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Published February 4, 2025 10:58pm Updated February 4, 2025 10:58pm
Tottenham have agreed a deal to sign teenager Mason Melia from St Patrick’s Athletic in a record-breaking deal for a League of Ireland club.
The 17-year-old will have to wait until his 18th birthday to join Spurs due to Brexit rules, but will do so in January next year after turning 18 in September 2025.
The Irish Examiner report that the deal to take him to north London is worth an initial £1.6m with add-ons, which makes it a record sale for a League of Ireland team.
Despite his very young age Melia has already made 54 appearances for St Pat’s, scoring 10 goals, and has been involved with the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad.
The Evening Standard reported last year that he was attracting the attention of a range of Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Brighton and Manchester City, where he had a trial.
Spurs have landed the hot prospect, though, confirming that he has signed a lengthy contract which runs until 2031.
A club statement on social media read: ‘We’re delighted to announce that we’ve reached an agreement with League of Ireland side @StPatsFC for the transfer of Mason Melia.
‘The 17-year-old forward has agreed a deal that will run until 2031 and will join us in January, 2026.’
St Pat’s manager Stephen Kenny said of the exciting youngster: ‘Mason is a terrific talent with an exceptional attitude and a real appetite for hard work.
‘He has had a dramatic impact for one so young, his performances in our Conference League games playing as a central striker against high calibre opposition were of real quality.
‘Every day on the training ground he shows a high work ethic and a capacity to take on information quickly and he grasps the tactical requirements depending on the game in question.
‘His pressing out of possession is phenomenal and his pace offers a real threat and adds a dimension to our attacking play. His hold up play has been his greatest improvement over the last six months as he continues to develop physically.
‘First and foremost he is a goal-scorer, he scored some brilliant goals last season, and different types of goals and has shown a capacity to play anywhere along the front three.’
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