Blackburn have completed the signing of defender Jonathan Flynn from Irish League side Ballymena United.The 18-year-old has signed for an undisclosed fee on a three-and-a-half-year deal after impressing during a trial at the Premier League side.

The Northern Ireland Under-21 international is Mark Hughes' first signing of a quiet January transfer window and arrives with the blessing of Ballymena manager Tommy Wright.

"In my opinion Johnny Flynn is the best teenage defender I have seen in the Irish League for some time" Wright told Blackburn's official website, "he is composed, mature and calm on the ball."

Flynn had been on Rovers' books since November when he first came to the club on trial and the central defender has done enough to convince Hughes he is worthy of a contract.

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