MASON MELIA'S big money move to Tottenham Hotspur can help bring the League of Ireland in line with rival countries.
That is according to Republic of Ireland legend Kevin Kilbane, who believes the league has been "sold short" by the Irish government.
Melia, 17, will move to Tottenham Hotspur when in January 2026 after St Patrick's Athletic agreed a fee in the region of €1.9 million.
The fee - which could rise to over €4 million - makes the Wicklow teenager the most expensive player to come from the League of Ireland.
While not intimately familiar with Melia, ex-Everton and Sunderland star Kilbane argued it could be a landmark for the LOI.
He told SunSport via NetBetSports Betting: "Honestly, I have only seen bits of him where your friends have been speaking about him, so I have been speaking to a lot of friends who would continuously be watching the league.
"Obviously spoke to Brian Kerr about him a little bit as well. I think it is going to be great for him.
"I think the most important thing is the League of Ireland has been sold short for such a long time in terms of transfers, in terms of recognition from our own people.
"At government level, the League of Ireland has been sold short for such a long time.
"We have not had funding in any capacity for the league.
"Now, all of a sudden, with that transfer, I think we can start to hold our own going forward that transfer values are going to have to go higher.
"They are going to have to get in comparison with some of the leagues we are competing with around Europe.
"I am not talking Premier League or French league or Germany or wherever it may be.
"A lot of the players who would be leaving Denmark, that will be leaving Hungary, Poland, are going for a lot more money than League of Ireland talent that has been leaving.
"Now, all of a sudden, with Melia leaving, I believe that transfer values can only rise now and that can only be great for the league.
"We need more money pumped into the league, we need better infrastructure, we need better facilities all round for everyone – both our girls and boys growing up.
"Hopefully we are going to get that now at government level as well as funding coming in in terms of transfer value for players and the recognition it deserves."
Amid growing attendances on matchdays, the League of Ireland has been boosted by increased broadcast coverage in 2025.
Virgin Media will be televising 36 matches - equating to a fixture per round - while Off The Ball has agreed a deal for live radio coverage.
And Kilbane urged fans and authorities to take advantage of the increased interest.
He added: "Obviously the league is having a bit of a renaissance. I do feel that and I think we have got to grasp that.
"Crowds started to rise and it has been consistenly rising over the last six or seven years and now all of a sudden we have got a great TV deal for the league.
"We have got games broadcast on TV and radio now consistently across the next season.
"That will be great for the league so, hopefully, we can get more funding, we can get better infrastructure throughout the league.
"It is only going to help the men’s and women’s national teams going forward.
"It is the only way that I can see our game succeeding in the next 10 to 20 years."