Over the last few years, it has become increasingly common to see Irish players make the move to continent in order to further their careers. That is certainly no bad thing, especially as we look to lessen our dependence on the English system moving forward.
Of those who have gone down that route this season, quite a few of them have experienced quite a bit of success. Some of them are in their debut campaigns at new clubs, while others are coming into their own having taken some time to bed into their new surroundings.
Here are seven Irish players that have caught the eye in European football in recent months.
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Irish players starring on the continent this season
Jake O'Brien (Lyon)
Jack O'Brien has been one of the feel-good stories in Irish football this season. Having performed brilliantly in the Belgian second tier last season, it was a surprise to see him join Lyon on a permanent deal last summer. However, he has certainly made the most of the move.
While the French club have fallen short of expectations this season, the Cork man has been one of their best performers. He was recently named as their player of the month for December, a period where he scored two goals and helped move them out of the Ligue 1 relegation zone.
2⃣ goals
1⃣ assist
🥇 December's @123PareBrise Player of the Month
Congratulations, @obrienjake_! 👏 pic.twitter.com/TEzUmsEquw— Olympique Lyonnais 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@OL_English) December 28, 2023
Since coming into the team at the start of October, O'Brien has played every minute of the 11 league fixtures since then. He will be hoping to help push Lyon up the table in the months ahead.
Capped by Ireland up to U21 level, he will no doubt come into consideration for a call-up in March despite Ireland's plentiful options at centre back.
Troy Parrott (Excelsior Rotterdam)
It was thought that a move to the continent could suit Troy Parrott, something that has proven to be the case since his arrival in the Netherlands.
While he has not necessarily been a mainstay in the Excelsior side, he has usually taken whatever opportunities are presented to him. The Dubliner has scored five goals in 13 Eredivisie appearances, although over half of them have come off the bench.
What a beautiful finish by Troy Parrott with his left foot !🤩🇮🇪
4 league goals in 4 starts for Troy , top work ☘️pic.twitter.com/E2RFmEAODx— Rep of Ireland Player Tracker (@reptracker) December 8, 2023
Parrott has seen his playing time increase as the campaign has gone on, starting each of their last six league fixtures. The club currently sit 12th in the 18-team division.
The Ireland forward will be hoping to been a mainstay in the side over the second half of the season.
Festy Ebosele (Udinese)
Having bided his time last season, Festy Ebosele has very much come into his own during his second campaign in Italy.
The Enniscorthy man has established himself as a key player at Udinese, appearing in all 18 of their Serie A fixtures this season. He has started all but three of them.
Operating from a right midfield or right wingback role, he has certainly played a big part for a team with one of the stranger records in European football at the moment. Udinese may have only lost five of their 18 league games this season, but they have only won two of them. The other 11 have finished as draws, with the club currently sitting in 15th in the league.
Their form has improved in recent times and they will be expected to push for the top half over the second half of the campaign.
Anselmo Garcia MacNulty (PEC Zwolle)
A player with one of the best names in Irish football, Anselmo Garcia MacNulty has continued to make impressive strides in his senior career this season.
He impressed on loan in the Dutch second tier at NAC Breda last season, with PEC Zwolle signing him on a permanent deal from Wolfsburg during the summer. Since stepping up to the Eredivisie, he has made 14 appearances and started every league fixture since the start of September.
The centre back has already caught the eye in the Netherlands and has also made a breakthrough with Ireland at U21 level.
Still only 20-years old, he is a player to keep a close eye on over the next couple of years.
Matt Healy (Francs Borains)
Having joined from Cork City last summer, it has not taken long for Matt Healy to adapt to life in Belgium.
He has already racked up 16 appearances in the Challenger Pro League, the second tier in the country, all but one of which came in the starting XI. He has scored two goals along the way, although the club do sit second from bottom in the league table.
The 21-year old made his debut for the Ireland U21s back in September and has already racked up five caps at that level. He will likely play a major role for Jim Crawford's side over the remainder of the Euro qualifying campaign.
Conor Noss (Blau-Weiss Linz)
German-born Conor Noss could never quite make the breakthrough at boyhood club Borussia Monchengladbach, leaving on a permanent basis last summer. He would sign for Blau-Weiss Linz in the Austrian top flight last summer and has since become an important contributor at the club.
The newly promoted club have had a mixed campaign up to this point, sitting ninth in the 12-team league. Noss has played in all 17 of the league games so far, the majority of which have come in the starting XI.
At 22-years old, this is the first time that he has gotten a consistent run of first team football in his career. Having looked like a bright prospect at underage level, he will be hoping to fulfil some of that early promise over the seasons ahead.
Ed McJannet (Lecce)
Unlike the other players in this list, Ed McJannet has not played any first team football this season. However, the 19-year old has shown plenty of promise during his time in Italy.
He has made 17 appearances for Lecce's underage side, captaining the team on a few occasions. The midfielder has scored four goals and registered four assists along the way. Having joined from the Luton Town academy back in January, he has already adapted well to life on the continent.
Ireland u21 international Ed McJannet’s goal for Lecce u19’s on Sunday !🤩🇮🇪pic.twitter.com/XMK8nz7x2i
— Rep of Ireland Player Tracker (@reptracker) December 12, 2023
English-born McJannet played quite a few games for Ireland U19 level, making his debut for the U21 side last summer.
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