Glentoran youngster Jamie McDonnell joins Nottingham Forest on three-year deal

Northern Ireland under 17 international Jamie McDonnell has joined Nottingham Forest from Irish League outfit Glentoran on a three-year deal.

McDonnell becomes the latest youngster to come through the ClubNI programme, which was set up to educate young, elite players on what it takes to become a professional footballer and to give the environment they need to succeed.

Forest had to fight off interest from the likes of West Bromwich Albion, Celtic and Rangers who were also interested in McDonnell.

The central midfielder, who has captained Northern Ireland at under 16 level becomes the latest Northern Irish youngster to make the trip across the water after ex-Linfield youngster Charlie Lindsay joined Rangers last month while former Linfield man Dale Taylor also made the move to the City Ground earlier this month.