Bristol City, the Championship team, has agreed to recruit Irish teenage star Billy O’Neill ahead of many Premier League and European sides, according to reports.

O’Neil has been a long-term desire for the Robins, and he is poised to sign a three-year contract with them this summer.

The Bray Wanderers striker is regarded as one of Ireland’s most promising talents in recent years.

Last year, the 18-year-old forward helped the Republic of Ireland Under-17s qualify for the World Cup for the first time in history.

O’Neill scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists in 34 games last season across all competitions, piqueing the curiosity of Bristol City and clubs throughout Europe.

Bristol City defeated Premier League rivals for Billy O’Neill’s signature.

Football Insider stated in October that a number of prominent Premier League clubs were keeping an eye on O’Neill with the intention of making the move, and there was also strong European interest.

Scouts from Germany and France have also kept an eye on the starlet’s improvement in recent months, but Bristol City seem poised to win.

The Championship club has built a reputation for cultivating young talent in recent years, having sold England hopeful Alex Scott to Bournemouth for about £25 million in 2023, and they are ready to add another intriguing young star to their roster.

O’Neill became the youngest player to score a League of Ireland hat-trick since 1937 when he terrorized Kerry FC in October, and he has one goal in his first six games this season.

The teenager finished the 2025 season as the fourth-highest scorer in Ireland’s second division, and he is now preparing to test his abilities in the English pyramid.

The city already has long-term plans in place.

Bristol City had hoped to push for the play-offs in the second part of the season, but that hasn’t happened due to a poor run of recent results.

Gerhard Struber’s squad has won only two of their last ten games in all competitions, including an FA Cup exit at the hands of League One’s basement club, Port Vale.

They are now 12 points behind the Championship play-off spots, but also the same distance clear of the relegation zone, so there is little to play for at Ashton Gate between now and the conclusion of the season.

As a result, they have shifted their focus to making future plans, as seen by their decision to secure O’Neill’s signature.

It remains to be seen if he will instantly join the first-team after his arrival, or if the young team will be a better fit at first, but he is an exciting addition to City.