Vinnie Leonard

Dundalk FC could be set for another financial windfall from a player sale with a number of UK clubs stepping up their interest in young defender Vinnie Leonard


Having sold 19-year-old left back Sean Keogh to Brighton at the start of the month for an undisclosed fee, The Argus understands that an even more lucrative deal could be in the offing for 17-year-old Leonard.
Championship sides Norwich City and Swansea City are both keen on the Irish underage international, with the Welsh outfit understood to be leading the charge for his signature at present.
Scottish champions Celtic are also keen on Leonard, with their scout Willie McStay visiting Oriel Park for last month’s FAI Cup clash with Sligo Rovers to monitor the defender, as well as the Bit O Red’s Owen Elding.
While Dundalk lost 2-0 on the night, Leonard impressed, just as he has done all season for Ciarán Kilduff’s side and while it is believed the Swans are heading the race for his signature at present, Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers is understood to have got involved in the talks to help entice the young talent to Celtic Park.
The teenager from Kilberry in Co Meath has been one of the Lilywhites’ stand-out performers this season, featuring in all bar one of the club’s 27 league matches to date and scoring twice as the Oriel Park outfit push to secure the First Division title and an instant return to the Premier Division.


Indeed, the only game Leonard missed was the 2-1 win at home to Longford Town in March when he was away with the Republic of Ireland U17s. The centre back is expected to be part of the squad which will compete at the U17 World Cup in Qatar this November.
While a deal for Leonard could be secured at any stage, Dundalk are believed to be working on the principle of a deal that would secure a financial return now, with the player remaining at Oriel Park until next summer.
As Leonard doesn’t turn 18 until March 21, Brexit rules prevent him from moving to the UK until the first window after he becomes an *. This could suit all parties, however, as not alone would it allow him to remain at Oriel Park for the first half of next season and continue his footballing education, he could also complete his Leaving Cert at O’Carolan College in Nobber, where he is about to enter sixth year.
A similar process was arranged in February when Mason Melia agreed to join Tottenham Hotspur next January while continuing to play for St Patrick’s Athletic until then.
While an exact fee for Leonard has yet to be agreed, it is understood it would eclipse what the club received for Keogh and go a long way to helping the club prepare for what they will hope will be a return to the Premier Division in 2026.
The club are also working behind the scenes on another potentially lucrative deal which will hopefully come to light in the coming weeks.

 

Anyone seen him play? Happy we’re looking to that market though, we don’t do it enough weirdly.

 

Sounds like a mob boss from a Guy Ritchie film.

 

Which king of England was Vincent Leonard?

 

Fml

 

"that's Vinnie 'The Violin' Leonard"

"Why's he called the Violin?'

"Cause he strings people up!"

 

Surely to fk we should be looking for better

 

Celtic and Norwich are battling it out to sign Irish teenage sensation Vinnie Leonard before the close of the transfer window.

The Dundalk centre-back is regarded as one of the best young talents to come out of Ireland in recent years having made over 60 first-team appearances at the tender age of 17




A number of clubs across Europe have been tracking Leonard, but Celtic and Norwich are leading the hunt for the Republic of Ireland Under-17 international.

Leonard came through the academy at Dundalk and has featured in all but one of The Lillywhites’ 28 league games so far this campaign.


Dundalk are currently top of the Ireland Division One table by eight points, having only conceded 20 goals in 28 games.


Celtic have previously signed from the League of Ireland when they bought Liam Scales to Glasgow from Shamrock Rovers in 2021 and Johnny Kenny from Sligo Rovers in 2022.

Scales is now a first-team regular, showing the pathway is there for Leonard should the 17-year-old sign for the Hoops, whilst after loan spells at Queen’s Park and Shamrock Rovers, Kenny has broken into the first team squad.





Celtic have a strong Irish connection and striker Adam Idah is another from the country to currently be in the first team squad.

 

Norwich becoming our mortal enemies

 

Dont have about stringing people up, but this board will have strung him along alright

 

Low risk and Ireland are producing a few decent quality centre halves at the minute - Collins, O'Shea, O'Brien, Omobamidele, Scales etc.

I see Arsenal have signed the 16 year old from Shamrock Rovers, surely with Demond's links to Shamrock Rovers we could have got that deal done but then again we lost Doak and Vata for buttons because we don't see the merit in paying promising young players the going rate.

 

no way you threw Scales in there he’s dug *

 

We need to be signing Noonan from Rovers.

also we’ve been tracking the winger Elding too. Should be all over singing both those. Low risk and if they don’t work out oh well.

The 16 year old that’s just gone to Arsenal was £1.7-2mil so it’s not as if we can’t compete financially.

Gutted we didn’t get Mason Melia too