Midfielder John Rooney, one of Barrow AFC's star performers during their promotion from the National League has left the club.

Rooney, who had one year left on his contract with the Bluebirds, has signed for Stockport County for an undislosed fee, believed to be around £75,000.

The 29-year-old departs after a successful two-year spell at Holker Street, in which he scored 30 goals in 96 appearances and captained the team on many occasions.

In scoring 20 last season, Rooney top-scored alongside Scott Quigley to spearhead AFC's rise to the top of the National League and end their 48-year exile from the English Football League.

That included his first hat-trick in English football against Ebbsfleet United in January, with the first couple being two of six direct free kicks he put away during the course of the campaign - one of those being against his new club.

Rooney seemed to be conducting his own Goal of the Season competition as well, with an astonishing half-volley against Barnet last November being the standout moment.

Other highlights included winning strikes against Solihull Moors and Aldershot Town during the 2018/19 season and a goal in the 3-0 dismantling of Notts County in their own back yard last autumn.

Stockport will be the fifth National League team Rooney will have played for, with spells at Chester, Wrexham and Guiseley preceding him joining Barrow in the summer of 2018.

The brother of former England international Wayne Rooney began his career at Macclesfield Town and spent time in the USA with New York Red Bulls and Orlando City before short spells with Barnsley and Bury.