Newcastle United have announced the transfer of 18-year-old Cathal Heffernan from AC Milan on a permanent transfer, according to a report from Newcastle World.

A centre-half, he has made five appearance for the Republic of Ireland’s U18s outfit, but he has yet to win a cap for the Boys In Green’s senior team.

He isn’t the only Irish youngster from a club in Italy that Newcastle are currently pursuing – they also have their sights set on Kevin Zefi from Inter Milan.

Heffernan’s father, Robert Heffernan, is a former competitive race walker – he competed in 2012 London Olympics 50km walk event, where he won a bronze medal for his efforts.

What did Heffernan have to say regarding the move?

On signing for Newcastle United, Heffernan said: “It’s surreal to join such a big club like Newcastle. It’s definitely a club that is on the rise and with a lot of history. During the last week, I’ve been so excited to get started and I’m now looking forward to a big season ahead.

“The first thing I noticed when I arrived on trial was the lads were really welcoming and I just want to carry that on into the season, getting to know them more. The people of Newcastle are also really nice, too.

“I have become a much better defender during my time at AC Milan and I learnt so many things to improve my game during my two seasons in Italy which should stand me in good stead for the future.

“The goal, when playing academy football, is to try and break into a first-team as quick as you can and, hopefully, I can do that at Newcastle United.”

Who else have Newcastle United signed in the transfer window?

With Champions League football on the horizon, the recruitment staff at Newcastle have been working feverishly to bolster the squad.

They have brought in some high-profile names such as Harvey Barnes and Sandro Tonali – on top of this, they have also made some signings to help improve their quality in depth, such as the acquisition of former Chelsea academy graduate Lewis Hall.