LOUTH TEENAGER JIMMY Dunne has agreed to join Burnley from Manchester United on a free transfer.
The 18-year-old centre-half, who has been with United since moving to their Belfast Academy at the age of 10, signs a two-year deal with the Clarets — recently promoted to the Premier League after winning the Championship last season.
Dundalk native Dunne made 23 appearances for United’s U18s last term and will link up with Burnley’s Development Squad.
He shares his name with the ex-Sheffield United, Arsenal, Southampton, Shamrock Rovers and Ireland forward, who scored 41 league goals in the English First Division during one season before going on to win a couple of League of Ireland titles and the FAI Cup with the Hoops in the late 1930s – early 1940s.
“This is really positive place to be at the moment so I’m delighted that I’ve got the move sorted for myself,” Dunne said.
“Manchester United is a big club who have been good to me since the age of 10 and they have developed me into the player and person I am now.
It was a hard decision to make to leave but at the same time I’m joining another fantastic Premier League club.
“All the changes that the club are putting in such as the training ground made it an attractive move and the decision was easier because of that.”
Former Ireland U19 international Michael Keane, who later switched allegiance to England, made a similar move between the two clubs in 2015 and Dunne believes he can learn a lot from his fellow defender.
“Michael Keane is someone I look at to try to improve and I haven’t got talking to him yet but he’s similar in terms of being tall and lean,” he added.
He’s been through a similar format at Manchester United so hopefully I can learn from him.
“I want to play first-team football and play in the Premier League eventually and Burnley is a brilliant place to come to try and do that.”
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