Mason Melia

Mason Melia (born 23 September 2007) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick's Athletic. In January 2026, he will join Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

Early life

A native of Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow, Melia attended the Coláiste Chraobh Abhann, captaining the school's under-15 side to the 2022 Leinster U15s Shield, getting a goal and an assist in the 3–0 final victory.

Club career

Youth career

Melia began playing football with local club Newtown Juniors, where he played until joining St Joseph's Boys at under-12 level. He later joined Bray Wanderers for a short stint, before moving to League of Ireland Premier Division side St Patrick's Athletic in the summer of 2022.

St Patrick's Athletic

2023 season

His performances for the youth team of St Patrick's Athletic earned him a call up to the senior squad in January 2023, and he made his debut in a Leinster Senior Cup, coming off the bench to score in a 3–1 loss to Wexford. In doing so, he became St Patrick's Athletic's youngest ever player and youngest ever goal-scorer. In May 2023, with Eoin Doyle suspended and Tommy Lonergan ill, Melia was again drafted into the senior squad, and made his league debut as a substitute for Conor Carty in an eventual 3–0 win against Drogheda United in the LOI Premier Division. He became the club's youngest league debutant, and the third youngest in league history - behind Sam Curtis & Evan Ferguson. After the game, manager Jon Daly lauded Melia as an "exceptional" player. Following his performances for St Patrick's Athletic, he was linked with a move to English Premier League side Liverpool in March 2023. On 30 June 2023, Melia came off the bench to score his first senior league goal in a 7–0 win over UCD at Richmond Park, with the goal making him the youngest ever goalscorer in the League of Ireland Premier Division at 15 years and 281 days old. In August 2023, he spent time on trial at Manchester City. On 20 August 2023, Melia scored the winning penalty in a 4–3 shootout win over Derry City in the second round of the FAI Cup after a 0–0 draw at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium. On 22 September 2023, on his 16th birthday, Melia came off the bench in the 83rd minute against Dundalk, before going on to win a penalty in injury time which he took himself and scored to secure a 3–1 win. On 9 November 2023, it was announced that Melia had signed his first professional contract with the club, signing a 3-year contract to keep him with the club until the end of the 2026 season. On 12 November 2023, Melia came off the bench in the 57th minute of the 2023 FAI Cup Final, making him the youngest ever player to play in an FAI Cup Final, as his side beat Bohemians 3–1 at the Aviva Stadium in front of a record breaking FAI Cup Final crowd of 43,881.

2024 season

His first goal of the 2024 season came on 22 January in a Leinster Senior Cup game away to Usher Celtic. Melia scored his first league goal of the season on 1 August 2024, coming off the bench in the 77th minute at home to Sligo Rovers and finding the bottom corner 9 minutes later from 25 yards to help his side to a 3–0 victory. On 10 May 2024, Melia scored the final goal of the game in a Dublin derby away to Shamrock Rovers in a 2–2 draw at Tallaght Stadium. On 31 May 2024, Melia scored a backpost header to open the scoring in a 2–1 win over Galway United to help his side to their first league win under new manager Stephen Kenny. On 25 July 2024, Melia made his first European appearance of his career, starting up front in a 3–1 win over Vaduz of Liechtenstein in the UEFA Conference League. On 1 September 2024, Melia replaced Aidan Keena from the bench in the 76th minute at home to Drogheda United and scored the final goal of the game by finding the bottom left corner from 25 yards in the 93rd minute of a 4–1 win. On 5 September 2024, he again scored after coming off the bench, this time heading home the winner in the 68th minute of a 2–1 win away to Dundalk at Oriel Park, just 6 minutes after coming off the bench. Melia was voted by supporters as the club's Young Player of the Year at the club's end of season awards night. On 23 November 2024, Melia was named PFAI Young Player of the Year by his fellow professionals across the league, becoming the youngest winner in the award's 43 year history.

2025 season

On 14 March 2025, Melia scored his first goal of the season, getting on the end of Jason McClelland's ball across the 6 yard box for his sides second goal of the game in a 3–0 win over Bohemians at Richmond Park. On 18 April 2025, he opened the scoring in a 2–2 draw at home to Shamrock Rovers with a back post volley on the turn that bounced through the legs of Edward McGinty. He scored his third goal of the season on 9 May 2025, opening the scoring away to Shelbourne in the 29th minute at Tolka Park. On 16 May 2025, Melia opened the scoring in a 3–2 victory over Cork City at Richmond Park with a bullet header from a Barry Baggley corner. On 23 May 2025, he scored a brace in a 2–2 draw at home to Waterford for his 4th goal in 4 games.

Tottenham Hotspur

On 4 February 2025, it was announced that St Patrick's Athletic had agreed the transfer of Melia to Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur on a contract until the summer of 2031, commencing on 1 January 2026 for an undisclosed record transfer fee for a League of Ireland player, reported to be €2 million up front, rising to €4 million with add ons, plus a 20% sell on clause.

Personal life

Melia is the nephew of former Republic of Ireland international footballer and sports agent Clive Clarke.

Style of Play

Melia has been described by his St Patrick's Athletic captain and centre back Joe Redmond as an all round striker, stating ''"He is a handful. His power, his speed and his finishing is incredible. He has a bit of everything. He can hold it up, he can go in behind, he can finish, he has got good control, and his maturity and knowledge of the game is really good as well."''

International career

Melia has represented the Republic of Ireland from under-15 to under-17 level. He was part of the Irish under-16 side to win the 2022 Victory Shield, scoring in a 4–1 win in the final against Scotland.

He scored a hat-trick for the Republic of Ireland U17 side in a 3–0 against Ukraine, helping them qualify for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, for which he was also called up. At those championships he scored two goals in Ireland's final group game, against Hungary, in a 4–2 win which put his side through to the quarter-finals. On 11 October 2023, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 win over Armenia U17 in a 2024 UEFA U-17 Euro qualification fixture in Fermoy.

In November 2023, he received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland U19 side, for their 2024 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification games against Albania, Slovenia & Belgium. On 10 September 2024, Melia scored his first goal for the U19s, in a 1–1 draw away to Slovenia in a friendly.

In October 2024, Melia received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland U21 team, for their 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification games against Norway and Italy, but missed out through injury. He made his debut for the U21s on 24 March 2025, opening the scoring in a 3–1 win over Hungary U21 from the penalty spot, making him the youngest ever goalscorer for the U21s at 17 years 6 months and 2 days old, beating Troy Parrott's record by a month.

Career statistics

Honours

Club

;St Patrick's Athletic
*FAI Cup (1): 2023
* Leinster Senior Cup (1): 2023–24

Individual

* PFAI Young Player of the Year (1): 2024
* St Patrick's Athletic Young Player of the Year (1): 2024

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Melia, Mason
2007 births
Living people
Association footballers from County Wicklow
Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers
Republic of Ireland men's under-21 international footballers
Men's association football forwards
League of Ireland players
Bray Wanderers F.C. players
St Patrick's Athletic F.C. players
21st-century Irish sportsmen