Arsenal youngster set for decisive international call-up
Northern Ireland are planning to call up Ceadach O’Neill for this month’s Nations League fixtures as they look to secure the Arsenal youngster’s international future amid interest from the Republic of Ireland.
The teenager has already made two senior appearances for Northern Ireland, featuring in summer friendlies against Guinea and France after being selected by manager Michael O’Neill.
Those appearances did not, however, permanently settle his international allegiance.
O’Neill is eligible to represent either Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland and, because both senior appearances came in friendlies rather than competitive internationals, he is not yet permanently tied to Northern Ireland under FIFA eligibility rules.
The forward has so far followed the Northern Ireland pathway, representing the country at under-19 and under-21 level before earning his first senior call-up.
Northern Ireland’s forthcoming Nations League fixtures against Georgia on 25 September and Hungary on 28 September could now prove decisive.
A competitive appearance in either match would close off the possibility of O’Neill switching to the Republic.
The Belfast Telegraph reports that the IFA is planning to call him up for those Nations League fixtures, a move that would give Northern Ireland the opportunity to secure his long-term international future.
Should O’Neill reject that call and instead switch to the Republic, he would not be able to return to Northern Ireland.
Arsenal signed O’Neill from Linfield in the summer of 2024, when he was still only 16, after a successful trial with the club at the Flamengo Adidas Cup in Brazil.
Since arriving at Arsenal, he has scored 16 goals and provided five assists in 41 under-18 appearances.
He has also registered two goals and one assist in 11 games for the under-21s, as well as two goals and an assist in five UEFA Youth League matches.
O’Neill was also on the senior Arsenal bench twice last season in the FA Cup while he has been training with the senior team ahead of Tuesday night’s League Cup game at Ipswich.