Stags announce the signing of Ryan Stirk on a season-long loan from Birmingham City

Mansfield Town have signed Blues midfielder Ryan Stirk on a deal that will run until the conclusion of the 2021/22 season.

The 20-year-old is a graduate of the Birmingham City academy and completed 172 minutes in two outings in the Championship last season.

Stirk joined the club as a full-time scholar and not long after signed a professional deal with the Blues, a three-year deal with an option to extend for a further year in November 2017.

In 2018, he also played a part in the Blues’ under-18 side that reached the FA Youth Cup semi-final, getting knocked out by Chelsea’s under-18’s after the London club won 7-0 on aggregate.

During the 2018/19 campaign, the midfielder made 23 appearances for Birmingham’s under-23s alongside an outing in the FA Youth Cup in a 1-0 defeat against Watford’s under-18’s.

Stirk has also made appearances for Wales’ under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-21 sides showing that he can also do it on the international stage.

Stags manager Nigel Clough said he’s been extremely pleased with the midfielder’s potential and the first-team experience he has had for a player so young.

“Ryan is a young midfielder, who played in the same Birmingham under-23s’ team as Ryan Burke.

“He has some experience in the first team at Birmingham and shows a lot of potential.

“Recent injuries to George Lapslie, Harry Charsley and Jason Law have highlighted that we could be a little light in this area. He’ll therefore give good competition in midfield.”

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