Burnley Football Club have today announced the signing of 18 year old centre back Jimmy Dunne on a free transfer.
The Irish born former Manchester United defender has signed a two-year deal with a further year’s option in the club’s favour.
Photo source: Burnley Football Club.
Jimmy joined United’s Belfast Academy at the age of 10 and will now link up with Michael Jolley's Development Squad and claims a move to the Clarets was ‘perfect’ for his development.
Jimmy said: “This is really positive place to be at the moment so I’m delighted that I’ve got the move sorted for myself.
“Manchester United is a big club who have been good to me since the age of 10 and they have developed me into the player and person I am now.
“It was a hard decision to make to leave but at the same time I’m joining another fantastic Premier League club.
“All the changes that the club are putting in such as the training ground made it an attractive move and the decision was easier because of that.”
Earlier in his career, Dunne represented the illustrious St Kevin’s Boys Club who have helped produced some fine talent in the likes of Stephen Carr, Ian Harte and more recently Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick.
The Louth born centre-back also captained his hometown in Northern Ireland’s Milk Cup and he is hoping to learn from some of the more senior players at the club.
“Michael Keane is someone I look at to try to improve and I haven’t got talking to him yet but he’s similar in terms of being tall and lean.
“He’s been through a similar format at Manchester United so hopefully I can learn from him.
“I want to play first-team football and play in the Premier League eventually and Burnley is a brilliant place to come to try and do that.”
I hope he can go on and emulate his namesake the late, great Jimmy Dunne, formerly of Arsenal and Southampton. (TEC).