Irish Youths Quick to Sort Out Futures

Many clubs have begun their pre-season preparations and are trying to finalise the bulk of their squad. Irish players, especially youth internationals, are quickly sorting out their futures after just over a week of the window being open.

Steven Reid has signed for Premier League newcomers Burnley on a one-year deal. The former Irish international joins on a free transfer after leaving West Brom. Reid made twenty three appearances for Ireland and was a part of the 2002 World Cup squad, coming off the bench to play against Cameroon and Germany.

Liam Lawrence, another former international, has joined Shrewsbury Town in League Two. The midfielder signed a two-year contract after not being offered a contract by Barnsley after their relegation from the Championship. Lawrence last played for the Republic of Ireland in 2011, after playing fifteen times, scoring twice.

Current international goalkeeper Kieran Westwood has found a new club after being released by Sunderland at the end of last season. He joined Championship side Sheffield Wednesday on a two-year deal. He has so far made sixteen appearances in an Ireland shirt.

Defender John Egan was also released by Sunderland and signed for League One club Gillingham. The Republic of Ireland U21 player has joined on a two-year deal.

Egan’s U21 teammate Sean McGinty has also moved clubs. The former Manchester United player has signed a one-year deal with Rochdale after his release from Sheffield United. McGinty had finished the 2013-14 season on loan at Rochdale.

Many former underage Irish internationals have also been moving to new clubs. Brendan Moloney, who played for the U21’s in 2011, has joined Yeovil Town in a swap deal that brought Luke Ayling to Bristol City.

Conor Henderson, Lanre Oyebanjo and Conor Hourihane all played together for the Ireland U19 and U21 teams during the earlier 2010’s. Henderson and Oyebanjo have both joined Crawley Town after leaving Hull City and York City respectively.  Crawley will be playing next season in League One where they will face Barnsley, who have signed Hourihane for an undisclosed fee from Plymouth Argyle.

Plymouth Argyle have already moved to replace Hourihane with another U21 Irish international. Carl McHugh, who has played three times for the U21’s, has signed a two-year deal after leaving Bradford City.

One player staying at Bradford City for the upcoming season is Australian James Meredith. The former Sligo Rovers player has signed a new one-year contract extension with club.

Outside of England, Dubliner David Van Zanten has joined Dumbarton in the Scottish First Division after leaving St.Mirren while German-Irish defender Patrick Kohlmann has left Union Berlin and joined Holstein Kiel in the German Liga 3.

Fahrudin Kuduzovic, the former Sligo, Drogheda, Cork and Dundalk striker, has also joined Luxembourg side Hamm Benfica. The 29 year old Bosnian joins from Eintract Trier, who came close to gaining promotion to the German Liga 3 during his time at the club.