Irish youngster Lee O'Connor joins Manchester United on a three year deal

Lee O'Connor
Lee O'Connor poses after signing for Manchester United.

Republic of Ireland defender Lee O'Connor has become the latest youngster to join Manchester United moving to England from Waterford on 27 June.

According to the Manchester United News, the 15-year-old will arrive at Old Trafford in the summer after signing a three-year deal. Earlier this month, FC Zurich striker Nishan Burkhart's father confirmed the player will be heading to England and will join the Red Devils.

O'Connor becomes the latest youngster to join United. He is the captain of the Republic of Ireland's Under 16 side and has already represented his national side's Under 17s. The teenager full-back has expressed his delight after agreeing to a deal to join the 20-time English champions.

Also read: West Ham United sign Valencia's Toni Martinez on a three-year deal.

He believes United is the right place for his development and admitted that it was an easy decision to make a switch to Old Trafford. O'Connor has already set his sights on following the footsteps of Marcus Rashford, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, and others into the Red Devils' first team.

“I suppose for me in the end, it wasn’t a very difficult decision to make," O'Connor told Waterford Sport, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.

"From the moment I went over to Manchester United, I just knew that there was no point me thinking about signing for any other club and I always wanted to go there.

“I want to develop as a football player and I want to become the best player that I can be by signing for one of the biggest clubs in world football. It was the best place for me to go. It’s the place with the best coaches and the best facilities so in that way, it was easy.

Also read: Louis Van Gaal compares Marcus Rashford to Xavi, Iniesta and Muller.

“When I went over to Manchester United I was lucky enough to train with the likes of Marcus Rashford and I’ve met many of the top players but the thing is I’ve signed for Manchester United in the hope of playing for the first-team.

“I’m going there because I want to play football. I want to play for the first-team of Manchester United and I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t be making this move unless I felt that I was good enough.

"I don’t think that Manchester United would want me to sign for them either if that’s what they didn’t want me to do."

“I haven’t done anything yet and while this move is one that I’m really looking forward too, it’s not something that has really phased me. The next three years of my life will dictate my future in the game of football but I’m willing to work so hard.

“Even though I don’t make the move until June 27, I’m focused now on being the best and trying to be the best.”

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