CALLUM O’DOWDA, one of Irish football’s brightest prospects, has been signed on a three-year deal by Championship club Bristol City.
21-year-old winger O’Dowda moves to Ashton Gate from Oxford United, where he made 50 appearances last season as they clinched promotion to League One as runners-up.
English-born O’Dowda is a regular for Ireland’s U21s and received his first call-up to the senior squad for the friendly game against the Netherlands back in May.
Although he didn’t feature at the Aviva Stadium, manager Martin O’Neill was impressed by the youngster and allowed him to remain with the team for their week-long pre-Euro 2016 training camp in Cork.
In the warm-up match against Belarus at Turner’s Cross, O’Dowda was handed his senior debut and showed glimpses of his potential during a 15-minute cameo.
He joins former Ireland U21 defender Derrick Williams at the Robins, who finished 18th in England’s second tier last term.
“He’s a real emerging talent,” said Bristol head coach Lee Johnson. “He’s very mobile, comfortable on the ball and hungry to improve. He’s got a great personality, which is conducive to having a very good career.
“Callum isn’t exactly under the radar because there was a lot of interest in him, so we’re delighted he’s joined us; we believe he can continue the progression he has already shown.
He’s only just broken into the Republic of Ireland squad and is being spoken about as one for the future. I’ve heard nothing but positive feedback in terms of his quality and personality.
“I think if you asked him, he’d say he’s best cutting in from the right-hand side, but he can operate in a ball-carrying number ten role and is also an accomplished left-sided midfielder. I like being fluid and Callum offers us versatility.”
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