Manchester City have secured the signing of Kilmarnock winger Liam Smith, the Scottish club have confirmed.
City had been close to completing the deal in January for £200,000, but it has taken until now for Kilmarnock to confirm an agreement had been reached.
Smith, 16, will join the Elite Development Squad with immediate effect. The talented winger had attracted the interest of a number of clubs over the last year including Liverpool and Rangers. Despite not making his senior debut, he impressed the Blues enough for them to convince him of a move and strike a deal with the Scottish club.
Confirming the transfer, Kilmarnock said in a statement : "Liam has been a supremely talented member of our youth teams and has helped our U18s reach next month’s Scottish FA Youth Cup final as well as playing for Scotland U17s earlier this term.
"The deal, the terms of which remain undisclosed, takes account of Liam’s prodigious talent and future potential."
Speaking about the transfer, Kilmarnock Head of Football Operations said: “While we had hoped to see Liam continue his development at Rugby Park and are disappointed to be losing him, we fully understand and appreciate the opportunities moving to Manchester City will provide Liam both on and off the pitch. We wish him every success at Manchester City.”
The sentiments were echoed by Killie Academy Director Paul McDonald, who added: “Liam has been fantastic to work with and has proved to be a credit to himself and his family during his time at Rugby Park and everyone at the Academy wishes him all the best at the Etihad.”
Smith's arrival is the latest in a string of signings aimed to bolster competition in the academy; Oscar Bobb, Samuel Edozie, Oscar Tarensi and Liam Delap all joined the club last summer.
