Celtic beat a number of clubs to land Barry Coffey

Celtic have beaten off competition from the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City to sign Irish starlet Barry Coffey, according to a report in national newspaper The Scotsman.

Coffey has been on the books of a number of Premier League clubs throughout the last 12 months and his profile grew as he helped Ireland win the Victory Shield in Edinburgh late last year.

The 16-year-old playmaker appeared for Chelsea in a youth tournament last year and had been offered trials at both Manchester clubs, but decided against them, instead joining the current Scottish champions.

The youngster made a huge impression playing for his home land club Nenagh AFC, and has decided to join Celtic, signing a three-year deal at Celtic Park.

Coffey is set to join up with the treble winners’ development squad next month for the upcoming season where he’ll join a squad full of highly promising youngsters.