Alex Murphy is delighted after his first months at Newcastle United.
Newcastle confirmed a deal had been reached with Galway United in May, two months before Murphy celebrated his 18th birthday. The transfer was hailed as a 'real coup' for the Magpies by academy boss Steve Harper, with Brighton and Celtic among the clubs also said to have held an interest.
He told the Chronicle Live: "It was mad. I was just at home, and our manager rang my dad and said Newcastle are going to put in a bid in the morning. It came out of nowhere, and we flew over the next day just to see the place and have a look around. I just loved it, and it was done from there.
"It was a bit mad, you see really big-name players signing and you see your name alongside them. It's just a bit weird. The club is going in a good direction, so it was definitely a good time to join."
When asked if there was rival interest for his signature, Murphy added: "I think so yeah, there were a couple of clubs but that's just normal if a club like Newcastle is around you. There is going to be more clubs around you, but I just wanted to join Newcastle in the end."
He also said: "When I came in, they knew a lot about me and had a plan for me.
"That was really good to see, from the first day they showed clips of what I can improve. They also wanted to play me a centre-back which is a big one as well, so it was a no-brainer for me.
"First I was just talking to Steve Harper mostly, and then it was with some of the coaching staff. They were all friendly and I got a good feel for the place."