PROMISING 16-YEAR-OLD Gavin Bazunu has completed a move to Premier League side Man City.
The youngster had previously been on the books at Shamrock Rovers, who confirmed his departure today.
“Gavin has completed the move earlier than we originally expected and we wish Gavin all the very best in his career development at City,” the club’s sporting director Stephen McPhail said.
“Whilst we originally planned for Gavin to stay at Rovers until July and see out his education to complete his Leaving Certificate at our education partner Ashfield College, arrangements have been made to accommodate Gavin doing his studies and moving to Manchester.
“Working with Gavin, his family and the other parties involved we are happy that this is the best scenario for Gavin and for the football club.”
Last October, it was confirmed that a deal had been reached between the two clubs.
According to the Hoops, it was the biggest transfer fee received by an Irish club in the professional era, and was therefore thought to have exceeded the €500,000 Sunderland paid Cork for Roy O’Donovan in 2007.
The Irish underage international made his first-team debut for Shamrock Rovers last June, only four months after turning 16.
He has since gone on to make a number of appearances for the Irish club, featuring in both legs of their Europa League tie against Swedish outfit AIK.
The Dubliner is now set to continue his development at Manchester City.
Bazunu is unlikely to get first-team opportunities in the immediate future, with the more experienced likes of Ederson and Claudio Bravo on the books at the reigning Premier League champions.
Following a tough Six Nations opening defeat to England, Joe Schmidt will look to regroup against a dangerous Scotland side. This week, Murray Kinsella and Gavan Casey are joined by Bernard Jackman to assess the damage of last weekend and look ahead to the clash in Murrayfield:
The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud
Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:
Why is he going over now instead of at the end of the season when he’ll have completed his Leaving Cert? I know he’ll complete school in the UK but sounds like Manchester City have put pressure on him to go over now?
@James Clancy: Brexit? Age considerations outside eu?
@tribesman: Oh yeah, that could be the reasoning alright. Strikes me that it’d be a better move for the player himself to go over in the summer but Brexit could be an issue alright.
@James Clancy: I think for career development games at a reasonably level is a good argument to stay. But he will get the beat training money can buy at city. Also money is another valid reason. Most good 17 year olds don’t play professionally for long. But city pay huge wedge to their kids, so even if he doesn’t ‘make it’ he’ll have earned significantly for 3ish years which could set him up for life.
I hope he does well, man City seem to have a good education plan for their academy players.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-st-bedes-news-11311766.amp
Best of luck to him…