Rory Finneran left Blackburn Rovers for Premier League Newcastle United last summer after making history for his former club.
Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United share a rich history when it comes to the transfer window.
Famously, in 1996 Newcastle shelled out a then world transfer record £15m fee for Alan Shearer to join his beloved boyhood club managed by Kevin Keegan.
Last summer, the two clubs were involved in another transfer deal, although not as high-profile as the Premier League’s all-time top goalscorer.
Central midfield starlet Rory Finneran left Championship Blackburn for Newcastle last summer, and now the youngster has lifted the lid on why he made the Magpies move.
Rory Finneran before Newcastle United U21 v Reading U21: Premier League 2
Photo by Harriet Massey/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Rory Finneran explains why he left Blackburn Rovers for Newcastle United
Last summer, Republic of Ireland under-17s captain Finneran signed a long-term contract with Newcastle to continue his development in the Magpies’ academy rather than at Blackburn.
Finneran made Blackburn history last January after becoming Rovers’ youngest ever player when he made his debut against Cambridge United in the FA Cup, aged just 15 years and 312 days old.
Since making the move, the young midfielder has made 21 appearances for the Magpies’ youth ranks, and is hoping to impress Toon boss Eddie Howe during pre-season this summer and work his way into first-team contention.
Finneran told the Irish Independent: “The Premier League is the biggest league in the world, so you want to be in and around that.
“It was the way they presented the pathway to the first team to me. Training with them, you’re playing with the best players in the world.
“They have just qualified for the Champions League too, so it’s a massive factor for me, that pathway to the first team and [the chance] to play in the Premier League.”
Finneran has also revealed his ambitions to impress Howe this summer ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign.
Eddie Howe celebrates Newcastle United winning Carabao Cup Final
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Rory Finneran wants to impress Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe
On his Newcastle United first-team ambitions, Finneran added: “I trained with the first team a couple of times, so hopefully next season I can push on more.
“If you just get that little bit of luck, go up there and do well then you’re definitely in contention for being picked.
“He (Eddie Howe) brings through young players a lot. Hopefully, in the pre-season, I’ll get the chance to impress the staff if I’m in and around there.”
Club name Rory Finneran appearances
Blackburn Rovers 25
Newcastle United 21
Rory Finneran’s appearances for Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United (first-team and academies)
It’s unlikely that Finneran will go on to have an illustrious Magpies career in the ilk of Shearer, but the youngster is regarded as one of the top midfield prospects in English football.
Ahead of the Championship season, Shearer sent a heartfelt message to Blackburn, and closer to home, the Magpies legend will be hoping to see Finneran follow his example and prosper at St James’ Park.