Real Madrid youth product declares for Ireland

Getafe 17 year-old John Joe Patrick Finn wants to play for the Republic of Ireland according to U21 boss Jim Crawford.

The 17 year-old midfielder became Getafe’s youngest ever debutant in La Liga when he came on as a substitute in December.

He has since made five further appearances for the Spanish side and only missed out on a place in yesterday’s Ireland U21 squad because of injury.

Stephen Kenny, Jim Crawford and U19s manager Tom Mohan made a big effort to secure the services of Finn back in December.

Today their hard work seems to have paid off with U21s manager Crawford stating at today’s press conference that Ireland “will have him on board” moving forward.

John Patrick was born in Madrid to an Irish father from Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, and a French-Cameroonian mother.