Former Newcastle United youngster Mackenzie Heaney has become South Shields’ first signing of the summer.
The attacking midfielder was viewed as one of the brightest prospects at the Magpies academy but was released by his boyhood club at the end of the 2017/18 season.
Spells with Northern League clubs Newcastle Benfield and West Auckland Town followed before he spent time with Northern Premier League outfit Whitby Town and Iceland second-tier side UMF Grindavik.
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Heaney moved back into the full-time game when he joined a York City side managed by former Magpies star Steve Watson - but ended the campaign by helping Buxton pip South Shields to the Northern Premier League Premier Division title.
He will now move back to the North East as he becomes Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips’ first permanent signing as Mariners boss.
After putting pen-to-paper, the 23-year-old said: “I’m delighted it is done and very excited to be here. I’m pleased to have my future sorted very early in the summer and now it’s time to get ready for pre-season.
“This is a massive club at this level, especially when you look at the ground and the training ground, which are amazing. Myself and the club want to achieve the same thing, which is to win the league, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Phillips described his new addition as ‘incredibly talented’ and has promised to add further new faces to his squad over the coming weeks.
He said: “I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Mackenzie Heaney as our first signing. He is a player who I firmly believe will excite our fans and I’m thoroughly looking forward to working with him.
“Technically, he is a very impressive player and he is also a dead ball specialist who has a great ability to score goals. Mackenzie is incredibly talented and is a young player who I am sure will develop further in the years to come.
