A 15-year-old footballer from Shannon in County Clare has penned a three-year deal with Italian giants Inter Milan.

Ryan Patrick Nolan joins the San Siro side from Spanish club Torre Pacheco. He had attracted attention from Swedish side Malmo and English Premier League outfit West Brom prior to signing for Inter.

Nolan lived in Ballycasey before relocating to Spain six years ago. His aunt, Heather Nolan is well known in golfing circles in Shannon.

Nolan can play right-back or centre-back, and will join the Inter youth academy.

He is not the first Irishman to play in Italy’s Serie A which has also been home to Thomas Coggins, Paddy Sloan, Liam Brady, Ronnie O’Brien, and Robbie Keane who signed with Inter Milan in 2000.

FAI scouts will this week follow up on the teenager and “confirm his eligibility and his interest, if any, in playing for the Ireland U16 side”.