Town have signed young Arsenal central defender Mark McGuinness on loan for the season.

McGuinness, who stands 6ft 4in tall, impressed for Arsenal’s U21s as he skippered them to their 2-1 EFL Trophy victory over the Blues earlier this month.

The London-born Republic of Ireland U19 international is yet to make a competitive first-team appearance for the Gunners with the game against Town only his second EFL Trophy tie for their U21s.

A member of the Arsenal's U18 team which won the Premier League South in 2018/09, partnering former Blues youngster Harry Clarke at the heart of the defence.

McGuinness, who has been with the Gunners since he was 10, signed a professional contract in April and has been training with the first team since then.

He missed much of last season due to injury but caught the attention of Arsenal fans in pre-season when he headed a goal against the MK Dons in a friendly in his first appearance for the senior side.

Town boss Paul Lambert has been after another centre-half all summer, with veteran former Derby skipper Richard Keogh having been targeted.

Since the introduction of the League One salary cap, any further Blues additions have seemed most likely to be loanees aged below 21, whose wages don't count towards the limit.

Photo: ITFC

blues1 added 12:35 - Sep 23 Carberry. Are you really ignorant enough to think weve signed him based on the one game hes played against us? I'm sure ur not, but I could be wrong. But what I do know, is that's just a ridiculous comment to make.
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 13:11 - Sep 23 Fantastic to be able to feel positive about things again. The fact Arsenal are willing to loan him to us speaks a lot.
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Nobbysnuts added 13:49 - Sep 23 Great signing mr lambert. Your beginning to win me over.....coyb
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Carberry added 14:55 - Sep 23 Blues1, things like that happen in football, but you'd know all about that, wouldn't you?
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