CHERRIES youngster Baylin Johnson has joined Serie A outfit Lecce on loan for the rest of the season, subject to the completion of paper work.

The Italian club have already announced the deal, which includes a provision to make the deal permanent for an undisclosed fee.

A striker that has been converted into a winger since joining Cherries academy following his release from Arsenal, Johnson will join up with Lecce’s Primavera side, the equivalent to under-19s in English football.

Johnson finished last season on loan at seventh tier Dorchester Town, and has been with Cherries since October 2020.

He came off the bench during Cherries’ maiden Professional Development League win at Coventry last week.

Earlier this summer, Johnson had been linked to a loan move to League One side Lincoln City, fourth tier Stockport County, as well as European sides KV Oostende and Rapid Vienna, of Belgium and Austria respectively.