Report reveals Arsenal lead chase for young Irish midfielder

Arsenal are reportedly leading the race to sign Victor Ozhianvuna, a 16-year-old prospect who has broken into the senior setup at Shamrock Rovers, according to a report by Daniel McDonnell in the Irish Independent.

Arsenal keen to swoop for Rovers starlet Ozhianvuna Irish Independent24 Apr 2025DANIEL McDONNELL Arsenal are leading the chase to sign Shamrock Rovers teenager Victor Ozhianvuna with the Hoops expecting the exciting midfielder to be another seven-figure export from the League of Ireland. There is interest from around England and Europe in Ozhianvuna (16), who has appeared at wing-back for Stephen Bradley’s first team this year but is viewed as having the skill-set and versatility to play centrally over the longer term. He does not turn 18 until January 2027 so any deal with a Premier League club would have to be a pre-contract arrangement similar to the record-breaking deal (worth around €1.9m up front) that has committed St Patrick’s Athletic teen Mason Melia’s future to Tottenham. Their north London rivals are in pole position as regards Ozhianvuna with their knowledge of the Tallaght lad going back to 2023 when he starred in a talented Rovers side that won all of their matches in the Hale End Cup, a competition where they saw off U-14 sides from Arsenal, Tottenham, Leicester, Manchester City and Aston Villa. It’s understood that multiple clubs have been in contact with Rovers about Ozhianvuna, but it’s Arsenal that have made the strongest advances. There is interest from continental Europe, and Ozhianvuna would be able to move this summer if he opted to go that route. But the Melia pathway is an attractive one, and it’s believed that potential suitors are open to the idea of trying to reach an agreement this summer to secure his services even though the switch would not be able to go through for another 18 months. Ozhianvuna’s colleague Michael Noonan is also being watched by several clubs with Manchester City’ s interest long established. The Irish Independent has learned that Roma sent a prominent figure in their scouting department to watch Noonan in Monday’s defeat to Bohs. Article Name:Arsenal keen to swoop for Rovers starlet Ozhianvuna Publication:Irish Independent Author:DANIEL McDONNELL Start Page:52 End Page:52 — Arsenal keen to swoop for Rovers starlet Ozhianvuna Irish Independent 24 Apr 2025 DANIEL McDONNELL

Ozhianvuna, who has played at wing-back but is viewed as a long-term central midfield prospect, is attracting attention from multiple Premier League and European clubs.

However, it is Arsenal who have made what the Irish Independent calls “the strongest advances.”

Back to 2023, he was part of a Rovers youth side that won every match in the Hale End Cup, beating Arsenal, Tottenham, Leicester, Manchester City, and Aston Villa in the process.

Due to his age, any move to the Premier League would need to follow a pre-contract model similar to the one that brought Mason Melia from St Patrick’s Athletic to Tottenham, a deal reportedly worth €1.9 million up front.

Ozhianvuna turns 18 in January 2027, which would delay any formal transfer under current FIFA rules, but clubs are said to be open to securing an agreement this summer that would take effect in 18 months.

There is also interest from Europe, where the regulations would allow for a potential move as early as this summer, but the Irish Independent suggests that the structured, long-term approach seen in the Melia deal “is an attractive one, and it’s believed that potential suitors are open to the idea of trying to reach an agreement this summer to secure his services.”