Wimbledon manager Terry Burton has swooped to sign St. Patrick's Athletic full-back Des Byrne for an undisclosed fee which is thought to be an Irish record.

The young Irishman will join his new team today and with a bit of luck could figure straight away in the first team.

Des has starred at u16 and u18 level for Ireland. He was with Stockport until 1999 and then he was sensationally sacked for an incident at a nightclub. At the time he was a first-team player and looked destined for stardom but in one fell swoop his career was in tatters.

St. Patrick's Athletic stepped in and offered him a contract which got him back on the straight and narrow and ultimately led to a move back across the water.

Wimbledon have been watching Des for most of the year and were impressed enough to offer him a contract. And with Ben Thatcher leaving Selhurst Park he could figure straight away in Burton's plans.