Eastbourne Borough are excited to announce the signing of goalkeeper Jamie Searle from Forest Green Rovers.

The 24-year-old stopper joins the Sports having spent two seasons with the former EFL side, who finished third in The National League last term.

“It’s a good opportunity for me,” said Borough’s new number one.

“The club’s got big ambitions in terms of wanting to get promoted, wanting to win the league and I like to be part of a club who have those kinds of aspirations.

“I spoke the gaffer a few days ago and explained what he wanted from a goalkeeper and as a team and it really stood out for me, so I’m excited to get going.”

Having played in his native New Zealand as a teenager, he earned a deal with the Academy at Aston Villa in 2019, before signing a deal at Swansea City in July 2020.

After two years in South Wales, he made the move to Barnsley before joining Forest Green in the summer of 2023.

Searle made his Rovers debut in the EFL Cup against Portsmouth, losing 3-1, before a clean sheet in the EFL Trophy win over Shrewsbury Town in September 2023. He then made his League Two debut against Mansfield Town in February 2024.

Overall, he made eight appearances for Rovers – the last came in April 2025 as he secured a clean sheet with a 1-0 win over Oldham. Searle was then on the bench in the Play-Off Semi-Final defeat on penalties to Southend United.

Boss Matt Gray added: “I’m delighted to have Jamie on board – he comes with a really good pedigree.

“He came over from New Zealand to Aston Villa and has been in the first team set ups at Barnsley and Swansea, and we are pleased to snap him up.

“He’s got all the attributes I am looking for in a keeper, and I look forward to working with him.”

Searle was also a member of the New Zealand Olympic football team at the Tokyo 2020 games, before making his full debut for the senior New Zealand side in 2022 in a World Cup qualifier against New Caledonia.

Welcome to The ReachTV Stadium, Jamie!