Tottenham Hotspur have signed Ireland U19 goalkeeper Josh Keeley.
The 6ft 3ins keeper will arrive at the Premier League club in the wake of five goalkeepers being released at various levels in recent weeks. First team goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini did not have his loan move made permanent and in the academy Kacper Kurylowicz, Thimothee Lo-Tutala, Josh Oluwayemi and Isak Solberg all parted ways with Spurs following the conclusion of their contracts.
Keeley is a bright prospect in the Irish game and has appeared at a senior level for St Patrick’s, with a substitute appearance in the FAI Cup and was named on the bench for the first team for five matches in the Irish top flight.
He also played a couple of games for the club in the UEFA Youth League last season, a competition Spurs will return in the coming campaign thanks to their return to the Champions League.
Keeley signed his first professional two-year deal with the Irish club in January having helped Athletic to the SSE Airtricity National U19 League title. He had reportedly had trials with Everton, Leicester City, Aston Villa on two occasions and most recently Aberdeen, but it was Tottenham who convinced him to follow the path of Troy Parrott in coming across from Ireland to the Premier League.
(Football London – Alasdair Gold)