Shelbourne teen Finn Sherlock to join Matthew Moore at Hoffenheim
28 September 2023; Finn Sherlock of Republic of Ireland during the U16 international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and Finland at Weavers Park in Drogheda, Louth. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Bundesliga side Hoffenheim have tapped into the Irish market again by enticing Finn Sherlock to join Matthew Moore in Germany.
Sherlock is a Cavan-born left-sided defender who has played in recent years for Shelbourne and last week featured above his age grade at the U17 Euro elite qualifiers.
It’s understood agreement has been reached between all parties that sees the tyro move abroad after he turns 16 in the summer.
Hoffenheim, currently ninth in the German top tier, first registered their interest in the Irish talent pool back in 2020 when they took future Ireland international Sinclair Armstrong on trial.
That was at the time implications of Brexit rules, prohibiting England clubs from signing Irish players until they turned 18, encouraged more European clubs to survey the Irish landscape.
Two teens, Kevin Zefi and Cathal Heffernan, joined Inter and AC Milan respectively while another Italian club, Udinese, shelled out €600,000 to buy James Abankwah from St Patrick’s Athletic.
That last deal was finalised on the basis of the player transferring on his 18th birthday but clubs across the continent are actively engaged in tabling offers for Irish gems in that period they can’t follow the pre-Brexit well-trodden path to England.
Moore moved to Hoffenheim last year at 16, departing Cork City before he’d made a first-team appearance.
The stylish midfielder had captained Ireland to their U16 Victory Shield triumph and then boss Colin Healy noted the former Carrigaline United playmaker’s determination as the trait potentially decisive for his career prospects.
