Derry man Shane Duffy has completed his transfer from Everton to Blackburn Rovers this morning, the defender signing a three year deal with the Ewood Park club.
The 22 year-old centre-half signed on the dotted line on ‘Transfer Deadline Day’ after completing a medical and joins the English Championship side for an undisclosed fee, understood to be in the reigion of £1.5 million.
Duffy departs Goodison Park having made 10 senior appearances - six of which were as a substitute. He joined the club’s academy aged 16 and made his first team debut against AEK Athens in December 2009.
After a serious injury while on international duty with the Republic of Ireland which saw him require life-saving surgery, he resumed his career with a loan spell at Scunthorpe.
He was recalled early by former Blues boss, David Moyes and subsequently made a Premier League debut in January 2012.
But he wasn’t able to nail down a regular starting spot under Moyes or successor Roberto Martinez and was loaned to Yeovil for the 2013/14 season, making his senior international debut earlier this summer.
It will be the first player Rovers have paid cash for this summer and boss Gary Bowyer
A product of Foyle Harps, Duffy’s move could earn the Derry & District club in the region of £60,000.
The towering defender, who is on standby for the Republic of Ireland squad which faces Oman in a friendly in Dublin on Wednesday, and a Euro 2016 qualifier against Georgia on Sunday, will wear squad number 22.
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