Club confirm player will join Newcastle United this summer for undisclosed fee

League of Ireland side Bohemians have confirmed goalkeeper Reece Byrne will join Newcastle United for an undisclosed fee this summer.

The 18-year-old recently announced on his own social media that he’d be moving to St James’ Park at the end of the 2023-23 campaign.

Bohemians later released a club statement before the Magpies’ 4-1 win at Everton, and wished Byrne well for the future.

“It’s a fantastic move for the boy,” said manager Declan Devine. “It’s not every day you get the chance to sign for a giant in the Premier League and that’s what Newcastle are.

“When I came in I gave him his first-team debut against Dundalk and I thought he did very well. This is the next step for him. He wants to get across to England and play at the highest level he can.

“His development is a testament to the academy staff and what they have done with him over the last number of years and providing him with the platform to go on and play first-team football. They deserve enormous credit.

“We will all look on with great interest to see how his career progresses.”

Byrne made his first-team debut against Dundalk last season. He has made appearances at a number of youth levels for the Republic of Ireland and has earned three caps at under-19s level.

Bohemians Head of Academy Craig Sexton added: “We are delighted for Reece and wish him every success with the move.

“He has shown what he is capable of, performing really well at U19 level both for the club and for his country, to the point that he was given an opportunity in the first team.

“He has great ability to push on now, and his development is a testament to the hard work of the coaches working in our academy.”

Byrne was at St James’ Park last weekend to witness the 6-1 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur. He’ll initially link up with Ben Dawson’s under-21s team.

In an Instagram post, the young stopper said: “Absolutely buzzing to sign for this massive club @nufc , also a big thanks to @stjosephsafc53 [St. Josephs AFC] and @bfcdublin [Bohemian FC] for developing me as a player and more importantly as a person, now time to get to work”

Byrne isn’t the first Bohemians academy graduate to join a Premier League club in recent years after highly-rated striker Evan Ferguson left the Dublin-based side to join Brighton and Hove Albion in January 2021.

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