Leyton Orient has secured the signing of 21-year-old former Irish youth international, Ollie O’Neill, in a significant two-and-a-half-year deal, marking the club’s second acquisition in the January transfer window. O’Neill had been associated with Fulham since 2016 when he switched from Brentford to join the Fulham academy.
While prominently featuring for Fulham U21 in Premier League 2 last year, O’Neill struggled to make an impact at the first-team level for Fulham. In 2023, the winger had a loan stint with Derry City, amassing 19 appearances in the Premier Division and contributing a goal in a 4-0 victory against UCD. O’Neill played a pivotal role in Jim Crawford’s U21 side, narrowly missing qualification for the U21 European Championships in 2023 after a penalty shootout loss to Israel in the playoffs. Noteworthy among his contributions was the winning goal against Sweden in November 2021.
Expressing his enthusiasm about the move, O’Neill stated, “I’m really excited to be starting the next chapter of my career at Leyton Orient, a club that feels like it has got real momentum behind it at the moment.” He emphasized that departing from academy football was the right step after gaining valuable experience in senior football last season. O’Neill is eager to challenge himself in League One and highlighted his style of play, emphasizing his preference for playing wide, getting on the ball, and creating numerous chances for himself and teammates.
Galway United sign goalkeeper Joe Wright https://t.co/iRRxFiiPx6 pic.twitter.com/beQRULX5sV
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Leyton Orient’s head coach, Richie Wellens, expressed satisfaction with the completed transfer, describing O’Neill as an exciting young player. Wellens praised O’Neill’s versatility, citing his ability to play across various midfield positions. Having observed O’Neill in a previous EFL Trophy game against Fulham, Wellens believes the young talent can grow and develop with Leyton Orient in the coming years.
Currently positioned tenth in League One, Leyton Orient is gearing up for their next fixture against Reading this Saturday.
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