Cork City have confirmed the worst kept secret in Irish football - Seanie Maguire will leave the club to join Preston North End.
The striker took his League of Ireland tally for the season to 16 on Friday night with a hat-trick against Dundalk. He did so as Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane sat in the stand.
He will join Preston on a three-year deal at the end of July. The club added they had received 'an appropriate but undisclosed compensation package' for the player.
TRANSFER | @Seani_Maguire_ will join Preston North End at the end of July. Read more on CCFC.ie #CCFC84 pic.twitter.com/5m0aqcoAQh
— Cork City FC (@CorkCityFC) June 3, 2017
A move to the Championship for Maguire has been mooted since late last year.
The 23-year-old will join a strong Irish contingent at Preston. In January, Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle joined from Dundalk. Also among Simon Grayson's squad are Alan Browne, who made his Ireland debut against Mexico on Thursday night, and Greg Cunningham. Aiden McGeady was also on loan at Deepdale last season.
The move should do plenty for Maguire's Ireland chances. Roy Keane recently mentioned it as being a factor which would increase his chances of winning an Ireland senior cap.
Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
