Nottingham Forest believe they have signed a “natural talent” in versatile Northern Ireland U17 midfielder Bobby Jack McAleese.
McAleese, who was part of the Coleraine youth set-up, was officially unveiled by the Championship club on Thursday afternoon.
The teenager, who turned 17 on Friday, joins Forest’s Academy alongside winger Ethan Hull who was previously with Manchester United.
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McAleese’s arrival at Forest bolsters an already healthy Northern Ireland contingent currently plying their trade with the Midlands club.
Dale Taylor, who made his senior international debut in November, Jamie McDonnell and Aaron Donnelly are also on the club’s books.
Taylor and McDonnell have helped the U18s reach the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup with midfielder McDonnell captaining the side.
Nottingham Forest U18 coach Warren Joyce said: "We’re always on the lookout to add quality to an already very strong group and we see both players as exciting projects for the future.
"Both players are talented lads and Bobby will be hoping to emulate a couple of the other players that have come over from Northern Ireland over the past couple of years including Aaron Donnelly, Dale Taylor and Jamie McDonnell.
"He’s got a good brain and a good personality which is important along with his natural talent.”
McAleese, who lives near the Coleraine Showgrounds, was called into the Northern Ireland U17 set-up earlier this season.
He has since made three appearances for Gerard Lyttle's U17s, featuring in Euro qualifiers against Scotland, Italy and Albania.
The 17-year-old had been on Nottingham Forest's radar for a number of months and was first linked with a move to the City Ground in January.
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