Shelbourne FC are looking to complete the loan signing of Arsenal academy midfielder Jordan McEneff, according to a report.

The Irish Independent write that Shelbourne FC boss Damien Duff is looking to bring in Arsenal youngster Jordan McEneff on a loan deal lasting until the summer.

That would likely lead to a permanent departure, as McEneff’s Arsenal deal is up in the summer. But if he really impressed on loan, it’s not impossible the club might look to extend his contract at that stage.

The Irish Premier League operates on a calendar-year basis, so McEneff would be joining Shelbourne at the start of their league season, and signing a deal for the first half of the campaign.

Their transfer window is also still open, unlike with the Premier League, which is why McEneff is still able to complete the transfer. Their deadline isn’t until February 22nd.

McEneff wouldn’t be the first Arsenal youngster to complete a late move over to Ireland. That was the exact path Joseph Olowu took a couple of years ago, joining Cork City in February 2020.

Though Cork City performed poorly and ended up going down, Olowu was highly regarded during his time there and he’s now playing professional football for League One Doncaster Rovers.

As for McEneff, he’s had real problems with injuries in the last couple of years. Now that he’s finally back fit and playing again, a loan would do him a lot of good.

The 21-year-old extended his contract last year, in a move that was highly praised by his agency.

“With his contract due to expire this summer, Per and Arsenal have moved to extend Jordan’s deal to give him time to get physically right,” Integrity Sports Ltd wrote on social media in 2021.

“Such duty of care and general kindness is rarely seen in the business of elite sport.

“Whether Jordan goes onto become a first-team player at the Emirates in the short term or not, Arsenal have shown incredible class to look after the best interests of a young player that has huge potential.

“Big thank you to Per Mertesacker and Arsenal for taking care of one of Ireland’s biggest young talents so, so well since the moment [he] joined the club.”