Cork City's Malik Dijksteel to join SPL side St Mirren in January

Cork City attacker Malik Dijksteel will join Scottish Premier League side St Mirren in January, the club have announced.

The 24-year old joined the Rebel Army in the summer of 2023 and has made over 40 appearance in a City shirt to date.

The Dutch winger, who emerged from Feyenoord's academy, where he lined up in a team featuring the Timber brothers - Jurriën and Quentin - as well as Crysencio Summerville, couldn't prevent City from being relegated in his first few months on Leeside but he did help City bounce back by winning the First Division title in 2024.

Dijksteel will remain at City until the end of the current campaign, where they face a tall task to avoid the drop yet again, before moving to St Mirren when his contract expires at the end of the year.

A statement posted on the club's official website reads: "Cork City FC can confirm that Malik Dijksteel has agreed a deal to join Scottish Premier League side, St. Mirren, in January, following the conclusion of his contract with the Rebel Army.

"The 24-year-old Dutch winger originally joined City in July 2023, and has made over 40 appearances for the club."

Cork City host Sligo Rovers at Turner's Cross on Friday night in a game they surely need to win to have any chance of retaining their place in the Premier Division.

City are currently eight points behind Sligo with 12 matches remaining.

Meanwhile, Cork City will face Waterford FC in the FAI Cup Third Round at Turner’s Cross and Cobh Ramblers will travel to Tralee for a meeting with Colin Healy’s Kerry FC at Mouthawk Park.

The games will be held on the weekend ending Sunday 17th of August.

The tie of a round is a Dublin Derby between St Patrick’s Athletic and Shelbourne at Richmond Park.

Cobh Ramblers will play Kerry for the fifth time this season, with one last meeting to come in the league in September.

There will also be a rematch of last year’s final, between Derry City and Drogheda United, this time at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

Galway United manager John Cauflield, with a squad featuring Cork natives David Hurley, Rob Slevin, and Gary Buckley, will play a local derby with Salthill Devon.

Cork City qualified for the Third Round by defeating Leicester Celtic 3-0 at Turner’s Cross.

The Rebel Army actually struggled to breakdown their non-league opponents, and the breakthrough came in the form of a Charlie Lutz penalty in the 69th minute at the Shed End.

Kitt Nelson doubled their advantage and the win was wrapped up when Kevin Curry put the ball into his own net.

Cobh Ramblers were in a similar situation as Mick McDermott’s side had to overcome a sticky Bangor Celtic outfit in Dublin.

It was 0-0 at the break and Samuel Bellis broke the deadlock, before Matthew Whelan secured a safe passage in the 87th minute.

FAI Cup Third Round Draw:

Finn Harps v Bray Wanderers, Kerry FC v Cobh Ramblers, Shamrock Rovers v Longford Town, Salthill Devon v Galway United, St Patrick’s Athletic v Shelbourne, Derry City v Drogheda United, Bohemians v Sligo Rovers.