CARLTON has today secured the signature of highly rated Irish youngster Cillian McDaid, who joins the Blues as an international rookie.

The 20-year-old Gaelic footballer arrives at Ikon Park from Galway in Ireland on a two-year deal.

Earlier this year, McDaid was one of four Irishmen to join the NAB AFL Academy in Florida for its high performance tour of the United States.

After attracting significant interest from a number of clubs, GM List Management and Strategy Stephen Silvagni said the Blues were pleased to welcome McDaid to the fold.

“We’re very pleased Cillian has agreed to join Carlton, and we think he is an exciting young prospect for our club,” Silvagni said.

“We have followed Cillian’s progress closely throughout the year and he uses the ball incredibly well. He is a determined young man of terrific character and we feel he will be a good cultural fit for our playing group too.

“Cillian is an example of the exciting young talent coming out of Ireland at the moment and has studied our game thoroughly over the past few years. We see him as an attacking defender, but we’re excited by the versatility he has shown and we look forward to seeing what he can offer.”

McDaid joins fellow countryman Ciaran Byrne as the Club’s two Irish products. A promising young defender in his own right, Byrne has played 15 senior games for the Blues since making his debut in Round 3, 2015.