DARRAGH Burns claims his move to MK Dons is "the right fit" in terms of the next step in his career.
Stamullen talent Burns, 19, has left St Patrick's Athletic for an undisclosed fee having joined the Inchicore club as a 15-year-old in 2018.
The talented winger made his senior bow for the Saints at 16 off the bench in a friendly against then Europa League champions Chelsea at Richmond Park and made his League debut as a sub against Derry City in August 2020.
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He was instrumental in the Saints' runners-up finish in the Premier Division and started the FAI Cup final victory over Bohs last November.
He made 61 senior appearances for the club, scoring 11 times, but after helping the club qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers, Burns will play no part in the games after moving to the League One club.
"I'm over the moon," enthused Burns, who was recently in the Republic of Ireland's under-21s squad after switching allegiance from Northern Ireland.
"As a kid when I was in the St Pat's Academy I always said I wanted to try to get to England.
"I think MK Dons is the right fit for me, they play great football and I'm so excited to get going.
"St Pat's have been very good to me and I've really enjoyed my years at the club.
"I'll really miss the club and it was great to able to say goodbye to the fans and players and staff on Friday.
"It's time for a new challenge now and I can't wait to get going."
Saints' technical director Alan Mathews reacted: "Darragh has been absolutely brilliant for us, a terrific player with a great attitude and we wish him the very very best.
"It's a great opportunity for him and I think that he can play at a very high level and if continues to work and develop his game as no doubt he will.
"He has been a terrific example to and role model for the young players at the club and has rightly earned himself a move to the UK.
"He goes with our best wishes and we have every belief that Darragh will go from strength to strength."
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