Northern Ireland youth midfielder Jamie McDonnell is relishing kicking on at Nottingham Forest after signing a three-year professional contract with the club.
McDonnell, 17, who hails from Lisburn and played for Lisburn Youth before joining Glentoran, moved to Forest from the Oval club last August.
And the teenager, a product of the Club NI programme, has impressed to such an extent that he has sealed a long term deal at the City Ground.
McDonnell produced a string of top performances for the Forest U18s before being promoted to the U23s under former Republic of Ireland midfielder Andy Reid.
“As a child you always dream of becoming a professional football, so it feels like a big moment,” McDonnell told the club website.
“Moving to England has been a big change for me but I have adapted to it well and hopefully I can progress and get better.
"It has been a tough move for me physically as I am training all the time and I will be going home tired, whereas I was used to being fine before.
“It is a level up, technically and tactically, and the development you get here is unbelievable. I feel that I have progressed so much, physically and technically."
He told Belfast Live: “I know I have a lot of hard work ahead of me, but I’m prepared for that.
“It’s a great club with a fantastic history and I’m determined to grab the opportunity with both hands.”
The 17-year-old spent four years with Club NI where he worked under current Northern Ireland U19 and U17 boss Gerard Lyttle.
