Newcastle United have sealed a deal for Irish defender Alex Murphy from Galway United.
United have beaten off competition from both West Bromwich Albion and Brighton to sign the 17-year-old and he will be added to Elliott Dickman's Under-23 squad next season. Murphy has already captained the Republic of Ireland at youth level and is regarded as one of the brightest stars in his country.
Speaking after securing the deal for Murphy, Academy manager Steve Harper said: "We are very pleased to have secured a deal to bring Alex to Newcastle United.