Official: Cork City confirm centre-back has joined AC Milan on initial loan deal | OneFootball

Official confirmation has finally arrived from Cork City FC that Cathal Heffernan has joined AC Milan on loan until July with a view to it being permanent.

On their official website the Irish side have announced Heffernan’s departure and they also confirmed that Milan will have the option to make Heffernan’s loan a permanent move at the end of the season as per the terms of the agreement.

Heffernan signed his first professional contract with Cork last year having made his first team debut last season.There is plenty of fascinating background to his arrival such as his previous trials with Manchester United and Bayer Leverkusen, the role of Stephen Ireland and the fact his parents are Olympians.

The Head of Academy for Cork – Liam Kearney – commented on the departure of the teenager.

“This is a great opportunity for Cathal, and we wish him well. Having played his schoolboy football at Ringmahon, he then joined us and has continued to progress. He’s a very good player and a great young lad, and we wish him the best for the future,” he said.

We spoke to Cork Echo and Irish Examiner journalist Andrew Horgan to learn all about the Ireland U17 captain and what he could bring to the Primavera and in time the first team.