Pic: David Loveday
MAIDSTONE UNITED midfielder Dan Sweeney will start the new year in the Football League after agreeing to sign for Barnet.
The 22-year-old has moved to the League Two outfit after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed fee for the highly-rated midfielder.
Sweeney joined Maidstone from Ryman Premier side Dulwich Hamlet just over a year ago and was a big part of the Stones side that won promotion from the National League South last season.
His performances earned him an England C call-up and he made his debut in the 4-3 defeat to Slovakia at Sutton United in June.
Former Barnet boss Paul Fairclough, who is in charge of the England C side, is still involved with the Bees and Sweeney did enough to impress and earn a move into the Football League.
Barnet's interim head coach Rossi Eames said: “Dan brings a level of maturity into central midfield with great positional awareness in and out of possession.
“We are signing Dan at a great age and he is part of our building for the future, adding to this excellent set of players we already have.”
Assistant manager Henry Newman added: “Dan is someone Rossi and I have long admired and someone we have had our eyes on since we came into this job.
“We have watched him a number of times and he is an exciting, technically gifted player who is comfortable in possession.”
