Brighton have officially added two teenage prospects from Ireland to their ranks, again raiding the league from which they signed Aaron Connolly.
The Irish Independent reported that 16-year-old duo Andrew Moran and Leigh Kavanagh have formally completed their respective transfers to the Amex Stadium from Bray Wanderers, having signed pre-contract agreements earlier this year.
The pair continue to train with the League of Ireland club for the time being due to travel restrictions, although they are expected to relocate to Sussex before the end of July if permissible to do so (as per Irish Independent).
Moran was described by Irish Independent reporter Daniel McDonnell as “a skilful playmaker” who became Bray’s youngest-ever first team player last year two months before his 16th birthday and scored his first senior goal back in February. He has been capped twice by Republic of Ireland at under-17 level.
Centre-back Kavanagh made his senior debut for Bray in the early weeks of the League of Ireland season prior to lockdown and has also represented his country’s under-17 side.
Given that they only have minimal senior experience in the second tier of a national league that is ranked 42nd of 55 in UEFA’s association club coefficient, the 16-year-old duo look set to develop through Brighton’s academy teams for the foreseeable future before harbouring any realistic ambitions of breaking into the senior side.
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Brighton have prior experience of looking across the Irish Sea for promising talents, having signed Connolly from Mervue United back in 2016 at the same age that Moran and Kavanagh are now. The striker had to wait until this season to make his league debut for the Seagulls but he has gone on to feature in 22 top-flight games in the current campaign.
Kavanagh could also look to compatriot Shane Duffy as a role model at the Amex Stadium, with the 28-year-old playing in the same position and boasting the experience of 95 Premier League games. His path to Brighton was different, though, having signed from Blackburn and done the rounds in England rather than coming directly from the Emerald Isle.
Connolly’s experience shows that young players at Brighton can work their way into the first team after joining the club as academy hopefuls, which should offer plenty of hope to Moran and Kavanagh of emulating the 20-year-old if they work hard enough under the Seagulls’ academy coaches.
Connolly and Duffy are two Irish players who have established themselves at the Amex Stadium, with the club now hoping that their latest imports from across the water can follow suit in years to come.
Brighton fans, do you think Moran and Kavanagh could follow in the footsteps of Connolly? Share your views in the comments section below!
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