Matt Healy signs for Royal Francs Borains in Belgium

The 21-year-old's loan deal with Cork City expired at the end of June.

DONE DEAL: Matt Healy signs for Royal Francs Borains in Belgium. Pic credit: Royal Francs Borains.

Matt Healy has officially signed for Royal Francs Borains, the Belgian club have announced.

The 21-year-old has been in talks with a number of clubs following the conclusion of his loan deal with Cork City at the end of June.

That was the second of two loan spells for Healy on Leeside as he helped the club secure the League of Ireland First Division title and promotion back to the Premier Division last season.

City had been hoping to tie him down to a permanent deal this summer following his release from his parent club Ipswich Town back at the end of May.

But Healy has now opted to make the switch to the second tier of Belgian football with his new club confirming the signing on their official website stating: "Matthew Healy (21) arrives from Ipswich Town (League One). The midfielder was twice loaned to Cork City, with whom he played 42 games in D2 and Irish D1.

"This box-to-box of Irish origin was born in Boston. He is an intelligent, physical and enduring player who wants to win in the Challenger Pro League."

City Sporting Director Liam Buckley admitted recently that he was hopeful the Ireland U21 international would re-sign for the Rebel Army.

But in the event that Healy decided to move on, Buckley acknowledged that he would need to be replaced as City battle to avoid relegation this season.

“I’m in touch with him the whole time so I am just waiting for him to come back and tell me what he feels,” Buckley said last week.

“There’s part of me that tells me he wants to stay in Cork. I think he enjoyed his time here, the agent might be pushing something else I don’t know.

“We would like him to stay. I have told him how much I want him to stay, it will be good for his development to stay here.

“If he wants to come here, open arms, great, back in and we’ll push on for the rest of the season. If not, we’ll just get a replacement."