CHERRIES must pay Blackburn Rovers an initial compensation fee of £425,000 for winger Connor Mahoney.

The 21-year-old joined the Dorset club in July after his contract expired at Ewood Park.

A Professional Football Compensation Committee (PFCC) met earlier this month to determine the fee, after the player’s valuation was referred to a tribunal.

The committee is responsible for setting a payment for players under the age of 24 where clubs fail to reach an agreement regarding compensation for training and development.

Cherries are also set to pay another £100,000 for every 10 first-team appearances made by Mahoney up until he reaches 50 games – a potential sum of £500,000.

Rovers will also receive 20 per cent of profit made by Cherries should they decide to sell Mahoney in the future.

The Dorset club would have to pay the Lancashire outfit £250,000 if he were to make a full senior England appearance.

Mahoney featured twice for Cherries’ first team this season – both appearances came in the FA Cup against Wigan.

The winger was loaned out to Barnsley in January, where he played eight times as the Tykes were relegated from the Championship.

Former Accrington youngster Mahoney has represented England at under-17, under-18 and under-20 levels.