West Ham have signed Ireland international Leanne Kiernan.
The highly-rated 19-year-old joins the Super League side from Shelbourne.
From Bailieborough in Cavan, Kiernan was a key part of Ireland's ultimately unsuccessful bid to qualify for next year's Women's World Cup.
Her exploits for club and country attracted scouts from all over Europe. It's said that West Ham have beaten tough competition for the teenager's signature.
Kiernan scored on her Ireland debut two years ago. Her talents were also highlighted by a hat-trick in the 2016 Women's FAI Cup final.
"I'm delighted to be joining West Ham, as it's the next step in a brilliant adventure for me,” she told the West Ham club website.
It's a big step over the water, but the girls are lovely and I'm really enjoying it.
It's a great club to join. There is so much ambition to this club and I'm really looking forward to seeing how this season goes.
It makes it a bit easier that everybody is in the same boat as me as we're new to West Ham. Everybody is friendly and it feels like home! We only arrived a few weeks ago, but it already feels like we've been friends for years as we all get on very well.
In joining West Ham, Kiernan leaves behind another love - the farm.
"I'm used to being at home on the farm, but now I'm living in a big city like London! It's been good so far. I'm living with two of the girls and learning all the new things I need to do now I'm living away from home for the first time.
"Every summer, my job used to be at home looking after the pigs, but now things are very different!"
Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
