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Irish teenager Ryan Manning secures two-and-a-half year deal with QPR

The 18-year-old forward has agreed to join the Premier League club from Galway United.

Ryan Manning

Updated at 17.30

QPR HAVE SIGNED Ireland U19 international Ryan Manning on a two-and-a-half year deal.

The Premier League club have beaten competition from several other clubs for the signature of the highly-rated 18-year-old forward, who helped Galway United win promotion from the SSE Airtricity League First Division last season — scoring against UCD in both play-off games.

Rs boss Harry Redknapp is delighted with the arrival and says he has high hopes for the teenager.

“Ryan is a young lad who has been chased by a number of top clubs in the Premier League,” Redknapp said. “We have managed to secure him and bring him here, so we’re delighted with that.

“He is a busy player who can play off the left or in behind the striker. He is still young and has a lot to learn but it’s a good gamble for us to take.

“I think he feels he has got a real chance of playing for us here, and hopefully he will progress with us. We’re certainly pleased to have him.”

Ryan Manning celebrates scoring his side's second goal Manning was a key player for Galway in 2014. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Manning, who has three caps for Ireland at U19 level, can’t believe the deal has finally gone through after meeting with Redknapp and Head of Football Operations Les Ferdinand.

“It feels like a dream come true – it’s all very surreal at the moment,” explained the Galway native.

“There were a few clubs interested, but when I came over and met with the manager and Les (Ferdinand), I was in no doubt that I wanted to move to QPR.

“We spoke at length about QPR and what they thought of me as a player and it just seemed like a really good fit for everyone.

The opportunity for me to progress as a player at a club like QPR is something I’m really looking forward to doing.

“I have some catching up to do. In my head I have put the first six months to getting used to the set-up, the full-time training and all that. By the start of next season I hope to really push on.

“I’m just delighted to be here and can’t wait to get started.”

Originally published at 16.15

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29 Comments
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    Mute Emily O Conor
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    Jan 8th 2015, 5:38 PM

    Nice one Ryan! So nice to hear a good news story :-)

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    Mute Tribes Man
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    Jan 8th 2015, 5:45 PM

    The Tribesmen will miss him but congratulations. Gaillimh Abú!

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    Mute cosmological
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    Jan 8th 2015, 5:46 PM

    Good luck to him, Irish talent should be nurtured and applauded.

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    Mute whitey bulger
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    Jan 8th 2015, 6:26 PM

    Rory Gaffney, Pat Hoban, and Ryan Manning all gone to England and all played under Johnny Glynn at mervue Utd. He can spot talent. Greg Cunningham another former mervue underage player making a career for himself in England. Are Mervue the home farm or st joesephs of the west?

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    Mute all kinds of gains
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    Jan 8th 2015, 8:09 PM

    Seamas conneely now at Accrington also!

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    Mute Eamonn
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    Jan 8th 2015, 5:38 PM

    The Irish football team needs a few more lads like this breaking through to the Premier League.
    It’s not that long ago that we sneered at Norn Iron whose team was made up of lower league players.

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    Mute Gavin Doyle
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    Jan 8th 2015, 4:46 PM

    Ryan should listen to the guest off the ball had on last night talking about the money and power and his ego and how he couldn’t cope with the professional set up very good

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    Mute David Larkin
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    Jan 8th 2015, 6:18 PM

    Maybe I’m off the ball ?
    but les Ferdinand was on holidays in galway during the summer

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    Mute eamon geraghty
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    Jan 9th 2015, 7:55 AM

    He’s dating a galway girl for a while now as far as I know

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    Mute Glen
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    Jan 8th 2015, 5:46 PM

    Best of luck !!

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    Mute Paraic Collins
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    Jan 8th 2015, 7:06 PM

    Watched Ryan at Mervue and with GFC over past two seasons. At 16 he could hold his own physically against any defender. His left foot delivers a powerful and accurate shot as does his head. From set pieces he’s deadly. His best attribute is his vision and eye for a pass. Don’t know how he’ll do in England but best of luck to him. His younger brother is another potential staring for Mervue regularly at b underage.

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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Jan 8th 2015, 7:16 PM

    how many great footballers have Mervue produced ? It’s like a little brazil – great club !
    Unless you’re playing against them of course !
    The young lad will be grand …..

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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Jan 8th 2015, 5:47 PM

    Harry Redknapp knows his footballers …well worth a watch for soccer fans …

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAjd_jTvURc

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    Mute Brian Gormley
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    Jan 8th 2015, 5:36 PM

    Congratulations Ryan, every schoolboys dream, well maybe not qpr

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    Mute Deaglán MacThóirdealbaigh
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    Jan 8th 2015, 5:50 PM

    Yeah exactly, sure who wants to play for a Premier League team in England!!

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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Jan 8th 2015, 7:18 PM

    Connacht Rugby – which the I.R.F.U. wanted to disband .
    And now this young man and Martin Keown’s granddad from Castlegar …
    Is it too much to ask for an ould hurling All-Ireland ?

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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Jan 8th 2015, 7:23 PM

    I met a lad I know for years the other day for the first time in about a year or so and I asked what was the craic ..
    “Ah nothin’ much”, he said, “A bit of work during the week and sauce at the weekend ”
    He then told me that the soccer team he played for lost 8 first team players to emigration during the season and had to be abandoned –

    The club is about fifteen miles from Galway City….
    Sorry – was fifteen miles from Galway City .

    17
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    Mute Beano
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    Jan 8th 2015, 6:22 PM

    Good luck to him but its getting more and more difficult for young players to make it at Premier League level straight away. Will prob need to drop down a division or two to get games

    16
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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Jan 8th 2015, 7:19 PM

    I think he’s better than that Beano – but sure we’ll see …
    Soccer is exploding as a sport for young lads in Galway at the moment – all over the county …..

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    Mute Cian O'Connor
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    Jan 8th 2015, 6:53 PM

    We need to keep these players

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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Jan 8th 2015, 6:57 PM

    We do, Cian, but we can’t what with the wages and lifestyle being offered by the Premiership. Good luck to him and I hope it doesn’t go to his head. If he keeps on the right track he should do very well for himself.

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    Mute James Murphy
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    Jan 8th 2015, 9:43 PM

    Wud av loved to see him play for Galway in the top flight for a season or 2 but best of luck to him, quality player. ..
    What kind of dollars did G fc get for him ?

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    Mute tonymcc
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    Jan 8th 2015, 11:04 PM

    About time Harry invested in some youth, good luck to the lad….Come in You R’s!!!

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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Jan 8th 2015, 5:49 PM

    Nick Leeson was financial controller or whatever of Galway United before it went broke – wasn’t he ? Some financial position at any rate …..
    “I wonder how
    I wonder why
    Yesterday you told me about the blue blue sky
    and all that I can see
    Is fools ignoring History !”

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    Mute big willy
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    Jan 8th 2015, 8:17 PM

    Thats why Irish soccer has so few attending, all the talented ones go across the water. The spectators have to watch the crap that’s left

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    Mute amos brearly
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    Jan 8th 2015, 5:48 PM

    Shite

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    Mute pats brandon
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    Jan 8th 2015, 11:00 PM

    Amos is spinning in his grave. . . As is Mr Wilkes..

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    Mute Andrew Matheson
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    Jan 8th 2015, 10:13 PM

    Interesting sponsor!

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