Devann Yao, a 19-year old, New York-born winger has signed a contract with Roy Keane’s Ipswich Town until the end of the season, the Coca Cola Football League Championship side announced Feb. 3. Yao has been with Ipswich since at least November, when he was first offered a contract. The delay in finalizing the deal was reportedly due to paperwork relating to compensating Yao’s former clubs.

Yao was born to an Ivorian father, who played football professionally in France, and an Italian mother. He was given a scholarship by the United Sports Foundation as an 11-year-old and reportedly had training spells with both Manchester United and Arsenal before joining French side Metz’s youth academy, where he spent three seasons. A year in Italy playing in reserves sides at Livorno and Pisa was followed by a short spell in Scotland with St Mirren’s youth set-up before he returned to the U.S., where he had several unofficial trials with the New York Red Bulls last season.

He has yet to play an official match for Ipswich, who are fourth from the bottom in the Championship.