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Football

29th Jun 2025

Young English star making eligibility switch to Ireland

SportsJOE

A future international potentially…..

Sligo Rovers man, Owen Elding, is in the process of switching to the Republic of Ireland.

The 19-year-old is English but moved to Ireland at 11, when his dad, Anthony, was playing for Sligo.

Elding was also in the news for other reasons this week, after his screamer against Bohemians, his eighth goal of the season in the League of Ireland, gave his side a 1-1 draw on Friday.

After the game, boss John Russell revealed that the FAI are in the process of securing the young star.

He said:

That’s a good question, which you should ask the FAI.

I would have flagged this a while back. I think there is stuff going on in the background trying to get him nationalised.

He has been in the country since he was 11 years of age. He was born in England, his dad obviously then having come over here to play.

There is talk in the background and hopefully it can be resolved as he should be in that Under-21 squad.

I think it’s paperwork that the FAI have to organise.

I’m led to believe it’s close, so I think for everyone it would be good if it happened soon.

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