Shamrock Rovers midfielder Aaron Bolger joins Premier League Cardiff City on loan

Shamrock Rovers have announced that teenage midfielder Aaron Bolger has signed for English Premier League side Cardiff City on loan with immediate effect.

The Republic of Ireland under-19 international has made the move to the Welsh club with a view to signing a permanent deal in the summer when the transfer window re-opens.

Bolger has made a total of 36 appearances (24 in the league) for the Hoops in two-and-a-half years, including 19 starts, and scored his only goal in a 4-1 win over Drogheda United in 2017.

He was selected in Stephen Kenny’s squad for a three-day training side and exhibition against an Irish amateur team this week but his continued involvement is unknown.

He was part of the Ireland squad that competed in the under-17 European Championships in England in 2017, reaching the quarter-finals where they lost out narrowly to the hosts.

The former St Joseph’s Boys schoolboy made his breakthrough to the Rovers first team at the age of 16 as a substitute in a 5-0 FAI Cup defeat to Cork City.

Bolger, who turned 19 last week, made his league bow two weeks later at home to Galway United.