Premier League Players Who Played In The League of Ireland
The League of Ireland has long been a proving ground for homegrown Irish talent. While it might not have the financial backing or global following as other European leagues currently, it has still been pivotal in developing elite-level footballers. No truer is this when looking at a number of current Premier League stars and staples who initially began their careers back on Irish soil, starting out by cutting their teeth in some domestic fixtures before making their mark on the biggest stage in England.
Although there are not as many international names now as there were in prior decades, we have still spotlighted a select group of players who have made the jump from the League of Ireland to the Premier League in recent years, charting their top-flight success in the process.
Seamus Coleman
When talking about stalwarts of the Premier League, who better to start with than the captain of both club and country, Seamus Coleman? Before joining Everton in 2009 for just a mere £60,000, the tenacious right-back known for his excellent work ethic got his professional start at Sligo Rovers in the League of Ireland. Despite only being 20 years old with 56 appearances to his name, Coleman was snapped by the Merseyside team in what would go on to be one of their best investments and, arguably, one of the biggest bargains the English top flight has ever seen, defying League of Ireland odds as the Irish top flight had had a drought of producing big stars at the time.
Since 2009, Coleman has gone on to make 369 Premier League appearances, netting 26 times over the course of his Everton career, establishing himself as one of the most consistent right-backs at the same time despite earning fewer and fewer minutes as he ages. Most notably, Coleman went on to be named in the PFA Team of the Year in the 2013/14 season, partly due to the six times he found the back of the net that year amongst some impressive defensive performances. Not only this, but he would also go on to serve as the Everton club captain from 2019 onward, becoming a loyal servant to the club even amongst managerial and financial dismay.
Especially considering the price that he was picked up for, it is hard to pass over Coleman as one of the best exports from the League of Ireland in recent years, his story being an inspiration to many young Irish players simultaneously.
Evan Ferguson
From a club legend to now an up-and-coming youngster, Evan Ferguson actually began his career with Bohemians, making headlines as a teenager following a standout performance in a friendly against Chelsea at the age of just 14. When making waves in the football scene so early and after picking up three first-team appearances in the League of Ireland, it was no surprise that his talents were quickly recognised by youth experts Brighton & Hove Albion, who brought him into their youth set-up before he was fast-tracked to the first team.
After making his Premier League debut at 17, Ferguson quickly gained a reputation as one of Europe’s brightest young strikers, bursting onto the scene and scoring six goals in the 2022/23 season. In doing so, the Irish forward also became the youngest player to score a brace in the English top-flight since Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney. His second season didn’t stop with the outstanding performances either, with his most notable performance arguably coming against Newcastle when he scored a hat-trick at just 18, and his third goal being an outstanding out-of-the-box strike that rifled into the back of the net.
Despite picking up a couple of injuries and being loaned out to West Ham, Ferguson still has growing interest from top European clubs, highlighting his meteoric rise since leaving the League of Ireland.
Jake O’Brien
Jake O’Brien is one of the more recent additions to the list of Irish talents with League of Ireland roots. The towering centre-back made his professional debut for Cork City in 2019 before being scouted by Crystal Palace. Despite not earning a Premier League debut at the Eagles, he developed through the under-23 ranks, followed by loan spells to Swindon Town and Belgian outfit RWD Molenbeek.
However, the young Irish centre-back got his big break in 2023 when he joined French giants Olympique Lyon. In a standout season in which he put up consistent defensive performances and even bagged four goals, O’Brien would go on to earn himself a transfer to Everton, with the Merseyside outfit being where he would finally make his mark in the Premier League. Although his maiden season in the league did not shine in any remarkable way, O’Brien certainly has the capabilities to become a stalwart in Everton’s ageing backline, something which is only reinforced when factoring in the recent Ireland national team call-ups he has earned.
Gavin Bazunu
Gavin Bazunu’s professional football journey began with Shamrock Rovers, where he made headlines after saving a penalty against Cork City at just 16 years old. His composure and promising ability led to a move to Manchester City in 2018. However, first-team opportunities were limited, and he did not appear for the Citizens during his tenure at the club. Following various loans to teams such as Rochdale and Portsmouth, who were both in League One, Southampton decided to pick up the still-young shot-stopper in 2022.
In his first season, he was the first choice between the sticks, earning 32 starts despite the Saints eventually being relegated. However, in the Championship the following season, the former League of Ireland youngster would start in net for most of the season as Southampton gained promotion back to the top flight through the playoffs. This is why Bazunu is still regarded as the long-term number-one for the Irish national team.