First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
Dundee United today secured the services of forward Roy O'Donovan from Sunderland AFC on a season long loan deal. Subject to formalities, the player will join in training tomorrow and be included in the squad for Monday night's game at Hamilton.
The 22 year old Irish B internationalist joined Sunderland from Cork City in August 2007 and has been allowed to join Dundee United to obtain regular first team experience, despite approaches from clubs in the Championship.
O'Donovan played for a number of clubs as a youth, before leaving Coventry City to join his hometown club Cork City in early 2005. Although originally a wide-right attacking midfielder, he was played as a forward at Cork and became the top scorer in the Eirecom League. This led to his transfer to Sunderland in 2007 for an Irish League record transfer fee of 1m Euros.
The forward has been a long term target of Manager Craig Levein and was subject of enquiries before, and after, he joined up at the Stadium of Light. A loan deal was agreed for the player before the transfer window ended at the start of last season, but fell through due to regulations affecting cross border registrations.
Craig Levein said, "Roy is a player I know very well, having tried to get him from Cork before his move to Sunderland. In fact, he might have been one of my first signings for Dundee United, had it not been for interest in the player from the Premiership. I tried to obtain him on loan last season and am absolutely delighted to eventually get him to Tannadice.
"He is a very direct player, with lots of pace and is a natural and proven goalscorer. Although he can play wide right and midfield, I see him as a striker and I'm sure he'll be a big success in the SPL. I'm also certain that United supporters will enjoy seeing him play for the team.
He'll benefit greatly from playing regular first team football at the highest level in Scotland and therefore this deal is not only good for Dundee United, but will also be to the advantage of the player and his Club. I'd like to thank Sunderland AFC for their ready co-operation on this matter and, once again, it's pleasing to see that Dundee United is recognised as a club where players can be developed and improved further."
The 22 year old Irish B internationalist joined Sunderland from Cork City in August 2007 and has been allowed to join Dundee United to obtain regular first team experience, despite approaches from clubs in the Championship.
O'Donovan played for a number of clubs as a youth, before leaving Coventry City to join his hometown club Cork City in early 2005. Although originally a wide-right attacking midfielder, he was played as a forward at Cork and became the top scorer in the Eirecom League. This led to his transfer to Sunderland in 2007 for an Irish League record transfer fee of 1m Euros.
The forward has been a long term target of Manager Craig Levein and was subject of enquiries before, and after, he joined up at the Stadium of Light. A loan deal was agreed for the player before the transfer window ended at the start of last season, but fell through due to regulations affecting cross border registrations.
Craig Levein said, "Roy is a player I know very well, having tried to get him from Cork before his move to Sunderland. In fact, he might have been one of my first signings for Dundee United, had it not been for interest in the player from the Premiership. I tried to obtain him on loan last season and am absolutely delighted to eventually get him to Tannadice.
"He is a very direct player, with lots of pace and is a natural and proven goalscorer. Although he can play wide right and midfield, I see him as a striker and I'm sure he'll be a big success in the SPL. I'm also certain that United supporters will enjoy seeing him play for the team.
He'll benefit greatly from playing regular first team football at the highest level in Scotland and therefore this deal is not only good for Dundee United, but will also be to the advantage of the player and his Club. I'd like to thank Sunderland AFC for their ready co-operation on this matter and, once again, it's pleasing to see that Dundee United is recognised as a club where players can be developed and improved further."
