Hoffenheim racing to seal quick deal for promising Irish striker Michael Noonan (17) | OneFootball

Fabrizio Romano reports that Hoffenheim are in advanced talks to sign 17-year-old Shamrock Rovers striker Michael Noonan. The teenage talent made history in February of 2025 by becoming the youngest ever goal scorer in the history of the Conference League. Noonan also scored six Irish first division goals in the 2025 campaign and impressed at the FIFA U17 World Cup. 

Celtic also alive in the race for Michael Noonan

Hoffenheim are facing competition from the Scottish Premiership in the race to secure Noonan’s services. It is such that, Romano reports, the Bundesliga outfit wishes to close a deal quickly. The Kraichgauer possess a recruiting edge in that two Irish youngsters (Mathew Moore and Finn Sherlock) already serve on the Hoffenheim U19 team. Hoffenheim’s reputation for developing young attackers is also well known.

Hoffenheim winning the race for Champions League football

Hoffenheim’s exceptional squad strength in the current 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign led many to predict that the Sinsheimers would easily clinch a Champions League berth this year. It looks to be the case that the German club may also have this to offer Noonan. Hoffenheim’s crucial win over Bayer Leverkusen this afternoon actually raises them up to third place in the Bundesliga table.

GGFN | Peter Weis