Cathal Heffernan, 16, joins AC Milan from Cork City

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Cathal HeffernanImage source, Inpho
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Cathal Heffernan was on trial in Milan last year

Republic of Ireland Under-17 captain Cathal Heffernan says "words can't describe" how happy he is at joining AC Milan on loan from Cork City.

The 16-year-old defender, who made his senior Cork debut last year, has been on trial at the Serie A club.

It is expected that Heffernan will sign a permanent deal at the San Siro in the summer.

"Words can't describe how happy I am. Can't wait to get started and I'd like to thank all my family," he said.

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Heffernan joins fellow Ireland youth internationals Kevin Zefi (Inter Milan) and James Abankwah (Udinese) in Italy.

Heffernan's father Rob, an Olympic bronze medallist in race walking, said: "Finally it's official. So proud of you Cathal, this is only the beginning. Now it's time to work."

Cathal's mother Marian competed in the women's 4×400m relay at the London 2012 Olympics.