In August 1989, Loughlan and team-mate Neil Lyne were signed by Nottingham Forest; the transfer would later be highlighted in the 1997 Premier League report of Rick Parry, Robert Reid QC and Steve Coppell on bung culture in football [REF].
He linked up with Dundalk for the 1994-95 season, picking up a League of Ireland winner's medal as Dermot Keely's side captured the title on the final day of the season with a 2-0 win over Galway United.