The Irish Sun

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."

TOTTENHAM are pushing to try to agree a deal in principal with St Pat’s next month to sign Mason Melia after he turns 18.

SunSport revealed on Sunday that Melia was over with Spurs for a couple of days in which he was being shown around the training facilities and attended their 4-3 defeat to Chelsea.

As a result of Brexit, Melia cannot move to a British club until the January 2026 window, with his 18th birthday next September.

As well as Spurs, Everton, Crystal Palace and Celtic are all keen.

Melia – who has another two years remaining on his contract – could move to another EU country as early as next month.

Reports suggested that Bologna have submitted a bid worth €2million but no formal offer has been made.

Rather, the Serie A club has indicated that it would be willing to negotiate an overall package which could reach that if all performance-related criteria are met.

SunSport can reveal that Hannover 96 have tabled a similar proposal. They are currently third in Bundesliga 2, one point behind leaders Paderborn.

Because of the interest in the teenager from the Continent – and the disadvantage the club is at – Spurs are keen to advance talks to negotiate an agreement on a future deal.

There have been some suggestions that it the Premier League giants are exploring the possibility of involving Westerlo – with whom they have a strong working relationship, having sent Alfie Devine and Luka Vuskovic on loan to the Belgian club in the summer.

This would see Melia gain experience at a higher level than the League of Ireland prior to joining Tottenham although any such arrangement is a long way off completion.

Melia moved from Bray Wanderers to St Pat’s in the summer of 2022 and made his first-team debut in the Leinster Senior Cup the following January, scoring against Wexford.

His league debut followed in May, becoming the third youngest player to appear in the League of Ireland after Sam Curtis and Evan Ferguson, both of whom are now plying their trade in England.

In 41 Premier Division appearances – 26 of which were off the bench – he has scored eight goals and provided two assists and also caught the eye with his mature play in St Pat’s Europa Conference League run this year.

MASON MELIA will be at the London derby between Tottenham and Chelsea today.

The St Pat’s striker will be a guest of Spurs as they look to try to steal a march on the other clubs vying for his signature.

The 17-year-old is spending a couple of days with Tottenham as part of a charm offensive on the part of the Premier League giants.

Melia cannot move to the UK until after he turns 18 next September but, in reality, a deal could be struck in principle in the summer for a transfer to proceed the following January.

It is thought that any transfer fee – which would include performance-related bonuses – could net the Inchicore club a seven-figure sum.

The teenager can move to a club in an EU country now but it is expected that he will favour hanging on for a cross-channel switch.

There is intense interest in the forward with Everton, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace also keen, as are Celtic.

But, although Brighton & Hove Albion have also been named among his suitors, SunSport understands they are not in the running.

The Wicklow native moved from Bray Wanderers to St Pat’s in the summer of 2022 and made his first-team debut in the Leinster Senior Cup the following January, scoring against Wexford.

His league debut followed in May, becoming the third youngest player to appear in the League of Ireland after Sam Curtis and Evan Ferguson, both of whom are now plying their trade in England.

In 41 Premier Division appearances – 26 of which were off the bench – he has scored eight goals and provided two assists and also caught the eye with his mature play in St Pat’s Europa Conference League run this year.

And, although he has two years remaining on his St Pat’s contract, it is accepted that it is only a matter of time before the league’s hottest property moves to play at a higher standard.

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