Irish underage international Brian McGovern yesterday signed for Norwich in a £50,000 move from Arsenal.

The 20-year-old central defender had impressed Canaries boss Brian Hamilton during a loan spell at Carrow Road this season. Crumlin-born McGovern starred in both Norwich's Nationwide division one games this year.

The youngster was being chased by a number of other clubs, including Glasgow Celtic and QPR, with whom he had a loan spell last season.

It was when McGovern returned to Arsenal from Loftus Road that he earned his first and only Premiership appearance in the 4-2 defeat at Newcastle at the tail-end of last season. He was introduced into the game when Arsenal were already 4-2 down and kept England striker Alan Shearer quiet for the remaining 30 minutes of the game.

Last month McGovern rejected a one-year extension to his contract at Arsenal.

"I want to progress and that'll only happen if I'm playing on the first team," he said at the time.