# Ceadach O'Neill
**Ceadach O'Neill** (full name Ceadach Liam O'Neill, born 2008 in Kilrea, Northern Ireland) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Arsenal, where he came through the academy after signing from Linfield, and for the [Northern Ireland](https://www.edgepedia.org/northern-ireland) senior national team.[1](https://www.irishfa.com/ifa-international/squads/northern-ireland-senior-men/ceadach-oneill) • [2](https://www.transfermarkt.us/ceadach-oneill/profil/spieler/1180733)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2008, Kilrea, Northern Ireland[1](https://www.irishfa.com/ifa-international/squads/northern-ireland-senior-men/ceadach-oneill) |
| Club | Arsenal; joined the academy from Linfield and signed his first professional contract in April 2025[3](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cql6e0zyl00o) |
| Playing positions | Listed variously as forward, right winger, center-forward, and attacking midfielder[4](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/1669872/ceadach-oneill) • [2](https://www.transfermarkt.us/ceadach-oneill/profil/spieler/1180733) • [5](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c9we2p0wgero) |
| Senior international debut | 4 June 2026 v Guinea (won 1-0)[1](https://www.irishfa.com/ifa-international/squads/northern-ireland-senior-men/ceadach-oneill) |
| Northern Ireland record | 4 caps, 47 minutes, 0 goals (as of late 2026)[1](https://www.irishfa.com/ifa-international/squads/northern-ireland-senior-men/ceadach-oneill) |
| Youth output | U18 Premier League 2025/26: 14 appearances, 10 goals (2 penalties), 1 assist[6](https://theanalyst.com/players/8342/ceadach-oneill/career) |
## Early career at Linfield
O'Neill came through at Linfield, an Irish Premiership club in Belfast, and made his senior league debut for the Blues as a 15-year-old against Ballymena United in November 2023.[3](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cql6e0zyl00o) The Northern Ireland Football League's player record credits him with 3 league appearances for the club, all as a substitute, without a goal.[7](https://www.nifootballleague.com/all-clubs/players/ceadach-oneill/)
His performances at youth level drew attention from English Premier League clubs, and he moved to Arsenal's academy.[3](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cql6e0zyl00o)
## Arsenal
After joining Arsenal, O'Neill signed his first professional contract in April 2025 at age 17, telling the club website he was "delighted" to do so.[3](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cql6e0zyl00o) He became a regular for the under-18 side, trained with [Mikel Arteta](https://www.edgepedia.org/mikel-arteta)'s first-team squad, and was named on the bench for [FA Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fa-cup) ties against Wigan Athletic and Southampton, though he had not made a competitive senior debut by the spring of 2026.[5](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c9we2p0wgero)
His production at under-18 level rose sharply in his second season: in the U18 Premier League 2025/26 he recorded 10 goals in 14 appearances (986 minutes), after 5 goals in 21 appearances the previous season.[6](https://theanalyst.com/players/8342/ceadach-oneill/career) In Premier League 2, the under-21 competition, he scored 2 goals in the 2025-26 season and added appearances in the [EFL Trophy](https://www.edgepedia.org/efl-trophy), including an assist in that competition.[6](https://theanalyst.com/players/8342/ceadach-oneill/career)
## International career
O'Neill captained Northern Ireland at under-17 level[3](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cql6e0zyl00o) and later scored during an U19 European Championship qualifying game against [Kazakhstan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kazakhstan) in March 2026.[5](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c9we2p0wgero)
In May 2026, Northern Ireland manager [Michael O'Neill](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-oneill-footballer) named him, along with fellow uncapped teenager [Braiden Graham](https://www.edgepedia.org/braiden-graham), in the senior squad for June friendlies against Guinea and France, saying the window was a chance to "accelerate players".[5](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c9we2p0wgero) O'Neill made his senior debut on 4 June 2026 against Guinea, a 1-0 win, and by late 2026 had 4 caps and 47 minutes of international football without a goal.[1](https://www.irishfa.com/ifa-international/squads/northern-ireland-senior-men/ceadach-oneill)
## Dual eligibility
Because he was born on the island of Ireland, O'Neill is eligible to represent either Northern Ireland or the [Republic of Ireland](https://www.edgepedia.org/republic-of-ireland). In August 2026 the Irish Times described the Arsenal teenager as the center of a tug of war between the Football Association of Ireland and the Irish Football Association over his international future.[8](https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2026/08/26/arsenal-teenager-ceadach-oneill-at-the-centre-of-a-tug-of-war-between-the-fai-and-ifa/) His family background has been part of the discussion: reporting has noted his connection to a GAA family in Derry, and the Irish Times account of his rise described him as coveted by both associations.[8](https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2026/08/26/arsenal-teenager-ceadach-oneill-at-the-centre-of-a-tug-of-war-between-the-fai-and-ifa/) His competitive senior caps for Northern Ireland bear on that question, since a competitive (as opposed to friendly) appearance would usually make a switch of allegiance impossible under FIFA rules.[1](https://www.irishfa.com/ifa-international/squads/northern-ireland-senior-men/ceadach-oneill)
## Playing style
BBC Sport NI has highlighted O'Neill's versatility, describing him as able to play as a winger, center-forward, or attacking midfielder, and noting that he had captained underage sides early in his career.[5](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c9we2p0wgero) David Healy, Linfield's manager and a former Northern Ireland forward, praised him to BBC Sport NI as "blessed with two brilliant feet", "brave on the ball", and technically strong.[5](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c9we2p0wgero)
## References
1. [Ceadach O'Neill | Irish Football Association (IFA)](https://www.irishfa.com/ifa-international/squads/northern-ireland-senior-men/ceadach-oneill)
2. [Ceadach O'Neill - Player profile | Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.us/ceadach-oneill/profil/spieler/1180733)
3. [Ceadach O'Neill: Northern Irish teenager signs first professional contract at Arsenal | BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cql6e0zyl00o)
4. [Ceadach O'Neill - stats, career and market value | FotMob](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/1669872/ceadach-oneill)
5. [Northern Ireland: Who are uncapped youngsters Braiden Graham & Ceadach O'Neill? | BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c9we2p0wgero)
6. [Ceadach O'Neill Career History | Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/8342/ceadach-oneill/career)
7. [Ceadach O'Neill | NI Football League](https://www.nifootballleague.com/all-clubs/players/ceadach-oneill/)
8. [Arsenal teenager Ceadach O'Neill at the centre of a tug of war between the FAI and IFA | The Irish Times](https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2026/08/26/arsenal-teenager-ceadach-oneill-at-the-centre-of-a-tug-of-war-between-the-fai-and-ifa/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of the British Isles (modern era) › Northern Irish footballers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license