17yo Arsenal winger signs new contract | OneFootball

Arsenal youth winger Ceadach O’Neill has signed professional terms with the club, as per an official announcement on Monday.

Photo via Arsenal.com

Arsenal have formally confirmed that 17-year-old Northern Ireland youth international Ceadach O’Neill has signed his first professional contract with the Gunners, putting pen to paper last week.

“I’m delighted to be signing my first professional contract,” O’Neill said. “I knew it was going to be a bit of a challenge moving over (from former club Linfield), but I think I settled in well.

“My first game we played West Ham away and I scored two, so it was a good start to the season. I think a winger needs to be able to score goals, so it’s something that I’m working on, just trying to get better at in the future.”

Photo by James Fearn/Getty Images

O’Neill previously confirmed that he grew up as an Arsenal fan due to his father’s support of the club, and now he has a professional deal in north London.

The teenager can operate on both wings, and he has seven goals and assists in 20 appearances in his first campaign with the Arsenal u18s. He also played once in the UEFA Youth League for the Arsenal u19s, coming off the bench against Atalanta.

Away from Arsenal, O’Neill helped the Northern Ireland u17s to win their European Championship qualification group earlier in early November, before going on to play for the u19s later that same month.

Photo via NorthernIreland on Instagram

It’s been a positive debut campaign for O’Neill, and he’s continued to play a regular role for the side as they make a late push for the u18 Premier League South title.

The team have put together five consecutive league wins over the last month, with O’Neill featuring in all five games.