Sunderland sign O'Donovan in €1m deal

Cork City and Sunderland last night agreed an eircom League record transfer fee for the sale of Roy O’Donovan.

The striker will join Roy Keane and the Irish revolution in Sunderland for a fee that involves an initial outlay of 500,000, but rises to almost €1m including add-ons for club appearances and international caps.

O’Donovan look set to sign a three-year deal with the Black Cats, believed to be worth €8,000 a week — a huge increase from the €1,000 a week he earns at Turner’s Cross.

Personal terms won’t be a problem for the eircom league top scorer. O’Donovan is on record saying that Keane is a hero of his and that he would love to play for the Mayfield man.

Damien Richardson has requested that O’Donovan remain with the Rebel Army until August 31 when the transfer window closes, but it is unlikely the Premiership will agree, given their season starts against Spurs this coming Saturday.

O’Donovan was at the Bishopstown training complex this morning to bid farewell to his team-mates after three seasons on Leeside.

The near €1 million transfer fee beats the previous eircom League record fee of 450,000 City received for Alan Bennett from Reading.

Meanwhile, David Bevan from Grange made his debut for the Aston Villa first team last night in a 1-1 draw with Walsall.

Bevan, along with fellow Corkman Stephen O’Halloran, played the full game for Martin O’Neill’s side and both came in for praise after the game from the Villa boss.

Both are now set to be handed places in the first-team squad for the new season.