APR FC have signed defender Gilbert Byiringiro from Marines FC on a two-year deal.

The talented guardsman joins the league champions following an impressive 2023/24 season where he was one of the top performers in the Marines FC team.

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Byiringiro has been training with APR FC during the past two weeks before signing the deal which will keep him at the club until June 2026.

He is expected to bring the needed stability at the back as the army side seeks to retain the league trophy and also get to at least the group stages of the CAF Champions League.

Frank Spittler summoned the centre back in his provisional squad Amavubi squad for the June 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho becomes the first signing of APR in the 2024 June transfer window.

He is among five players who signed for the Rwandan champions. Others include winger Arsene Tuyisenge who left Rayon Sports in May as a free agent, midfielder Frouard Mugiraneza from Kiyovu, Olivier Dushimimana and goalkeeper Ivan RFuhamyankiko who was signed his first professional contract at APR FC after an impressive campaign at club’s youth team Intare FC last season.

APR will feature in the Kagame Cecafa cup in Zanzibar and Tanzania from July 6 to July 22 and the five players could make it in the squad for the competition.