Home / Sports / Youngster Atherton Dumps NI for ROI
Youngster Atherton Dumps NI for ROI
26 Feb
Summary
- Chris Atherton switched international allegiance from Northern Ireland to Republic of Ireland.
- He was the UK's youngest senior footballer at 13 years and 329 days old.
- Atherton joined Chelsea's academy in July 2025, signing a pro contract later.
Chris Atherton, a promising player in Chelsea's academy, has officially switched his international football allegiance. He will now represent the Republic of Ireland, moving away from his previous commitment to Northern Ireland.
Atherton holds a notable record as the United Kingdom's youngest senior footballer. He achieved this distinction in September 2022 at the remarkable age of 13 years and 329 days during his time with Glenavon.
He previously played for Northern Ireland at the Under-16 and Under-17 levels, even scoring an international goal. Atherton's career trajectory took a significant step forward when he joined Chelsea's academy in July 2025, subsequently signing a professional contract in October of the same year.
This move followed his extensive development within the Glenavon academy, which he joined at just four years old. Atherton's commitment to Northern Ireland included a role as a youth ambassador at the Euro 2028 bid announcement in October 2023, where he expressed aspirations of playing in the tournament.
