impact at Durham.”

Having sealed the signature the highly-regarded youngster, Durham manager Lee Sanders was delighted to unveil his new signing.

He said: “I think she’s a very exciting young talent. She’s getting a fantastic opportunity to come to the club, but also mix her football with her education in terms of a scholarship at Durham University as an undergraduate - which is the first time we’ve gone into the undergraduate side of things, as we’ve predominantly looked at post-graduate scholarships in the past.

“She’s been the captain of Northern Ireland Under-19s and a member of the senior squad for a while now too, so she’s got experience on that front.

“She still has a lot to learn and in terms of the league, it’ll be a completely different animal to what she’s been used to, but from everything that we’ve seen I think she’ll adapt to it well. She’s a really exciting player and we’re delighted she’s joined us.”

Durham have announced two public friendlies as they step up their preparations for the new Championship season.

The Wildcats will host North-East rivals Sunderland Ladies at New Ferens Park on Sunday, July 28 (12pm), and will also entertain Everton on Sunday, August 11 (2pm).

Durham have also arranged some other pre-season fixtures, including matches against Hibernian, Birmingham City and Middlesbrough, but they will be staged behind-closed-doors.

The full Championship fixture list was released this week, with Durham kicking off the new campaign with a trip to Leicester City on August 18. The season ends with a trip to Charlton Athletic on April 19.