'Right time' for Spurs' Donley to make NI switch

BBC News

22-03-2025

After a lifetime of "pestering" from his father, Jamie Donley said it was a "really proud moment" for him and his family to make his Northern Ireland debut in the 1-1 draw with Switzerland on Friday night.Or half of his family at any rate. The Tottenham Hotspur forward joked that his mother was "not happy" with his decision to play for the country of his birth at international level after previously representing England youth sides.The 20-year-old who is on loan at Leyton Orient spent the first few years of his life in Antrim, Northern Ireland before the family moved to Colchester.Growing up he played for both Northern Ireland and England's underage sides before appearing to throw his lot in with the latter at under-19s level.A concerted effort from his Northern Irish father and the side's manager Michael O'Neill, however, convinced him that his future was in a green jersey and confirmation of his international transfer arrived this week from Fifa."My dad's been pestering me my whole life to play for Northern Ireland," Donley said."I think it's the right time in my career to make the change and I'm delighted I've done it."Michael has been unbelievable the way he's sorted it out. He gave me my space to make my decision. I've made it now and hopefully it's the right one."
Donley came on in the 58th minute of the friendly against the Swiss, followed on to the pitch later by another debutant Terry Devlin.For the the final 15 minutes of the game, Northern Ireland's four midfielders and two attackers were all 21 years old or younger and Donley said the age profile of the squad appealed to him."How young and promising the group is," he said when asked what was the key factor in his decision."I'm a young player as well and that helps me to fit in."It was almost the dream debut for Donley when he met Justin Devenny's corner at the near post but his deft header drew a diving save from Gregor Kobel in the Switzerland goal.While denied on this occasion, he knows it is hoped he can provide another creative spark for the side."That's my job as an attacking player," he added."Michael said they've lacked that a little bit, a goalscorer, someone who can create and score goals. "Hopefully he can put his trust in me to do that for the team."
'My aim obviously is to be a Tottenham player'
Donley has already made four appearances for the Spurs first team, all of which came during the 2023-24 campaign.He has scored six times for Leyton Orient during his loan spell and came to wider attention in an FA Cup fourth-round tie against Manchester City when he struck a 50-yard lob over Stefan Ortega that hit the crossbar and then the goalkeeper for a spectacular own goal.Before returning to his parent club for pre-season training in the summer, he said he hopes to catch the eye at international level too."I've been able to show the Orient fans what I'm capable of. I think coming to play here [for Northern Ireland] will help my career and put my career to the next level."My aim obviously is to be a Tottenham player. That's what I want to do and that's what I want to be."Hopefully I can strive to do that. When I come back in pre-season hopefully I can show what I've been doing for Leyton Orient in training and in games."Next up is Northern Ireland's trip to Sweden for another friendly on Tuesday where he could come up against his Tottenham Hotspur team-mate Lucas Bergvall.The 19-year-old midfielder has been a key player for manager Ange Postecoglou this season, featuring 38 times to date during his first campaign in English football."He's been unbelievable this season for Spurs. I still watch all the games and it'll be good to see him," Donley added."Hopefully we can beat them."