Round-up: Sheffield United 'AI signing' leaves as Barnsley FC add another striker
Daniel Stendel has signed the son of one of his former coaches as his Barnsley rebuild starts to gather momentum.
The Northern Ireland Under-21 international’s dad Andy was on Stendel’s coaching staff at Heart of Midlothian, where Kirk came through the academy.
Now 22, he played for Hamilton Academical and St Johnstone before 14 Championship appearances for Pompey last season.
"I've spoken to a lot of boys who've been here – Conor Chaplin, Jordan Williams and Ben Killip ," said Kirk. “They all said the same thing: it's a massive club.”
Sheffield United have loaned defender Mihail Polendakov to Ludogorets.
The Bulgarian right-back was one of the club's much-heralded artificial intelligence-led signings last July when James Bord was acting as a consultant. None have made an impact.
The loan contains an obligation to buy triggered by performances.
Doncaster Rovers centre-back Bobby Faulkner has joined Tranmere Rovers on a season-long loan. The 21-year-old spent 2025-26 on loan at Harrogate Town and played a key role until a hamstring injury in November.
Despite injuries, the Suriname centre-back has emerged as a classy and pacy defender who featured in 27 of the final 33 league matches of last season, including a run of 17 consecutive starts.
Former Rotherham United striker Kyle Vassell is set for a trial with the League Two club five-and-a-half years after leaving.
Now 33, the Northern Ireland international is a free agent after being released by Colorado Springs Switchbacks.