AC Milan sign Cork wonderkid, son of two Olympians, as Irish starlets move to Italy due to Brexit

The starlet, who only penned a professional deal with the Leesiders last June, secured his switch to the Serie A side on transfer deadline day, following a wait for international clearance.

Speaking to RTE Soccer, the youngster was clearly elated to have finally got his dream move over the line after talks had seemingly broken down the week prior to the confirmation of his transfer.

"It just doesn't feel real," Heffernan said, "It's all a dream for me and hopefully I'm just raring to get started."

Whilst Heffernan's move to AC Milan has exceeded his wildest dreams, his family are by no means strangers to representing their country overseas.

Both of the Ireland youth international's parents competed at the Olympics, with his father winning the bronze medal in racewalking at London 2012

But despite the family's impressive sporting background, Heffernan's father, Rob, explains it's not been an easy journey for the promising Irish youngster due to the impact of Brexit and failed transfers.

"I think he'll do really well," the former Olympic racewalker said, "He's gone through a lot in the last couple of years and he's progressed really well internationally, he's been on a lot of trials.

"The Brexit thing was obviously a big blow at the time, so with Stephen Ireland's help getting contacts in Europe, a lot of them came really close and he's gone through a lot of disappointments."

Heffernan's move to the San Siro Stadium adds to the growing trend in Irish youngsters moving to Italian clubs to progress their careers following the restriction on Under-18s from playing in the UK due to Brexit.

Alongside the 16-year-old are rising stars Kevin Zefi - who joined rivals Inter Milan last summer - and James Abankwah, who signed for Udinese in the latest transfer window.

Heffernan is the first Irishman to join AC Milan since Co Armagh's Paddy Sloan over 70 years ago.