Bournemouth beat off competition from Nottingham Forest to snap up free agent Connor Mahoney

• e-mail

Bournemouth have announced the signing of winger Connor Mahoney following the expiration of his deal with Blackburn.

Mahoney, a 20-year-old former England youth international, has penned a four-year deal on the south coast and will initially join the Cherries' development squad.

Due to his age, Blackburn are entitled to a fee for Mahoney which will be determined by a tribunal if they cannot reach an agreement with their Premier League counterparts, with the two parties continuing to negotiate.

Bournemouth have finalised a deal to sign former Blackburn winger Connor Mahoney

The 20-year-old has decided to leave his boyhood side to launch a Premier League career

A boyhood Blackburn fan, Mahoney was one of the club's bright sparks at the back end of last season when they were relegated to the third tier for the first time since 1980.

It had looked as though he would remain in the Championship and sign for Nottingham Forest but the prospect of working under Eddie Howe at a higher level persuaded him to join Bournemouth instead.

'I think I'm ready to step up and challenge myself,' Mahoney said in quotes published on afcb.co.uk.

'I'm a young, hungry player, who wants to attack and get past my man. I like to get fans off their seat and I'm trying to make my way in the game.

'Working with Eddie Howe and his coaching staff will be a dream come true, so to be able to do that day-in, day-out will get the best out of me.' 

Eddie Howe has landed his fourth signing of the summer after purchasing Asmir Begovic, Nathan Ake (left) and Jermain Defoe