Free-spending Derry City have completed the loan signing of Sheffield United's Stephen Mallon.
The 20-year old has been with the Blades' academy since leaving Belfast's Donegal Celtic, having played for St. Oliver Plunkett's prior to that.
Mallon actually made his senior debut in the Australian A-League while on-loan to the Central Coast Mariners in 2019. He also scored while Down Under.
He's played underage football for both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, but most recently was part of Stephen Kenny's Under-21 squad and played in the 2019 Toulon Tournament.
Having taken David Parkhouse on loan from Sheffield United last season, Derry manager Declan Devine is happy to keep mining that seam, "He's a guy I've known for a long time. Very similar to the Parkhouse situation last year - there's a player at Sheffield United that I've known.
"[He's a] very technical player, a flair player, a fantastic left foot - he can play left-midfield, left-wing and can also fill in at left-back.
"He's a player that gives us versatility. He's seen the benefits of David Parkhouse last year and he's a guy who wants to prove himself at the highest level."
Mallon is just the latest arrival in a busy close season for the Candystripes. He joins the likes of Conor McCormack, Conor Clifford and Walter Figueira at the Ryan McBride Brandywell.
Club chairman Philip O'Doherty announced earlier this month that Devine's budget has increased by 30% from the 2019 season.
"It's going to cost £1m (€1.18m) to run the football club this year", O'Doherty told the Derry Journal, "That basically comes from contributions, sponsorship, gate receipts."
Derry also have the added bonus of a minimum of €220,000 from their qualification for the Europa League.
David Parkhouse was Derry's top scorer last season and he's sold the club on Mallon, with the 20-year old telling the club's website, "He's a close friend, and spoke quite highly of the league and said he had a great time here.
"He's put himself in a much better position than he was before".
Derry City begin their SSE Airtricity Premier Division season away to champions Dundalk on Valentine's night.
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