Rory Donnelly completes Swansea City move

Swansea City complete the signing of Northern Ireland Under-21 striker Rory Donnelly from Cliftonville after receiving international clearance.

The 19-year-old passed his Swansea medical and has signed a three-and-a-half year deal.

The Welsh club agreed an undisclosed fee with the Irish Premiership side and Donnelly has agreed personal terms.

Donnelly has joined up with his new team and could be in the squad for Sunday's home game with Arsenal.

"We are delighted to be able to attract one of Northern Ireland's biggest talents," said Swans boss Brendan Rodgers.

"I am really looking forward to helping Rory fulfil his potential and, hopefully, over the next few years ensure that Swansea City has another exciting young player blossoming at the club."

Swansea had a £100,000 bid accepted for Donnelly two weeks ago but Everton looked to be favourites for his signature when they made a higher offer before Christmas.

But Swansea won the signature of Donnelly, who had also held talks with Liverpool but is understood to have always favoured a move to south Wales, after making an improved bid.

The transfer was given international clearance by Fifa and officially ratified by the respective Football Associations.

Rodgers wants to "develop" Donnelly's game as the Swans manager said: "He is coming here without pressure, he is coming from a part-time level."

Donnelly is Cliftonville's 17-goal top-scorer this season and has become the eighth signing by Rodgers since Swansea secured promotion to the Premier League last May.

Cliftonville boss Tommy Breslin believes the personal touch of Swansea's manager Rodgers, a fellow Northern Irishman, was significant.

Breslin said: "Rory said that he was impressed by Swansea and by what Brendan Rodgers had to say.

"He said the facilities were good and that there was a great team spirit with no egos. The Northern Irish link with Brendan probably helped too."

Rodgers wants "a couple of players" in the January transfer window to aid their Premier League survival bid and have also completed the signing of defender Darnel Situ.