Black Cats sign Meyler

4:13pm Friday 25th July 2008

Sunderland have confirmed the signing of teenage midfielder David Meyler from Cork City.

The 19-year-old Irishman has put pen to paper on a three-year deal and could make his debut for the Black Cats against Cobh Ramblers in his home country on Monday.

Meyler told the club's website, safc.com: "I'm here to succeed. My ambition is to break into the first team as soon as I can. I want to do it here, and hopefully I can."

Meyler, who has joined for an undisclosed fee, understood to be in the region of £160,000, will hope to impress fellow Corkman Roy Keane as quickly as possible.

He said: "Roy Keane is a legend where I come from. Everyone grew up watching him play, and that included me.

"He's given me a great opportunity here with Sunderland and obviously I will hopefully repay him."

Meyler follows former team-mate Roy O'Donovan from Turner's Cross to the Stadium of Light.

He added: "I already know some of the lads here, the lads from Cork. I know Roy (O'Donovan) from our time with Cork, but I also know Liam (Miller) and young Conor Hourihane from the youth team, so I shouldn't have any problems settling in."

Meyler becomes the club's third summer signing after Tottenham midfielder Teemu Tainio and former Ipswich goalkeeper Nick Colgan.

Olympic silver medal for Jason