Mason Melia has set a new transfer record for the League of Ireland with Tottenham Hotspur agreeing an initial fee of €2 million with St Patrick’s Athletic.
The previous record transfer fee was the €600,000 paid by Celtic to Shamrock Rovers for Liam Scales in 2021.
The 17 year old will remain at the Inchicore club this season as he does not turn 18 until after the summer transfer window and is therefore prevented from transferring under regulations connected to Brexit.
St Pats have also secured additional payments based on performance and a cut of any future transfer fees.
Similar arrangements have been lucrative for Bohemians with Matt Doherty and Shamrock Rovers with Gavin Bazunu in recent years and if Evan Ferguson turns his transfer window loan to West Ham in a permanent deal this summer will do so again.
Melia joined St Pats from Bray Wanderers having come up through the St Joseph’s under age programme.
He was named the 2024 PFAI Young Player of the Year.
Melia scored six goals for St Pat’s in last season’s campaign and is likely to be one of the stars when the season gets underway in just over a week. The formal launch of the new campaign takes place in Dublin this morning and we will cover it in our PM Bulletin later today.
SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
The initial fee is a huge boost for St Pat’s and the add ons make this a real bonus investment to come in future years. Brexit has been a winner for the League of Ireland in preventing players going at a youn ger age and waiting until they develop as players and as people in the League of Ireland
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
The League of Ireland Launch for 2025 takes place in the Mansion House in Dublin today.
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