McClean heading for Sunderland
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Derry City's James McClean looks set to join Premier League side Sunderland after the Brandywell side accepted an offer for the midfielder on Friday night.
The news was announced tonight during Derry's away win over Galway United in which McClean was named on the bench. The midfielder is set to travel to Weirside next week to discuss personal terms and pass a medical in order to complete the deal.
McClean follows in the footsteps of Michael Reddy (Kilkenny City), Daryl Murphy (Waterford United) and David Meyler (Cork City) in making the move from the League of Ireland to Sunderland.
Speculation had been mounting for some time that the Derry native would depart the club during the summer transfer window. Peterborough United had previously made two offers for the player, while both Wigan Athletic and Reading had expressed an interest in signing the U21 Northern Ireland International.
However it now seems that McClean will join John O'Shea and Kieron Westwood in signing for the Mackems, and could make his Premier League debut in their opening league fixture of the season away to Liverpool next week, after making his senior international debut after being named in Nigel Worthington's Northern Ireland squad to face Faroe Islands.
The news was announced tonight during Derry's away win over Galway United in which McClean was named on the bench. The midfielder is set to travel to Weirside next week to discuss personal terms and pass a medical in order to complete the deal.
McClean follows in the footsteps of Michael Reddy (Kilkenny City), Daryl Murphy (Waterford United) and David Meyler (Cork City) in making the move from the League of Ireland to Sunderland.
Speculation had been mounting for some time that the Derry native would depart the club during the summer transfer window. Peterborough United had previously made two offers for the player, while both Wigan Athletic and Reading had expressed an interest in signing the U21 Northern Ireland International.
However it now seems that McClean will join John O'Shea and Kieron Westwood in signing for the Mackems, and could make his Premier League debut in their opening league fixture of the season away to Liverpool next week, after making his senior international debut after being named in Nigel Worthington's Northern Ireland squad to face Faroe Islands.
