Shamrock face FAI probe after collapse of teenager’s record transfer

The FAI has sought an explanation from Shamrock. The club are believed to have provided a full response laying out all the facts as they view them.

Noonan’s agent, David Moss, said that he was the victim of a smear campaign. “It seems that individuals are presently trying to tarnish my image with the Noonan family and/or the club Shamrock Rovers,” he said.

“Unfortunately, a lot of misinformation has been passed on to the Noonan family, including Michael, by people acting in their own interests rather than Michael’s.”

Moss said he was not prepared to give further details of any agreement. “Confidentiality requirements do not allow me to confirm the existence, let alone comment on the content of any agreements,” he said.

He added: “I have always worked in the best interest of Michael and the Noonan family and will continue to do so. I complied with all legal and regulatory requirements, as confirmed by independent legal counsel.”

At Shamrock, Moss said he dealt with the CEO, John Martin, who now works as director of football at the FAI, and the chairman, Ciaran Medlar. Martin and Medlar were contacted for comment last week, but did not respond. The FAI said that the complaint they received did not mention an FAI employee.

Much now rests on the contents of the club’s response to the FAI query. It is unclear how much Medlar knew about the alleged matters which have clearly upset the Noonan family.

The FAI chief executive David Courell could face questions on this in the coming week when he talks to the media at a prearranged event to explain the association’s stance towards playing Israel in the Nations League this autumn.

Noonan joined Shamrock from St Patricks in January 2025 and became one of the youngest scorers in Uefa competition on his club debut against Norwegian side Molde the following month. He scored six league goals in 30 appearances last season, many of them as a substitute.

The forward has also represented Ireland at age levels including the under-21s and scored three times for his country at the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar last November. When the winter transfer window opened, leading clubs across Europe were interested and it appeared Hoffenheim had won the bidding war with a record £2 million offer, which the club accepted in principle.

Noonan is believed to have visited Germany with his family and decided against the move.

It is thought that he favours a move to Celtic, having also visited Glasgow, but under labour laws he can not work in a non-EU country until he reaches the age of 18. He could sign a pre-contract agreement with the Glasgow club, while continuing to play for Shamrock this season.

Noonan’s club contract runs for two more years and any deal would likely break the record €1.7 million fee that Arsenal paid for another Shamrock 17-year-old, Victor Ozhianvuna, under a similar pre-contract agreement last October.

The deals are part of an increasing trend of League of Ireland clubs demanding far higher transfer fees, with 18-year-old striker Mason Melia also having just joined Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth over €1 million.

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