BURNLEY have pre-empted the January transfer window by agreeing a deal for young Irish defender Kevin Long.

The Clarets fended off fierce competition from north and south of the border to settle terms with the 19-year-old Cork City stopper, who will sign a three-and-a-half-year contract once the January transfer window opens.

And Long, who is 6ft-plus and understood to cost in the region of £150,000, only forced his way into Cork’s senior side in the summer but made a big enough impression to earn a call-up to the Republic of Ireland Under 21s squad.

He described the move as ‘a dream come true’, adding: “There were a few clubs interested but I thought Burnley was the best one to come to and that’s the reason I’m here.

“It’s everyone’s dream to get over to England and play in one of the best leagues in the world and I’m no different from anyone else.”

Burnley boss Owen Coyle said: “I’m delighted to be signing Kevin.

"He is a young, aggressive, left-sided centre back who is hungry to keep improving and will go straight into our first-team squad when he joins us.

“He has got everything you want in that that type of player and I would like to thank Cork’s chairman Tom Coughlan for his courtesy and professionalism during negotiations.”