The Ireland Under-21 striker’s €1.9million move from St Patrick’s Athletic to Tottenham will finally become official when the January transfer window opens.
SSE Airtricity League Premier Division, Richmond Park, Dublin 22/9/2025
St. Patrick’s Athletic vs Cork City
St. Patrick’s Athletic’s Mason Melia celebrates scoring his side’s second goal
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has given his first thoughts on the imminent arrival of Ireland Under-21 striker Mason Melia.
The 18-year-old will officially become a Spurs player on New Year’s Day, almost a year after the Premier League side agreed a League of Ireland transfer record breaking fee of €1.9million to sign him from St Patrick’s Athletic.
That fee will be broken next year when Arsenal complete their capture of Shamrock Rovers wonderkid Victor Ozhianvuna, once he turns 18.
Until then, Melia will carry the tag of most expensive sale from the League of Ireland – and with that will come expectation that he won’t be too far away from the first-team at Spurs.
However Frank, who wasn’t in charge when the deal was agreed, says a decision on Melia’s immediate future won’t be made until he sees the youngster up close.
Melia could be sent out on loan, but Tottenham’s goalscoring woes are contributing to their poor form this season.
Melia had an outstanding season last year at Pat’s, scoring 15 goals, including 13 in the Premier Division one in Europe, and spearheading the Saints attack under Stephen Kenny.
Frank addressed the new signing when speaking to the club’s media channel ahead of Spurs’ trip to Brentford on New Year’s Day.
He said: “We meet him in the club first here on 1 January. There are a lot of moving parts and then when we know all of the moving parts then we will take the final decision on what we are doing.”
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