The Eagle has landed! Magpies swoop for Palace U21 captain

PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF AS IRELAND DEFENDER, 20, ARRIVES AT MEADOW LANE AFTER CLUB TRACKED HIS DEVELOPMENT

- By SAM ALLEN

NOTTS County have confirmed their first signing of the January window with the arrival of Luke Browne on a permanent transfer from Premier League outfit Crystal Palace.

The 20-year-old Irishman, who was the Eagles' Under 21s captain, has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the option of a further year in the club's favour.

He was named captain of Palace's youth team at the start of the campaign, and has appeared in 12 of their opening 14 Premier League 2 matches this term.

In pursuit of a breakthrough in the senior game, he has made the permanent switch to Meadow Lane, with his new club saying they have tracked the young defender's progress for a while through his emergence in Ireland and subsequent rise up the youth ranks at Palace.