MANCHESTER United have signed 15-year-old Waterford defender Lee O’Connor, according to reports.
O’Connor – who captains Ireland’s Under-16 side - was named player of the year for the Under-15s last month and was presented with the award by Everton’s Seamus Coleman.
The youngster will join Nicky Butt’s Academy side ahead of next season, according to the Manchester Evening News.
“We’re short on a few numbers in the different age groups and it’s something we need to address,” Butt recently said.
“Something we are addressing and something we will hopefully get over the line in the next few weeks, in time for next season. It’s the same as any other club. We all want to attract the best young players in Europe, at whatever age, and we’re exactly the same."
O'Connor is the first Irish player to join Manchester United from Waterford since John O’Shea in 1998, who enjoyed 10 years in the club’s first-team.