Former Southend Midfielder Pens Two-Year Deal
"I enjoyed my time at Southend - I helped the team and we got promoted," he said."They’ve done well and I’ve helped them do that so I can walk away and the fans can be happy.
"It’s going to be even more competitive (next season) with the teams that are dropping down and with some big teams coming up.
"It’s going to be competitive league, but with the players we have, I think we can give it a right good go."
And the midfielder believes League One will be a strong division again next season.
He played over 50 games in the Championship with Coventry and played Scottish Premiership football with Hibernian.
A former Coventry City and Northampton Town player, Deegan has spent the last two seasons at Southend and admits he enjoyed his time at Roots Hall.
"I just felt a new journey was what I needed," Deegan told shrewsburytown.com
"When I spoke to Micky (Mellon), he excited me and it was a no brainer in the end.
"It’s not a team I know a lot about but I’m excited. I’ve got a desire to win and I want to show that to everyone at Shrewsbury.
"I like to see myself as an all-rounder. I’m not afraid to put myself about but I can also get on the ball and pass it.
"There’s a lot of good things I can do and you’ll get to see that over the course of the season.
"It was about getting a feel of it. I spent a good half-hour on the phone to Micky talking football and you get a feel for someone.
"He sold the club to me. You only have to look around at the infrastructure- everything is in place to move on and I’m here to be part of that."
And the Irishman is now excited for the new challenge ahead at Greenhous Meadow.
Deegan, born in Dublin, helped the Shrimpers to promotion from Sky Bet League 2 in the 2014/2015 campaign - the same season Town were promoted.
The 28-year-old, who has spent the last two seasons at Southend United, becomes manager Micky Mellon's second signing of the summer.
Shrewsbury Town is delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Gary Deegan on a two-year deal.