CORK NATIVE AARON Drinan is set to become the latest player to leave the SSE Airtricity League for a club in England.
The 19-year-old striker will join former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy at Ipswich Town when the transfer window officially opens in January.
After learning his trade with Carrigaline United and Cobh Ramblers, Drinan moved to Cork City and scored for their U19 side against both HJK Helsinki and AS Roma in last season’s Uefa Youth League campaign.
Having not made a first-team league appearance for City, he moved to Waterford at the end of July. He played six times as the Blues sealed promotion back to the top flight by winning the First Division title.
Less than three months after leaving Cork City, he’s now set to continue his career with Ipswich, who are currently in eighth place in the English Championship.
“Pretty much everything,” said McCarthy, when asked by reporters what he likes about Drinan. “He’s been in and trained with us. He’s here with us now. Very pleased with him.
“We expect to sign him in January. He trained with us and didn’t look out of place. That’s the reason we took him in. I’m looking forward to working with him. I think he will eventually be a first-team player.”
According to the East Anglian Daily Times, Ipswich will pay Waterford €100,000 for Drinan. Another Waterford player, 18-year-old John Martin, has also been training with Ipswich but McCarthy said: “At this moment in time there’s nothing happening on that one.”
