CHERRIES have announced the signing of former Burnley winger Robbie Brady on a free transfer until the end of the season.

The deal includes an option for a further year, which Scott Parker will hope will be an opportunity for the 29-year-old to pass on his Premier League experience.

The news comes after perhaps the most dominant performance of the season so far, with the 2-0 win at Bristol City's Ashton Gate.

Strength in depth is already prominent in Parker's side and Brady only adds to it - but who is he?

Who is Robbie Brady?

Robbie Brady is a 29-year-old experienced professional with nearly 300 career appearances for Hull City, Norwich and Burnley – including 160 Premier League matches.

The Dublin-born versatile winger operates primarily as a left-midfielder but can be used on either side of midfield, as well as playing deeper in a left-back comfortably.

After graduating from Manchester United’s youth academy just after the turn of the 2010 millennium, he went on loan spells to Hull City – who would eventually acquire the Republic of Ireland prodigy on a permanent basis.

Norwich and Burnley spent a combined £25million to acquire him on a permanent transfer later in his career.

Brady has represented his country on the international stage 57 times, still making appearances in 2021 before his release from Burnley during the summer.

Brady, who will turn 30 in January, will wear the number 12 shirt for Scott Parker’s Cherries.

Bournemouth Echo: Republic of Ireland international Robbie Brady (Pic: PA)Republic of Ireland international Robbie Brady (Pic: PA)

Career tape

Brady made his Manchester United debut, and only appearance for the club, with a late substitution onto the field at Newcastle during a 2-1 win in the EFL Cup. He was an under-21 Premier League champion with the club.

Bournemouth Echo: Robbie Brady at Manchester United (Pic: PA)Robbie Brady at Manchester United (Pic: PA)

Since 2013, Brady has competed in the Premier League for all but one half of a season – in 2016-17 he scored four goals in 23 Championship appearances for Norwich and was transferred to Burnley, with his former side going on to finish eighth in the second division.

He received a Championship promotion during the 2012-13 season, playing 32 games and scoring four goals as Hull finished second in the league table.

Brady has also been relegated twice from the Premier League, with Hull (14-15) and Norwich (15-16).

For the last five seasons, Brady has played a squad role in Sean Dyche’s odds-defying Burnley side that have remained in the top-flight.

Injuries have limited his gametime, though, with several smaller knocks and concerns over the course of the 2020-21 campaign.

A major knee injury had kept him out for almost a year between December 2017 and October 2018, as well as an achilles injury picked up on international duty.

He has scored ten goals in 160 Premier League games, as well as providing 13 assists.

Bournemouth Echo: Robbie Brady did miss several games due to minor knocks and injury concerns over the last season (Pic: PA)Robbie Brady did miss several games due to minor knocks and injury concerns over the last season (Pic: PA)

International career

After representing Republic of Ireland right up through the youth ages, he was prolific at under-21 level with seven goals in 11 matches.

This earned him a call-up to the senior side in 2012 for a friendly against Oman at Craven Cottage in 2012, where he scored on his first appearance and set up two more goals.

He has since added strikes against the United States, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Oman and Gibraltar in friendlies and European Championship qualifying.

However, his best moments in a green shirt came during their EURO 2016 campaign. Brady scored the only goal of the game to defeat Italy 1-0, before scoring the opener against eventual finalists and hosts France in a 2-1 defeat.

The performances earned him the FAI senior international player of the year award for 2016 – following up his two successive wins of the under-21 prize in 2011 and 2012.

Bournemouth Echo: Robbie Brady celebrates his winning goal against Italy at EURO 2016 (Pic: PA)Robbie Brady celebrates his winning goal against Italy at EURO 2016 (Pic: PA)

European quality..?

After Hull City reached the final of the FA Cup in 2013-14, losing to Arsenal, they entered the qualifying round of the Europa League.

The Tigers were defeated 1-0 away from home in the first leg to Belgian side KSC Lokeren – but Brady almost inspired a comeback with two goals himself in the second.

They were only able to win 2-1 on the night resulting in an away goals defeat, despite Brady’s brace.

Bournemouth Echo: Robbie Brady was spot-on with a Europe League penalty kick (Pic: PA)Robbie Brady was spot-on with a Europe League penalty kick (Pic: PA)