Let’s take a look a some of the top Republic of Ireland national team players worth watching in English football.
With English football in full swing following the start of the Premier League and Championship, you may be wondering which players from the Republic of Ireland national team you’ll see playing in these two leagues this season.
While Séamus Coleman is the obvious answer, with the Irish captain doubling as the captain of Everton in the Premier League, many other players from the national squad are playing in English football. Here are a few worth watching.
4. Callum Robinson − 34 caps in his senior international career for the Republic of Ireland
After leaving West Brom at the end of the 2019/20 season, Callum Robinson joined Cardiff City on a three-year deal for £1.75 million in September 2022.
While West Brom currently have better EFL Championship odds (9/2) to win the league and gain Premier League promotion than Cardiff City (20/1) and have placed higher in the tables over the last two seasons, Robinson is making his name at Cardiff, scoring five goals in 23 appearances.
He also has 34 caps in his senior international career for the Republic of Ireland.
3. Josh Cullen − a recent return to English football
After spending 15 years with West Ham, Josh Cullen moved to the Belgian First Division A side Anderlecht in October 2020. However, the defensive midfielder has returned to English football, signing with Burnley in July 2022.
Over his football career, Cullen has been praised for his winning mentality, an attractive quality that has seen him captain both Anderlecht and Burnley.
In 2019, Cullen had his first senior international call-up and debuted in the Republic of Ireland’s 3-1 win against Bulgaria.
The 27-year-old has since gone on to achieve 26 caps. Burnley has also signed Cullen’s Republic of Ireland teammate Dara O’Shea from West Brom over the 2023 summer transfer window.
2. Matt Doherty − one goal for the ROI
In 2019, Matt Doherty was a key player in the Wolverhampton Wanderers’ squad before moving to Tottenham Hotspur, where he played under Jose Mourinho.
However, Doherty’s Spurs contract was terminated in January 2023, which allowed the Irish national to join Atletico Madrid.
However, over the 2023 summer transfer window, after a disappointing stint at Atletico, Doherty has returned to the Premier League and Wolverhampton Wanderers on a three-year contract for free.
Doherty has 36 caps for the Republic of Ireland national team but only one goal.
1. Georgie Kelly − awaiting his call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad
While Kelly has yet to receive his call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad, it may not be long before the 26-year-old forward from Donegal gets that call, as he’s beginning to make a name for himself on his current squad.
In 2022, Kelly signed for EFL League One club Rotherham United.
Despite sitting on the bench for months, Kelly made his Rotherham United debut at the most crucial time – he scored the winning goal over Gillingham to secure Rotherham’s promotion to the EFL Championship.
Since his debut, Kelly has scored five goals for Rotherham in 32 appearances.
With many great football players in the Republic of Ireland squad, it’s no surprise that many are playing in English leagues.
Plus, with the emergence of many young players in Ireland, we suspect the number of Irish players in the Premier League and Championship will only increase in the coming years.
