IRISH teenager Mason Melia has sealed a move to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in a deal reported to involve a 'record transfer fee' for a League of Ireland player.
The deal will see the 17-year-old forward remain with current club St Patrick's Athletic for the rest of the year, before transferring to Spurs in January 2026.
Announcing the deal, St Pat's said the youngster had moved for an undisclosed fee but added that it was 'a record transfer fee for a League of Ireland player'.
"We are looking forward to Mason continuing to be an integral part of the St Patrick's Athletic team for the 2025 season and we wish him every success at Tottenham Hotspur from January 2026 onwards, in the next phase of his career in what is a brilliant opportunity for him," said St Pat's manager Stephen Kenny.
Record-breaking rise
Having made his senior debut for St Pat's in May 2023, Melia has gone on to make 54 appearances for the club so far, scoring 10 times.
In January 2023, aged 15, the Co. Wicklow native became St Pats' youngest ever player and scorer when he netted on his debut against Wexford in the Leinster Senior Cup.
Four months later, he became the club's youngest ever League of Ireland debutant as he made his bow against Drogheda United.
He scored his first league goal in June 2023, becoming the youngest ever goalscorer in the league, still aged 15.
Five months later, aged 16, he became the youngest player ever to feature in an FAI Cup Final when he helped his side defeat Bohemians to lift the trophy.
Mason Melia with the FAI Cup after helping St Patrick's Athletic defeat Bohemians in the 2023 final (Image: Stephen McCarthy / Sportsfile via Getty Images)In 2024, he added to his medal haul as he helped St Pat's win the Leinster Senior Cup.
He was also named Young Player of the Year by his club and by the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland, the latter of which is voted for by fellow players.
On the international stage, Melia has been a regular in the Ireland youth age groups.
He represented his country at the 2023 European Under-17 Championship finals and earned his first call-up to the Ireland Under-21s squad in October 2024.
'Incredible talent'
"We are delighted to agree a deal with Tottenham Hotspur for Mason Melia," said St Pat's Sporting Director Ger O'Brien.
"When we recruited Mason [from Bray Wanderers] in 2022 we knew we had signed an incredible talent.
"We had watched his development with St Joseph's Boys and Bray Wanderers for a number of years.
"He has been fantastic during his three years at the club, and we're delighted for Mason that he'll be making the move to the Premier League early next year."
