General
- Monday July 4th, 2022 @ 18:00
Burns Joins MK Dons
Darragh Burns has joined English League One side MK Dons for an undisclosed fee.
Burns, now 19, joined our St Pat's Academy in 2018 as a 15-year-old.
He won the U17 League of Ireland in 2019 and the U19 League of Ireland in 2020, scoring the winner in the league final against Bohemians.
Burns made his first senior appearance in July 2019 aged 16, coming off the bench in a friendly against UEFA Europa League champions Chelsea at a sold out Richmond Park, in what was Frank Lampard's second game in charge of Chelsea.
Having signed his first professional contract at the start of the 2020 season, Darragh made his league debut off the bench against Derry City in August 2020.
The Stamullen native established himself in the team last season as The Saints finished 2nd in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division, the club's highest league finish since winning the title in 2013.
He started the famous FAI Cup final win against Bohemians in front of almost 40,000 supporters at The Aviva last November, adding the cup to his trophy haul at St Pat's and helping the club qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers.
'Daz' was named 'Patron Saints' Young Player of the Year last season.
He made 61 senior appearances for the club, scoring 11 times, and sat down with Jamie Moore to remember his time as a Super Saint and say goodbye.
You can watch the full 15 minute interview on our YouTube channel below or listen on our Talking Saints Podcast.
Burns is delighted to have secured a move to MK Dons:
"I'm over the moon. As a kid when I was in the St Pat's Academy I always said I wanted to try to get to England. I think MK Dons is the right fit for me, they play great football and I'm so excited to get going. St Pat's have been very good to me and I've really enjoyed my years at the club.
I'll really miss the club and it was great to able to say goodbye to the fans and players and staff on Friday.
It's time for a new challenge now and I can't wait to get going."
Technical Director Alan Mathews added:
"Darragh has been absolutely brilliant for us, a terrific player with a great attitude and we wish him the very very best, it's a great opportunity for him and I think that he can play at a very high level and if continues to work and develop his game as no doubt he will.
He has been a terrific example to and role model for the young players at the club and has rightly earned himself a move to the UK. He goes with our best wishes and we have every belief that Darragh will go from strength to strength."
Photo credit: Inpho Sports
