Teenager Cathal Heffernan's move to AC Milan has been made permanent.
Heffernan, 17, moved from Cork City to the Italian giants in a loan deal at the end of January.
The Ireland underage star has done enough to impress Rossoneri bosses and will be staying on in Milan.
He finished the season by making his debut at ‘Primavera 1’ level - and by training with first-team stars such as Zlatan Ibrahimović and Olivier Giroud.
The defender has made almost 20 appearances at underage level, and before the season ended he made the step up to a side made up mostly of Under-19s and older reserve team players.
The Cork native made his first team debut for Cork City in the final game of last season, having joined from Ringmahon Rangers three years ago.
Former City star Liam Kearney, who is now the head of the club's academy, said: “Cathal has clearly done well whilst on loan and is now getting the opportunity to sign permanently.
"That he is getting this opportunity is a testament to his own hard work and dedication, as well as the work put in by his coaches at Ringmahon Rangers and here at our academy.
"We are very pleased for him and we wish him the very best of luck in his future career.”
Cork City chairman Declan Carey reacted: “This is an exciting move for Cathal, as he embarks on the next stage of his career.
"Seeing another young player move on from our academy, to a club of the stature of AC Milan, underlines the great work being done by Liam Kearney and his team in our academy, as well as the great work being done by schoolboys clubs, such as Ringmahon Rangers.
"We would like to wish Cathal the very best of luck for the future, and we will all be watching his progress.”
Currently back home in Cork, Heffernan is due to return to Milan in mid-July to begin pre-season and will join three other young Irish players plying their trade in Italy next season, with James Abankwah, Festy Ebosele, Kevin Zefi all hoping to progress.
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