17 year-old Shamrock Rovers striker Michael Noonan is close to joining Dutch giants AFC Ajax after impressing in a recent visit to Amsterdam.
The 42 reported on Friday evening that Ajax was the prefered destination for the teenager, who had previously been linked with Celtic, Manchester United, and Hoffenheim.
Noonan traveled to the Dutch capital over the most recent bank holiday weekend, with the club that plays their football in the Johan Cruijff Arena doing enough to convince the Irishman.
The report also suggests he will initly play with the second team, Jong Ajax, who play their football in the division below the Eredivisie. A fee has yet to be agreed.
The Irish U21 international could join the likes of Troy Parrott and Anselmo García MacNulty in the Netherlands. The nation has become an attractive football destination for Irish players, Sligo Rovers captain Will Fitzgerald had previously been linked with a move.
Newly appointed manager Michel Sanchez is renowned for his exciting football, leading Girona to a third place finish and subsequently qualifying for the Champions League in 2023/24. Worth noting that Girona’s striker that season, Artem Dovbyk, won La Liga’s golden boot. The Spanish coach has proven that he can get the best out of a striker.
Noonan has been highly thought of in League of Ireland circles for several years, playing for Ireland as far back as U15’s and making his Premier Division aged 15 for St Patrick’s Athletic in 2024.
Though, it was likely his performances at the recent U17 World Cup where he garnered high levels of interest on the international stage. Noonan scored three goals in qualifying and three goals at the actual tournament, being one of the standout players in what was a very talented Irish side.
Names like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Luis Suarez are among the non-dutch strikers to have joined the four time champions of europe and develop into one of the best players on the planet, the hope will be Noonan could achieve a similar feat.