Matthew Moore, a teenager from Cork City and an Ireland U-17 international, will soon sign with Bundesliga team Hoffenheim.

The highly regarded 16-year-old midfielder has attracted interest from a German club, and it is believed that a deal has been reached with Leeside receiving a five-figure sum in compensation plus caveats.

Moore is a member of the Irish team that has earned a spot at the May European Championships in Hungary.

He was the captain of the Irish U-16 team that won the Victory Shield the previous year, and Cork City boss Colin Healy has mentioned him as a talent to watch.

He will, however, complete his football schooling in Germany as a result of Brexit changes that prevent him from playing in the UK until they are 18 years old.

This is the cause of the expanding Irish population in Italy, which includes Cathal Heffernan, a Cork City product who recently joined AC Milan.

Franco Umeh and Mark O’Mahony, two players from Cork, joined Crystal Palace and Brighton, respectively, in January after waiting until they were 18 at home.

Moore is the fifth academy graduate from City to move on this year, with the majority having signed for clubs in the United Kingdom. David Harrington was the first to make the jump and he joined Fleetwood Town at the start of January.

He was followed by Leon Ayinde, who went to Ipswich Town. Mark O’Mahony and Franco Umeh then went to Brighton and Crystal Palace.

Moore, though, is prepared to go right now and seek his fortune in continental Europe.