SEAN MAGUIRE WILL join Preston North End from Cork City at the end of July.
The League of Ireland Premier Division leaders confirmed the much-mooted deal in a statement this morning.
Maguire hit a hat-trick in a hugely-impressive 3-0 win over champions Dundalk last night at Oriel Park, putting the Leesiders 18 points clear.
“The striker has agreed a three-year deal from next month after both clubs agreed an appropriate but undisclosed compensation package,” the statement reads.
“Maguire has scored 19 goals in 20 appearances so far this campaign and will continue to be available for selection for John Caulfield’s side until his departure date at the end of July when he has completed his move.”
North End boss Simon Grayson will add the former U21 international to former League of Ireland stars Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle.
Ireland manager Martin O’Neill and assistant Roy Keane were present at Oriel Park last night to witness Maguire’s match-winning treble.
“He has been scoring goals,” said City boss, John Caulfield, “his work rate is phenomenal and we know he’ll continue to do that in the rest of his time here.
“Whilst you never want to lose a player of Seani’s quality, we are delighted to have worked with Preston so that he can remain with us until the end of July.
“We’ve had a very strong start to the campaign, the lads have a well-deserved break now to recharge their batteries and get ready for a massive second half of the season and that’s our focus now.”
Great move for Seanie . The league will be a poorer place without player’s like him. Wish him all the best
It’s a good thing Cork have an 18 point lead. Wish him all the best but I’m gutted that he’s leaving, the league is a better place with players like him. He was class last night.
City still have him for up to 7 league games and a couple of European ties. Watch how quickly he gets called up to Ireland squad now that he doesn’t play here. Sad but true.
And when he arrives at Preston, he’ll suddenly be good enough for the Ireland squad!
Preston have some amount of Irish players now. Good luck to him! Thought Cork would try keep him for their European games
@Joey McCarthy: although just checked he will be around for early rounds of European games.
He’ll get on the magic plane which takes off in Ireland and when it lands in England he’ll have improved so much he’ll get called in to the national squad
@Michael Hanrahan: no guarantee he’ll get in Preston side… and if he does he will probably deserve a call up as the championship is a much higher level than league of ireland, despite what people seem to think on here…. horgan best player in loi last year, but has struggled to make starting 11 for Preston recently after a bright start
@blueman79: yet he’s been in every squad since he joined them regardless of his form eith PNE
Great for him snd great for city. Will win the league and make a few quid along the way. Happy days
Would of been nice for him to stay until the end of the season. Cork took him off the bench at Dundalk and are on their way to a great season. Surely a few months wouldn’t have stopped him moving. Interesting to see who Cork replace him with now.
@Dan: I think Brian Kerr made a good point last night when he said Maguire needed to be at Preston for the pre season. It’s his best chance of staking a claim in the team. I know Horgan went in January but he didn’t get into the team straight away. Tough on Cork though.
Everyone’s second team in England has now become Preston. Will be keeping an eye on their results, best of luck to all the Irish lads!!
Can expect to see hin in the Ireland squad in August so
Best of cork luck seanie,go all the way boy
Great and we’ll deserved movie for him. Definitely should be involved with Ireland more than he has been and now that he’s moved to the championship O’Neill will probably cap him even though he deserved his first cap a while ago.
@Dave Murray: bit early for a movie although Vardy had got one
@Brian Les: Doh! Major face palm from me.
@Dave Murray: v good
lets hope they got a decent fee with a future percentage sell on clause not like in previous cases to clubs across the water.
Great if he was loaned back to City till end of season. Prob won,t happen though, fully deserves his chance, can make an impact in championship as well.No shortage of strickers wanting to come to City now i,d say. Best support base, biggest club in Ireland now and unique atmosphere at Turners Cross.
Delighted for him he deserves it lots of Irish players at Preston now
Let’s hope Richie towell gets a fair crack at Brighton .. great move for maguire- hope it works out
@Niall: Chris Hughton has said that he’s going to send Richie out on loan to the championship
Called up to the Ireland squad now guaranteed
If mcgeady sign permanently they can make a real push for automatic promotion
@Ciarán Linnane: i cant see aidan doing aswell this season im afraid
@John Delaney: hope he does
Feck. Would have preferred he stayed till seasons end. We haven’t won the league in 12 years like
Let’s hope Kevin o c,and Ryan d,dont go