Manchester City And Ireland Starlet Jack Byrne Completes Championship Loan Move

Manchester City youth player and Irish under-21 international Jack Byrne has joined Blackburn Rovers on loan for the coming season.

Byrne and both clubs all confirmed via social media earlier this afternoon that the 20 year old will join Owen Coyle’s side for the next twelve months.

A very warm welcome to Owen Coyle’s fifth signing of the summer, Manchester City starlet Jack Byrne pic.twitter.com/l0UQL2z2Qm

— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) June 29, 2016

The Dublin native first came to the attention of many during the inaugural season of the UEFA Youth League in 2014/15, where he scored six goals in eight games for the Manchester City under-19 side.

This is the second loan spell of Byrne’s career, having spent last season on loan at Eredivisie side Cambuur. Despite the Dutch side’s relegation, the midfielder made a big impression in the league, scoring four goals in 27 appearances including this fantastic strike against Heracles:

Here’s Jack Byrne’s goal for Cambuur against Heracles earlier. The on-loan City midfielder is making an impression. pic.twitter.com/PksMFZJOAU

— City Watch (@City_Watch) March 13, 2016

Indeed his old side have also taken to social media to wish Byrne all the best at Blackburn.

All the best @Jackb_8 and congratulations with your new club @Rovers! https://t.co/jfrtbmRLqL

— SC Cambuur (@SCCambuurLwd) June 29, 2016

The 20 year old is tipped for a bright future in the game. Although he has not yet played a first team match for Manchester City, he was called up by Ireland manager Martin O’Neill to train with the senior team ahead of the March 2016 friendlies against Switzerland and Slovakia. He did not feature in either game, but he will be likely be in the national squad again before long.

.@Jackb_8 joins @Rovers on a season-long loan…

Full story: https://t.co/Sm1tHDEELg#mcfc pic.twitter.com/FEzxEvgVL8

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) June 29, 2016

Byrne, who has played at every level for Ireland from under-16 to under-21, took to Instagram to express his excitement about his loan move, as well as his eagerness to begin the new Championship season in his temporary new surroundings at Ewood Park:

Absolutely delighted to join @onerovers on loan for the season ? thanks to the manager and the club for the opportunity can’t wait to get going now ⚽️?

A photo posted by Jack Byrne (@jackb8) on Jun 29, 2016 at 4:46am PDT

Though Byrne will want to help Blackburn be as strong as they possibly can this season, he will surely be be excited by the prospect of hopefully doing enough to impress new Man City boss Pep Guardiola.