CONNOR Mahoney insisted he was ready to "step up" after completing his move from Blackburn Rovers to Cherries on on a four-year deal.

The 20-year-old winger will join the club's under-21 squad after his Ewood Park contract expired at the end of June.

Cherries are still thrashing out a compensation agreement with Blackburn, where Mahoney made four starts in the Championship last term.

“I think I’m ready to step up and challenge myself,” Mahoney told the Cherries website.

“I’m a young, hungry player, who wants to attack and get past my man. I like to get fans off their seat and I’m trying to make my way in the game.

“Working with Eddie Howe and his coaching staff will be a dream come true, so to be able to do that day in, day out will get the best out of me."

Former Accrington player Mahoney had been heavily linked with Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough before Cherries boss Howe intervened.

“I’m very pleased to welcome Connor to the football club," said Howe. “He is a player we have very high hopes for.

"He has a lot of potential and, hopefully, it will be a really good deal for both him and us. He put in a number of eye-catching appearances for Blackburn in a short space of time at the end of last season, so we quickly evaluated the situation and made a move for him.

“There is a lot more to come from him and we will look to develop his talent."

Mahoney, capped by England at under-17 and under-18 levels, is Cherries' fourth new arrival of the summer, following the signings Asmir Begovic, Jermain Defoe and Nathan Ake.

He joined Blackburn from Accrington in December 2013 and was handed a debut for the Lancashire club in an FA Cup tie at Manchester City when he was just 16.

And chief executive Neill Blake was thrilled to have wrapped up a move for the exciting Englishman.

He said: “The club has a good track record of developing young players and we believe this is the right place for Connor to continue to progress.

"We see a lot of potential in him. Connor is a very good player, with great enthusiasm and a first-class attitude, and has all the attributes to have a bright future at the club.”