George Feeney (footballer)

George Feeney (born 19 January 2008) is a Welsh footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.[1] He has played youth international football for Wales and Northern Ireland.

George Feeney
Personal information
Date of birth (2008-01-19) 19 January 2008 (age 16)
Place of birth Newport, Wales
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Tottenham Hotspur
Number 43
Youth career
0000–2023 Glentoran
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2024 Glentoran 9 (0)
2024– Tottenham Hotspur 0 (0)
International career
2023 Northern Ireland U16 4 (3)
2023 Northern Ireland U17 3 (0)
2024 Wales U16 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 April 2024, 00:15 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 March 2024

Early life

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Born in Wales,[2] he attended Ashfield Boys' High School in Belfast.[3] Aged 14 years-old, he scored the fastest goal in the history of the SuperCupNI when he scored after 15 seconds of a Glentoran youth team win over Ballymena United youth.[4]

Club career

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Glentoran

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Feeney made his senior debut for Glentoran in September 2023 in the County Antrim Shield against Crusaders.[5] He made his NIFL Premiership debut on 9 September 2023, against Newry City in a 4-2 away win.[6] He scored his first senior goal in the Northern Ireland Football League Cup against Dollingstown at The Oval in October 2023.[7][8]

In November 2023, he was linked to a move to England with four Premier League clubs reported as being interested.[9]

Tottenham Hotspur

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On 4 July 2024, English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur announced the signing of Feeney in an undisclosed deal.[10]

International career

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Feeney was born in Wales, like his paternal grandfather, while his father was born in Northern Ireland.[11] He scored his first goal for Northern Ireland U16 against Wales U16 in November 2023.[12] That year he was also called up to the Northern Ireland U17 side.[13] In 2024, he switched his allegiance to Wales and played for the U16 side in a friendly against the Czech Republic U16 on 26 March.[14] In October 2024, it was reported that he had committed to play for Northern Ireland in the future.[15]

Personal life

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He is the son of former Northern Ireland international Warren Feeney. Warren Feeney was the manager at Glentoran when George made his debut, and Warren described himself as his son's "harshest critic" and had to be persuaded by his assistant-manager John Gregg to give George Feeney his first team debut, who told him he "deserved it" due to his goalscoring form for the reserves.[16] His great grandfather Jim and grandfather Warren Feeney Sr. also represented Northern Ireland at international football.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "George Feeney". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Teenage striker who starred and scored for Wales last month left out of Northern Ireland squad". Belfsst Telegraph. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Six Premier League clubs chase son of Glentoran manager Warren Feeney". Belfast Telegraph. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  4. ^ Luney, Graham (27 July 2022). "Warren Feeney so proud as son George scores fastest ever goal in SuperCupNI history in Glentoran victory". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  5. ^ Fullerton, Gareth (24 November 2023). "Glentoran teen George Feeney attracting interest from Premier League clubs". Belfast Live. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  6. ^ "NEWRY VS GLENTORAN 2-4". Soccerway. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  7. ^ "BetMcLean Cup: Teenager George Feeney opens account as Glentoran ease past Dollingstown for much-needed win". The Newsletter. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  8. ^ "George Feeney: Glentoran teenager Feeney set for Premier League move". BBC Sport. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  9. ^ "George Feeney: Glentoran teenager Feeney set for Premier League move". BBC. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Irish Premiership: George Feeney completes Tottenham Hotspur move". BBC Sport. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Footballers' Lives with Warren Feeney: Some young players think the world owes them a living now but I'm glad I was brought up in era of hard work". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 26 April 2019.
  12. ^ Morton, Johnny (7 November 2023). "Feeney nets as Northern Ireland open Victory Shield campaign with draw in Wales". The Newsletter. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  13. ^ Morton, Johnny (19 October 2023). "Nine young stars from Irish League clubs included in Northern Ireland U17 squad for 2024 European Championship qualifiers". The Newsletter. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  14. ^ "WALES UNDER 16s - FRANCE MARCH 2024". dragonsoccer.
  15. ^ Beacom, Steve (22 October 2024). "Tottenham Hotspur teenager George Feeney has decided his international football future". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  16. ^ Fullerton, Gareth (16 September 2023). "Warren Feeney opens up on tricky father-son dynamic at Glentoran". Belfast Live. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  17. ^ Rob Smyth (28 April 2010). "Have any matches been postponed because of natural disasters?". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
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