Shamrock Rovers have confirmed the signing of Michael Noonan ahead of next month’s Uefa Conference League play-off against Molde of Norway.
Rovers manager Stephen Bradley expects the 16-year-old striker to make an immediate impact after Noonan choose to leave St Patrick’s Athletic where another teenage forward Mason Melia is established in Stephen Kenny’s team.
“I know he’s young in age, but we’ve signed Michael to be involved in the first team straight away, there’s no doubt about that,” said Bradley. “We need to be careful how and when we put him in, but I’ve no doubt he’s ready to be part of the first team squad and I wouldn’t have signed him otherwise. He’s definitely one we can put into the squad now.”
Noonan aims to replace Johnny Kenny as the Hoops frontman after the 21-year-old returned to Celtic following a year-long loan in 2024 that yielded 20 goals. The teenager will compete with Rory Gaffney, Marc McNulty and Aaron Greene for game time when the League of Ireland season begins against Bohemians at the Aviva Stadium on February 16th.
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“I’ve watched Michael’s game and progress since he was virtually a baby,” Bradley continued. “I saw him play numerous times in Roadstone and followed his career since then.
“I tried to get Michael in last year, but it didn’t happen. When I knew he wanted to come to Rovers this time around, it was a no-brainer for us as a club.
“Michael is one of the best young players in the country and, as well as producing our own, we got to recruit the best as well so Michael falls into that category. He’s a player I’ve watched for some time and he has real ability and a great attitude, so I’m delighted to get him in.”
Rovers have already signed Danny Grant from Bohs to replace Neil Farrugia, who joined League One side Barnsley, and former Ireland under-21 goalkeeper Ed McGinty but Noonan’s arrival almost certainly guarantees the club a seven-figure profit by selling him to a British or European club when he turns 18 in July 2026.
Rovers’ in-house interview with Bradley even brought up Manchester City’s interest in Noonan, which chimes with the Premier League champions signing Gavin Bazunu in 2018 in a deal that included sell-on clauses that reportedly earned the Tallaght club €3 million.
“I think that’s irrelevant,” Bradley countered. “You look at most players when there’s talk of teams being after them, it’s all irrelevant in the bigger picture. When you get to know Michael, he’s just focused on being better and improving. I don’t think he’ll listen to any of the noise and anything from the outside is irrelevant. None of that noise is of interest to us, we’ve signed Michael to play for Rovers.
“He can do a bit of everything. His mentality is strong and a desire to get better and push on. As a young player, that’s a really important attribute to have. He wants to work hard, he’s dedicated to his craft and has real ambition to be a top player.”
Noonan, who already made his League of Ireland debut for St Pat’s against Bohs last October, paid tribute to the influence of his grandad John Noonan and dad Andrew Noonan in making the decision to sign for Rovers.
“I grew up going to Rovers matches with my dad and my grandad, so I always wanted to play in Tallaght Stadium,” said Noonan. “So, now that I’m getting the chance to play there for Rovers is an incredible feeling.”
John Noonan previously managed St Francis while Noonan father’s Andrew played centre-half for UCD, Cobh Ramblers, Dublin City, Dundalk and Athlone Town between 1999 and 2006.
“My grandad [John] in particular is a huge Rovers fan. My dad is too, but grandad attends all Rovers home games and also games away in Europe.
“I just felt there’s a better opportunity at Rovers,” Noonan added. “St Pat’s have been brilliant to me, but I just felt the next step in my career had a better opportunity and pathway at Rovers. I want to play and hopefully establish myself, so the opportunity was a lot more inviting to me.
“I feel I’m ready for the next step, which is to play senior football.”
Elsewhere, Ireland under-21 international Conor Carty has returned to St Pat’s from Bolton Wanderers on a two-year deal.
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