Currently, if you are looking for some of the best footballing talent to make its way out of Ireland, you are going to find it in the English Premier League. Many young footballers are choosing to make that move to England in order to progress in their careers, and find the recognition that their skills deserve.
Here are some of the best Irish footballers who are currently playing for English teams, and why you should keep your eye on them and their growing careers.
Aaron O’Reilly
O’Reilly recently joined Aston Villa in the summer of 2020, after having trained at St. Pat’s. He is contracted with Aston Villa until the end of July 2024, and has already seen a lot of success in the Under 21s team. Currently he has been capped by Ireland up to U19 level, but very clearly has a lot more to offer in his football career.
Andrew Moran
Brighton has quickly become one of the most popular places for Irish footballers to move to, in order to start their careers. Andrew Moran is just one of these footballers, with the 19 year old signing on in 2020. He made his first appearance in January, as a substitute in a match against Everton.
Irish footballing fans will be pleased to see he has made his appearance here, as Brighton do allow new talent to shine and really make a name for themselves. He certainly has caught the attention of many, thanks to his skills in dribbling and advancing the ball even into dangerous areas of the pitch.
Evan Ferguson
Speaking of Brighton, you cannot speak of Irish Talent in the club without talking about Evan Ferguson. He was capturing the eye of talent scouts back when he was 14, when he featured in a friendly match against Chelsea. When he moved to England, he had his pick of teams that he could move to, but he ultimately picked Brighton.
This ended up being the best choice for him, as he has been able to really show the world his talents in football. Already in the season, he has scored six goals for the team. He clearly has a long career ahead of him, and he is one to watch.
Trent Kone-Doherty
Kone-Doherty trained at Derry City, and he soon was catching the eye of many Premier League clubs. He chose to sign with Liverpool in 2022. It is reported that they spent around £150,000 to get him on board.
This was clearly a wise investment of the team, as he has already scored 11 goals for their under 18 side last season. He has already made five appearances for the under 21 side as well, scoring once.
For those who enjoy betting on football, betting on Kone-Doherty always feels like a safe option. We’ve seen that the new Irish bookies have regularly given him good odds on scoring along with often running bet boosts. Punters will want to watch him as he climbs up the ranks, as the odds are likely to always be short on him.
Alex Murphy
Alex Murphy initially played with his local club Galway United in 2022, and then was quickly moved into the senior squads at Newcastle United. After this, he made his Premier League debut at the end of 2023, and is already making a name for himself in the league.
Being so new to the squad, it’s clear that there’s a lot left to see from him, so he is an Irish footballer you will want to keep your eye on.
Josh Keeley
Josh Keeley made the move to Tottenham Hotspur in 2022, and has already made 31 appearances for the club in the last season.
He is also making a name for himself as the Barnet team’s goalkeeper on loan early in this month, and has become the first choice Ireland under 21 goalkeeper since the start of the current Euro qualifying campaign.
Having shown so much promise already, it’s clear he has lots left to show you in his career.
Tayo Adaramola
Adaramola is already shaping up to be one of the best Irish footballers out there today. He is currently signed up with Crystal Palace, and have not yet made a first team breakthrough but is already catching the eye of those looking for the next generation of talent.
He is getting plenty of experience in the premier league as well, having been sent to Coventry City on loan last season, although he was recalled only a few weeks later. He certainly has a lot more to offer the teams he plays with, so you certainly should keep a close eye on his career.
These are only a harmful of some of the best Irish footballers that are currently playing in the English Premier League. So much Irish Talent is making its way into the league, making it the best place to go if you are looking to see what Irish training programs are offering young players right now.