Burnley sign Irish starlet Lafferty

Burnley have paid League of Ireland side Derry City an undisclosed fee for the 22-year-old following a successful trial spell at Turf Moor.

Lafferty has signed a two-and-a-half–year deal at Turf Moor, subject to international clearance.

“He’s a player we have known about for a while. We had a look at him for a week in training and he impressed us,” said Burnley boss Eddie Howe.

“It’s the closed-season in Ireland so he’s a bit behind in fitness work so we have a bit of work to do to get him right up to speed and it is a big jump for him from the level that he’s played at.

“But he’s had a good grounding at Celtic. You can see he’s had a good education. He’s got a lovely left foot and he loves to get forward.

“He’s a really good footballer and he fits very much into our philosophy. He’s one for the future but is also in our thoughts for now.”

An attack-minded left-back, Derry-born Lafferty started his career with Celtic and spent a spell on loan at Ayr United before being freed from Parkhead at the end of the 2009/10 season.

He then joined his hometown team and helped the Candystripes win the League of Ireland Cup last season and finish third in the league following their First Division promotion success in 2010.

His form attracted interest from English clubs but after spending time at Derby County – a trial interrupted by injury – and Brighton, Burnley won the chase for the Northern Ireland under-21 international, who impressed in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Wolves last week.