Arsenal youngster Ceadach O’Neill had a trial at Liverpool prior to joining the Gunners, according to a report.
Arsenal youth player Ceadach O’Neill has had a positive spell with the club since joining from Linfield FC, making over 50 appearances across the u18s, u19s, and u21s and scoring 20 goals, assisting another seven.
The 18-year-old got a chance with the first team in pre-season, and he performed well, only dropping out when the senior players returned from their extended summer holidays.
A future in senior football is inevitable for the youngster, but his career almost went in a very different direction a couple of years ago.
Arsenal completed the signing of O’Neill in July 2024, but Graham Luney reports for the Belfast Telegraph that the player was also on the radar of Southampton and Liverpool, spending time on trial with both clubs.
O’Neill also spent time on an Arsenal trial, featuring at the Flamengo Adidas Cup in Brazil. He then had a decision to make on his next club, ultimately signing a scholarship contract with the Gunners.
O’Neill has since put pen to paper on professional terms, which should last until the end of the 2026/27 campaign. That means his deal will need renegotiating this season, and Arsenal should be keen to keep him.
Speaking about O’Neill, former Arsenal youngster Jordan McEneff revealed that he had a conversation with the player before his transfer.
“Ceadach is from the Derry area and I was chatting to him just before he moved away,” McEneff said. “He actually moved into the same digs I was in. He seems to have settled in well with that family and he is flying over there.
“He is definitely in a good place. He has featured in pre-season and there could be a loan. He is only young and developing all the time.”
A loan would be another positive step for the Arsenal prospect, but perhaps he’ll need to sort out his contract situation first.
- Arsenal face another League Cup clash with EFL TrophyArsenal’s League Cup clash with Fleetwood Town now has a date, but it’s set to clash with the u21s’ EFL Trophy fixture once again.
- Arsenal loanees have busy but disappointing weekendAll of the Arsenal men’s loanees were in action over the weekend, but it was largely a disappointing couple of days of games.
- Arsenal youngster picks up injury after senior appearance vs Ipswich TownArsenal youngster Marli Salmon has withdrawn from England u18 duty, after picking up an injury.
- Ex-ref gives verdict on Declan Rice Brighton red-card incidentFormer referee Dermot Gallagher has backed the decision not to send off Declan Rice in Arsenal’s defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion at the weekend.
- Declan Rice withdraws from England dutyDeclan Rice has become one of five players to withdraw from the England squad due to injury, with the Arsenal midfielder returning to his club.