Ringmahon Rangers to receive a record €3m of Caoimhín Kelleher's transfer fee

Cork club Ringmahon Rangers are set for the biggest-ever sell-on windfall for an Irish outfit as Caoimhín Kelleher’s transfer banks them a guaranteed €3m.

The goalkeeper played most of his underage football at the grassroots club on the south side of the city which caters for 42 teams, male and female, from under 7s to senior grade.

Kelleher is in London to complete his transfer from Liverpool to Brentford today for an initial fee of €16m.

When the 26-year-old moved to Merseyside a decade ago, Ringmahon brokered a 20% sell-on clause.

The largesse – of which 20% cascades to the Corkman’s first club Rockmount – trumps previous amounts grossed by Irish clubs for sell-ons.

Shamrock Rovers received around €2m of the fee Southampton paid Manchester City for Gavin Bazunu in 2022, two years ago after their rivals Bohemians got a €1.7m cut from Matt Doherty’s transfer from Wolves to Tottenham Hotspur.

Also part of the Kelleher deal were incremental payments such as Ireland caps which had earned around €150,000 but this blockbuster windfall will set the club up financially for decades.

The club have declined to comment until the transfer is completed but it’s understood they intend to allocate funds towards bolstering their facilities at Ringmahon Park.

Since their establishment in 1951, ambitions existed to develop their home base and the latest additions included an extension of dressing-rooms to cater for their girls’ teams.

Last year’s sports capital grant of €109,700 facilitated the installation of full floodlights on the senior pitch.

There’s every chance now that the 9-aside astro pitch installed in 2022 will be added to a full-size artificial surface.

That €3m payout will likely rise once clarity is provided around the add-ons included in the transfer. Another €8m is payable to Liverpool subject to certain milestones such as appearances, of which Ringmahon would be entitled to 20%.

Fifa statutes set out mandatory percentages of transfer fees payable between clubs under training and compensation but grassroots outfits are free to hatch their own private .

Fellow Corkman Jake O’Brien has backed Republic of Ireland team-mate Caoimhin Kelleher to establish himself as one of the best keepers in the Premier League as he closes in on a move from Liverpool to Brentford.

Kelleher, who picked up a league winners’ medal with the Reds this season, has made no secret of his desire for regular first-team football and with Mark Flekken seemingly heading for Bayer Leverkusen, looks sets to be granted his wish by Thomas Frank.

Everton defender O’Brien, who will hope to play alongside his fellow Cork man in Friday’s friendly clash with Senegal in Dublin, told a press conference: “It doesn’t take for me to say how good he is. I think everyone knows how good he is and what he’s achieved over the last couple of years.

“If it goes through, it’s a great move for him, to become a number one in the Premier League.

“It’s a great move for him, to go and play every week is very important and he’s more than good enough. Brentford have done well this season so it’s a club he can progress and do a lot at.

“I think everyone knows how good he is and how high his ceiling is. He can push on and do great things.”