Ollie O'Neill explained

Ollie O'Neill
Full Name:Oliver John O'Neill
Birth Date:8 January 2003
Birth Place:London, England
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Leyton Orient
Clubnumber:21
Youthyears1:2010–2016
Youthclubs1:Brentford
Youthyears2:2016–2022
Youthclubs2:Fulham
Years1:2022–2024
Clubs1:Fulham
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2023
Clubs2:Derry City (loan)
Caps2:19
Goals2:1
Years3:2024–
Clubs3:Leyton Orient
Caps3:17
Goals3:5
Nationalteam1:Republic of Ireland U16
Nationalyears2:2020
Nationalteam2:Republic of Ireland U17
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2021
Nationalteam3:Republic of Ireland U19
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2021–
Nationalteam4:Republic of Ireland U21
Nationalcaps4:11
Nationalgoals4:2
Club-Update:28 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:17:01, 11 June 2024 (UTC)

Oliver John O'Neill (born 8 January 2003) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Leyton Orient and the Republic of Ireland U21 team.

Early life

Brought up in West London, O'Neill was in the academy at Brentford from the age of seven until thirteen when they made the decision to disband their academy. O'Neill attended the City of London School where he received 11 A* GCSE grades and two A* A-Level grades.[1]

Club career

Fulham

O'Neill signed his first professional contract with Fulham in February 2020.[2] He was named the scholar of the year in the Fulham academy in 2021.[3] He called up to the first team squad at Fulham for the first time being an unused substitute against Leeds United in the EFL Cup in September 2021.[4] He signed a new three-year contract with the club in July 2022.[5] He had interest from other English clubs for a loan spell but was injured over the January 2023 transfer window and no moves materialised as a result.[6]

Derry City (loan)

O'Neill joined Derry City on a six-month loan deal in February 2023. He said he was attracted by the style of play of Derry manager Ruaidhri Higgins.[7] He made his League of Ireland debut for Derry City on 20 February 2023 in a 1–1 draw at St Patrick’s Athletic.[8] He scored his first league goal for Derry City on 6 March 2023 against UCD.[9] He played nineteen games, starting twelve, before returning to Fulham.[10]

Leyton Orient

On 23 January 2024, O'Neill signed for EFL League One side Leyton Orient for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half-year contract.[11]

International career

O'Neill began representing Republic of Ireland at the under-16 Victory Shield.[12] He scored a 92nd winner for the Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team against Sweden on 17 November 2021.[13]

Personal life

He was brought up in Ealing, London with his parents and brothers and sisters. They have Irish family in Waterford and Galway and Kerry. His father’s family are from Waterford and his mother's family are living in Galway.[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Georgiou . Ethan . 25 January 2022 . OLLIE O'NEILL: THE STORY SO FAR . 27 March 2023 . Fulhamfc.com.
  2. Web site: Irish teen signs first professional contract with Fulham. the42.ie. Sinead. Farrell. 20 February 2020. 27 March 2023.
  3. Web site: The league is getting better... As Irish people, we have a tendency to underrate it'. the42.ie. 23 March 2023. Paul. Fennessy. 27 March 2023.
  4. Web site: Premier League duo battling to sign exciting teenage Ireland winger. Extra.ie. Martin. Healy. 9 May 2022. 27 March 2023.
  5. Web site: O'NEILL SIGNS NEW DEAL. Fulhamfc.com. 12 July 2022. 27 March 2023.
  6. Web site: Ollie O'Neill: Academy stars in England need to play senior football and LOI is where they can. Irish Examiner. 27 March 2023. 23 February 2023. Andrew. Horgan.
  7. Web site: Fulham's Ollie O'Neill says progressive Derry City is perfect place to play. Derry Journal. 16 February 2023. 27 March 2023. Simon. Collins.
  8. Web site: Derry City’s Irish starlet Ollie O’Neill hails experience of LOI debut as ‘different level’ to English academy football. Independent.ie. Seán. O'Connor. 20 February 2023. 27 March 2023.
  9. Web site: Derry City stay top of the league after dominant display against UCD. Derrynow.com. Gary. Ferry. 6 March 2023. 28 March 2023.
  10. Web site: Emotional O'Neill will never forget Derry City experience. Derry Now. Gary. Ferry. 15 June 2023. 15 June 2023.
  11. Web site: 23 January 2024 . Leyton Orient sign winger O'Neill from Fulham . 23 January 2024 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  12. Web site: Ollie O’Neill’s last-gasp heroics against Sweden extend Irish football’s feelgood factor. Irish Examiner. 27 March 2023. 16 November 2021. John. Fallon.
  13. Web site: Ollie O’Neill’s last-minute winner keeps Ireland under-21 qualification hopes alive. Irish Times. David. Wilson. 27 March 2023. 16 November 2021.
  14. Web site: Paul. Fennessy. Ireland's matchwinner revels in a special night at Tallaght Stadium. the42.ie. 17 November 2022. 28 March 2023.