Cork City teen Donal O'Connor completes Brentford move

Donal O'Connor has completed his move to Brentford. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Cork City youngster Donal O'Connor's move to Brentford has been confirmed.

First reported in the Irish Examiner at the start of the month, O'Connor will move to the Premier League outfit and will initially link up with their 'B' side. 

Centre-half O'Connor, having only made his City first-team debut in May before going on to make eight appearances, has signed a three year-deal at the Keith Andrews-managed Bees, with a €170,000 up-front fee brokered for the 18-year-old.

Should the teen progress from the club’s B squad into Andrews' first-team, the Rebel Army will earn additional income of €200,000, with further add-ons existing, dependent on international involvement and future transfers.

“Donal is a player that we have long felt has a big future in the game, and we were not surprised by how well he took to first-team football when he got into the team," City director of football, Liam Kearney said. "He is a talented player, with a really great attitude, and this is a great opportunity for him. 

"From our point of view, we would have loved to have Donal develop further within our first-team, but when an opportunity arises for a move to a Premier League club, a talented player will make that step. 

"We are pleased that we have secured an agreement that benefits the club and will see us benefit further if Donal progresses as we expect him to. We wish Donal every success for the future.“

Brenford 'B' boss Sam Saunders added: “We’re really pleased to get Donal in. He brings that first-team experience to the B-team group.

“He’s powerful, strong and wants to defend the box. He’s got lots of attributes that we feel will help our group and a lot of attributes that we feel we can help develop as well.

“He is another good signing that adds more competition to the backline and more competition to the squad for what’s going to be a very testing season.”

Outside Andrews, there is a big Irish flavour to the Brentford club staff, on both the coaching and playing side. 

Damien Duff recently joined the staff, which also includes Stephen Rice and Kevin O’Connor.

He'll join fellow Cork man Caoimhín Kelleher, while another Irish compatriot, Nathan Collins, is club captain.