Wigan Athletic have signed Hamliton midfielder James McCarthy on a three-year contract for a fee of £1.2m which could rise to £3m depending on appearances and other clauses. Hamilton had also accepted a bid from fellow Premier League club Wolves, but Wigan stole a march on them and signed the 18-year old prodigy. The Ireland U-21 international travelled to Wigan on Monday and will join his new team-mates at their pre-season training camp in Austria.
It is believed that the assurance of first-team involvement from Wigan manager Roberto Martinez tilted the balance in Wigan’s favour. McCarthy had rejected a transfer to Liverpool in 2007 and was also linked with Chelsea.
The £1.2m received by Hamilton is a club record for highest fee received for a player – more than thrice the previous record of £380,000 they received from Millwall for Paul Hartley in 1996. Accies chairman Ronnie MacDonald told BBC Scotland –
“James is a superb prospect and I know Roberto Martinez and Wigan will look after him.We are very sad to see them go, but that is what Hamilton Accies are about – taking young boys through our youth system and giving them a chance.They have become very wealthy young men and I am delighted for them.”
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