Yahoo News Aodhan Doherty to Blackburn Rovers as Linfield youngster reacts to big move
Blackburn Rovers have announced the signing of highly-rated Linfield youngster Aodhan Doherty. The 18-year-old has joined the Championship club on a three-year professional deal.
Doherty enjoyed a breakthrough year for the Blues last season, making 14 appearances for David Healy's side including seven games in the Irish Premiership. He has also represented Northern Ireland at underage level.
The talented teenager had been on the radar of several cross-channel clubs, including interest from the Premier League.
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Doherty told Blackburn's website:: “I’m very happy to be here. I’m glad it’s got sorted and hopefully I can get going from the very start and do the best that I can and work my way up to the first team.
“It’s a very big move for me and my family. I’ve always dreamt of being a professional footballer and so I’m glad to come over here and get a chance to play in England, and hopefully I can succeed.
“Wherever you’re from, playing in England is always where you want to play. Especially if you’re from Northern Ireland, not too many people get the chance to play in England, so I’m glad to be one of the lucky ones."
Doherty says one of the "big reasons" he chose Blackburn was because of the club's reputation for developing academy players, and providing a pathway to the senior ranks. It is a similar template used by his former manager Healy at Linfield.
He added: “Blackburn Rovers is a very big club, they’ve won the Premier League, the stadium’s unbelievable, the fans are top notch, they’re a very good team and a very well run professional club, so I’m glad to now be a part of the team.
“One of the big reasons why I came here was because it’s a very family-orientated club and they always want to produce Academy graduates and I want to be one of those young players who makes it through to the first team.”
Blackburn added: "A dangerous and dynamic attacker, Doherty burst onto the scene at Linfield last season, making 13 first team appearances prior to turning 18.
"The rising star was also included in David Healy’s squad for Linfield’s European games last summer and recently made his Northern Ireland Under-18 international debut, alongside new Rovers team-mate Tom Atcheson, in a game against England at St. George’s Park."
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