Nottingham Forest have signed Bobby Jack McAleese from Coleraine and former Manchester United youngster Ethan Hull, the club’s official website has confirmed.
Both players will initially link up with Warren Joyce in the under-18 ranks and they look capable of adding to the group.
Forest have courted McAleese for some time. The Belfast Telegraph claimed in January that he was on the radar of the Reds.
He will look to emulate several other Irish players who have made an impact at Forest in recent years.
Dale Taylor, Aaron Donnelly and Jamie McDonnell are all currently strutting their stuff at the Reds academy.
Hull is more of an unknown quantity. He was released by Manchester United last summer and has been searching for a new club since then.
McAleese typically operates in central midfield, with Hull naturally a tricky winger.
Joyce has endured a season of mixed fortunes with the Forest under-18s.
Their maiden campaign in the Under-18 Premier League has been a struggle at times but they are in the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup.
Forest is one of the top clubs in the country when it comes to producing young talent, with Hull and McAleese the latest to arrive.
McAleese and Hull arrive at Forest with big potential
It’s always intriguing when new youngsters are added to the ranks and McAleese and Hull will hope to make an impact.
Joyce seemed pleased to get both players through the door.
He told the club’s official website: “Bobby has got a good brain and a good personality which is important along with his natural talent.
“Ethan was previously at Manchester United and he’s had a good upbringing there.”
Young players must jump at the chance to sign for Forest.
In Steve Cooper, the first team has a manager willing to create a pathway for younger players to make the step up.
McAleese and Hull will hope they get the chance to impress the first-team boss at some point in the future.