Premier League outfit Cardiff City have moved to secure the services of one of the League of Ireland's brightest young prospects, after reaching an agreement with Shamrock Rovers to take teenage sensation Aaron Bolger on loan.
Bolger, who forced his way into the Rovers first team towards the end of last season, will move to the Welsh capital immediately, with his parent club not putting a definitive period on the loan move.
The move comes on the same day that fellow Irish U19 international, Troy Parrot, signed his first pro-contract at fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.
Bolger started his footballing education at Dun Laoghaire club, St Joseph's Boys, whose youth set up has produced the likes of Alan Judge, Paul McShane and Ronnie O'Brien, before making the move to Tallaght in 2016.
.@ShamrockRovers confirm the loan transfer of @aaronbolger21 to @CardiffCityFC with immediate effect. pic.twitter.com/4LDe0XrKw6
— Shamrock Rovers FC ☘️ (@ShamrockRovers) February 4, 2019
The midfielder, who turned 19 over the weekend, was eased into Stephen Bradley's side last season, accumulating a lot of minutes from the bench, although he did manage to score his first senior goal in the 4-1 win over Drogheda United in June. In what was a breakout year, he picked up the Irish U17 Player of the Year award in March.
The fan favourite had been linked with a move across the water during the now lapsed January transfer window, with Preston North End reportedly interested in the teenager.
He has been recently included in Stephen Kenny's first Ireland U21 training camp, who are training this week ahead of a friendly fixture against Ireland Amateurs on Wednesday.
The Bluebirds currently sit just inside the Premier League relegation zone.
The club has been enshrouded in sorrow this last fortnight after club record signing Emiliano Sala disappeared on January 21st, when a plane carrying the Argentinian striker, lost contact with air traffic controllers over the English Channel. It was confirmed yesterday evening that wreckage was found on the seabed four miles off the coast of Guernsey.
Details emerged this morning that a body has been spotted inside the stricken aircraft.
