LAST UPDATE | 25 Aug
IRELAND DEFENDER DARA O’Shea has completed his move to Premier League side Ipswich Town on a five-year deal.
The 42 reported last night that that Dubliner was set to leave Burnley for Kieran McKenna’s team, and that international teammate John Egan was close to replacing him at the Championship club having spent time training with Scott Parker’s side.
The deal for O’Shea could be worth up to €24 million (£20m), with an initial €18m (£15m) guaranteed and an additional €6m (£5m) in add-ons.
A five-year deal for Dara O'Shea, who joins us for an undisclosed fee from Burnley! 📰⤵️
— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) August 25, 2024
“It was really hard not to pay attention to everything the team was able to achieve last season and to have the chance to join a club with such ambition and momentum was really attractive,” O’Shea said.
“The manager (Kieran McKenna) was a huge part of why I wanted to come here and I’ve really admired what he and the team have done over the last couple of seasons, so at this stage of my career it’s the perfect time to make the move.
“I want to play in the Premier League and test myself against the best players in the world, which is something I want to do for as long as possible, and I can’t think of a better place to do that.
“I know quite a few of the lads in the squad and the style of play really suits me, where I can show my strengths and improve my weaknesses, so I’m looking forward getting to work as soon as possible and being part of the culture.”
The 25-year-old joined Burnley in July 2023, moving from West Brom, where he had made 107 senior appearances. O’Shea played 33 times in the Premier League last year and makes a swift return to the English top flight.
After last year’s relegation, he started in Burnley’s opening two wins in the Championship and scored in the recent 4-1 victory over Luton Town. But he was left out of the squad for the 1-0 defeat against Sunderland yesterday, and Parker confirmed after the game he was set to leave the club.
Another Irish defender is set to join the club O’Shea is departing, with Egan on the verge of a deal with Burnley.
He has been training with Burnley in recent weeks and is now on the brink of joining the Championship outfit, having been without a club since leaving Sheffield United this summer when he was out of contract.
Egan had been with Sheffield United since July 2018, becoming an integral figure in their team and playing 224 times for the club.
His involvement was restricted last season after suffering a serious Achilles injury last September.
