A new way of playing: Coran Madden’s move into Premier League academy football | OneFootball

Coran Madden’s recent progress has been shaped by big decisions and quick adaptation. Still at an early stage in his career, the teenager has already experienced contrasting football environments, each demanding maturity, resilience and a strong appetite to learn.

Now settled within a Premier League academy set-up, Madden is balancing life away from home with the daily challenge of elite development. With improvement firmly at the centre of his focus, his transition reflects a commitment to long-term growth at the highest level.

16-year-old Madden has been making steady progress at Premier League side Brentford since joining from Cliftonville in August 2025.

Madden made history at the club as the youngest player to make a senior debut, registering an assist in a 4-0 win against Loughgall.

Since moving to Brentford, Madden has been settling into a new country and adapting to a different style of football.

“I have settled in a lot better than I expected, if I’m honest,” he said. “The change was drastic and very different, moving from Northern Ireland to London, but I’ve really enjoyed the challenge.

“It’s been a big learning curve living away from home, training in a new system, and getting to know everyone at the club. It almost feels unbelievable that I’ve been here for about four months now, but I really have to thank the people around me for helping me settle so quickly.”

Madden has been focused on improving all aspects of his game, working closely with his coaches to develop technically, physically and tactically.

He mentions Under-18s head coach Gary McDermott as a big part of his development journey.

“I like the fact that I can get better every day, just that one per cent every day,” he explained.

“I always try to use my pace and trickery to be smarter than my opponent. Physically and tactically I’ve had to adjust a lot, but Gary has helped me massively by showing me different scenarios and how I can deal with them on the pitch."

International experience has also been an important part of Madden’s development as he has featured regularly for Northern Ireland’s U17 team.

“I love playing for my country because you are up against the best players from all over the world in my age group,” he said.

“Playing internationally is different to club football. There’s still pressure to win, but it’s more about developing as a player, understanding different styles, and learning from every match.”

He continued: “At club level, men’s football is always about three points, but international football has taught me how to handle situations in a different way and focus on improving my game against the very best talent.”

In October 2025, Madden was mentioned in The Guardian’s “Next Generation 2025” list of top young talents at Premier League clubs.

“It was nice to be recognised in The Guardian list, but I try not to get too caught up in that,” he said.

“It’s encouraging to see your progress being noticed, but my main focus is on training, developing, and making an impact on the pitch. I just want to keep improving every day and make the most of my time at Brentford.”

Looking ahead, Madden is determined to continue growing and making an impact.

“I want to challenge myself even further, make an impact at Brentford, and do what I can to get noticed while continuously developing my game,” he concluded.

In his first few months at the club, Madden has shown that adapting to a new environment, learning from coaches, and maintaining focus on development can help a young player settle in quickly and make steady progress.

With his determination and work ethic, he is building a strong foundation for the next stage of his career at Brentford.