Edinburgh have confirmed the signing of utility back Michael Allen from Ulster.

The 24-year-old will join the Scottish outfit at the end of the season on a two-year deal which will keep him at the club until May 2017.

Allen, who can play either at wing or centre, admitted that it was a step into the unknown for him, but insists that he is excited about the challenge that lies ahead.

"I've never lived anywhere else, always been in Belfast, and I'm probably a bit of a homebird. I do love the city and everything that comes with it but I'm looking forward to making a change, starting afresh," he said in a statement.

"Apart from playing Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield over the last few years, I've only ever to been to the city twice to visit, both times with rugby school tours when we played Merchiston Castle School. I'm really looking forward to moving to the city, I'm really excited. It looks like an incredible place to live.

"Edinburgh have played some brilliant rugby this year and shown the potential of being a very, very good side. I think the ethos, the fitness, the physicality, everything - from what I can see the team pride themselves on being the best defensively, the fittest and the most disciplined and I'm just looking forward to getting stuck in and trying to spring anything I can."

Allen has played four times for Emerging Ireland but is yet to feature for the senior team.