Mick McCarthy's Cardiff City have announced the signing of Irish underage central defender Mark McGuinness from Arsenal.
The 20-year-old joins from the Premier League after agreeing to a deal until the summer of 2024.
McGuinness is Bluebirds boss Mick McCarthy’s second summer signing and the player believes the move will help him develop over the next number of years.
"As soon as a Club like Cardiff City were interested I was excited and I couldn't miss this opportunity," McGuinness told Cardiff City TV.
"It's nice to get everything sorted early on and hopefully I can meet the boys and get going. My job is to stop the ball going into the back of the net. I love heading and I love defending.
"It's a great opportunity for me to learn and improve in the next few years at the club."
McGuinness has been capped five times at under-21 level by Republic of Ireland of Ireland boss Jim Crawford, playing the full 90 minutes in the last five games including the recent three-match series in Spain earlier this month.
Cardiff City manager Mick McCarthy (left) and his assistant Terry Connor (right) chat as they leave the pitch at half time, during the Sky Bet Championship match at Oakwell, Barnsley. Picture date: Wednesday January 27, 2021.The Slough-born stopper, described on the Arsenal club website as a "man-mountain", joined the Gunneres at the age of ten and, playing for the under-18s is credited with also "kickstarting attacking moves".
He made 17 appearances in the Premier League South last season, helping to keep seven clean sheets and scoring three goals, all of which came from corners.
McGuinness spent the 2020/21 season on loan with Ipswich Town in League One, appearing in 25 competitive matches and scoring once.
He joins a Cardiff City side that turned their season around under McCarthy who took over a club that was flirting with relegation last January.
The former Ireland boss was rewarded with a new two-year contract in March and ultimately guided the club to an eighth place finish and just nine points outside the playoff places.
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