Mason Melia moves to Tottenham in first €1m transfer for League of Ireland player

St Patrick's Athletic have confirmed that they have agreed the transfer of Mason Melia to Tottenham in January 2026 for an initial £1.5m (€1.8m), which is a record transfer fee for a League of Ireland player.

It is believed that the figure could rise to £3.5m (€4.2m) with a 20% sell on.

Melia, a native of Newtownmountkennedy in Co Wicklow, made his St Pat's debut as a 15-year-old in May 2023, so becoming the club's youngest league debutant.

He scored his first league goal in a 7-0 win against UCD on 31 May, aged 15 years, nine months and eight days.

That goal made him the youngest ever scorer in League of Ireland history, and the youngest ever St Pat's league scorer, just a few weeks before he sat his Junior Cert.

In August '23 he spent a period on trial with Manchester City. Last season, Melia was named the PFAI Young Player of the Year.

Because of Brexit rules, the Pat's forward won't be allowed to officially make the move until after his 18th birthday in September and will undergo a medical before completing the switch next January.

St Patrick's Athletic can confirm we have agreed the transfer of Mason Melia to Tottenham Hotspur for an undisclosed fee, which is a record transfer fee for a League of Ireland player.

Mason, who turns 18 in September, will remain at Richmond Park for the 2025 League of Ireland… pic.twitter.com/DKiHNfhVkI

Commenting on Melia's move to the Premier League, St Pat's manager Stephen Kenny told stpatsfc.com: "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