The First Division should be even more competitive this season after the transfer list released by the Bermuda Football Association showed many players returning to their former clubs.

Relegated pair Hamilton Parish and Southampton Rangers lost 20 players between them, but clubs already in the First Division such as X-Roads, Paget, Wolves, St George’s and St David’s, have all boosted their ranks with important signings.

One of the biggest surprises is the departure Kwame Steede, the Devonshire Cougars player-coach, who is heading to Wolves, though the transfer is still pending as Cougars are objecting to the move.

Seven other players are also pulling up sticks at Devonshire Rec with Kurtis Minors and Zachary Morris going to St David’s, Jordan Darrell back to St George’s and Shaki Pearman and Vince Minors back to Wolves.

Dandy Town, the Premier Division champions, have seen eight players depart their ranks, including Mikkail Crockwell, the goalkeeper, and Fabian Frankson, the midfielder, who have joined St David’s.

George Dyer, the defender, is heading to Wolves while brothers Tristan and Tymon Daniels are going back to X-Roads after failing to establish themselves at St John’s Road last season. Quadir Maynard, meanwhile, is seeking a new challenge at Young Men’s Social Club.

Flanagan’s Onions have made some key signings ahead of their return to the top flight, with Keston Lewis, who left Onions when they were relegated two years, returning after one season at North Village.

Onions gladly welcomed back their former top scorer, one of 13 players leaving North Village who have Devarr Boyles as their new coach following the resignation of Richard Todd after just one season.

Also leaving Bernard Park are Jahzardae Samuels and Takeyhi Walker who are returning to Boulevard, with young defender Jerome Bailey also heading to the Blazers. Kion Knights will join Lewis at Onions, while defender Tyrell Burgess is dropping down into the First Division with BAA.

Jahron Dickinson is going back to St George’s after two seasons with Village, while X-Roads will also benefit from the Village departures with Justin Sousa, Jonas Schroder and Kashi Davis-Jones and veteran midfielder Jemeiko Jennings joining them.

Mackih McGowan is returning to X-Roads after one season with Robin Hood.

Southampton Rangers pair Jahkai Dyer and Shaki Swan are joining Flanagan’s Onions, while also leaving the relegated club are Jason Smith, the goalkeeper, who is moving to Paget, while Jesse Seymour and Vernon Perinchief are seeking new challenges with Somerset Trojans.

Hamilton Parish, the other relegated club, have lost 11 players, including last season’s captain Chris Caisey who is joining Robin Hood, along with Zuhri Burgess and MacQuille Walker.

Donavan Thompson is also departing, but staying in the First Division with St George’s, one of four players moving to St George’s.

Ernest Signor, meanwhile, is heading back to St George’s after being relegated with two clubs in two seasons.

Somerset Trojans have lost three players to neighbours Somerset Eagles, while Ayshaun Smith and Dion Stovell are joining Paget, and Russe Ford is headed to Wolves, who have also signed Marcus Ming and Tamauri Tucker from BAA, who have lost 10 players.

Devonshire Colts have lost Kian Butterfield and McQuinn Burch to Paget, and Paul Smith and Chejon Berkeley to Onions.

In total there were some 93 releases compared to 104 the previous season, including 55 from Premier Division clubs.

• A full transfer list can be found on the scoreboard page of today’s newspaper