Who is Ceadach O’Neill? Meet Arsenal’s 17-year-old whizzkid called up at last minute

The 17‑year‑old attacker has been rumoured to be in Arsenal’s squad for their FA Cup fourth‑round clash with Wigan Athletic at the Emirates Stadium

Everything you need to know about academy prospect Ceadach O’Neill who is with Arsenal’s squad ahead of their FA Cup clash against Wigan.

1. Who is Ceadach O’Neill: The talented 17-year-old Northern Irish attacker who currently plays for the Arsenal academy in the Premier League academy. Born in April 2008, he is a versatile attacker capable of playing as a winger, centre-forward, or attacking midfielder .
2. Club career origins: O’Neill began his professional journey at the Northern Irish club Linfield, where he made his senior debut at the age of 15. He officially joined Arsenal in the summer of 2024 and quickly made an impact by scoring two goals on his debut for the Under-18 side.
3. Personal Background: Hailing from Kilrea, County Londonderry, O’Neill grew up playing Gaelic football , which he credits for helping develop his physical strength. He comes from an athletic family, being the nephew of former Irish Premiership footballer Eoin “Skinner” Bradley.
4. International Representation: He is a prominent Northern Irish youth international who has represented his country at several age levels. In late 2025, he received his first call-up to the Northern Ireland Under-21 squad, reflecting his rapid development on the international stage.
5. Professional contract: In April 2025, he signed his first professional contract with Arsenal following a strong debut season. As of February 2026, he has been integrated into training with the Arsenal first-team squad and was recently included in the matchday preparations for an FA Cup fixture.
6. 2024/25 debut season: In his first year at the academy, O’Neill made a total of 28 appearances across all competitions,primarily featuring for the Under-18 side. He finished that debut campaign with 5 goals, including a notable brace on his debut against West Ham.
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8. U18 Premier League dominance: O’Neill has been a standout performer in the U18 Premier League, where he has recorded 8 goals and 1 assist in just 9 appearances. His scoring consistency has made him the top scorer for Arsenal’s Under-18 side so far this season.
9. European and cup success: He has extended his goal-scoring form to continental competition, netting 2 goals in the UEFA Youth League for Arsenal’s Under-19 team. Additionally, he scored 1 goal in the FA Youth Cup, bringing his total across all youth competitions to 11 goals .
10. Versatile goal threat: While primarily playing as a centre-forward or winger, he has also shown his ability to contribute as a playmaker by providing 3 assists across all competitions. His physical presence and Gaelic football background have continued to benefit his goal-scoring development at the academy level.
11. Praise: Coaches and scouts have praised O’Neill’s ‘impressive composure’ in front of goal and his ability to maintain a cool head during one-on-one situations. He is noted for having the natural ‘calmness’ required of a top finisher, a trait academy observers believe is difficult to teach.
12. Last-minute call-up: Arsenal called up O’Neill to the substitutes’ bench for their FA Cup fourth-round tie against Wigan Athletic. The teenager replaced Riccardo Calafiori in the matchday squad after Bukayo Saka moved into the starting line-up.

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