Former Glenavon teenager Chris Atherton has been hailed as “an exciting attacking player we believe possesses big potential” by new club Ipswich Town after completing a move to the Premier League outfit from Chelsea.
Atherton departed Mourneview Park for Stamford Bridge last summer and signed a professional contract with the Blues in October, featuring for their U17s and U18s.
The 17-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best young players to come out of the Irish League in recent years and made 27 Premiership appearances for Glenavon before earning a dream move to England.
Atherton made headlines after making his senior Lurgan Blues debut aged 13 in the League Cup against Dollingstown, becoming the youngest-ever player to feature in a match in the United Kingdom.
Chris Atherton in action for Glenavon. (Photo by INPHO/Brian Little)placeholder image
Chris Atherton in action for Glenavon. (Photo by INPHO/Brian Little)
He is now set to continue his progression at Ipswich, who secured Premier League promotion under Kieran McKenna last season.
“I’m delighted to be here and can’t wait to get started,” he told the club’s website. “I hope to offer a lot of creativity and attacking threat going forward and obviously working as hard as possible to get better every day."
Ipswich’s Academy Manager Ben Chenery added: “We are extremely pleased to announce the signing of Chris Atherton from Chelsea.
“Chris is an exciting attacking player we believe possesses big potential which we look forward to continuing to develop through the next stage of his career.”
Confirming Atherton’s departure, Chelsea posted: “Chelsea Academy winger Chris Atherton has completed a permanent transfer to Ipswich Town.
“Having arrived at Chelsea as a scholar at the start of the 2025/26 season, Atherton signed a professional contract in October 2025.
“Atherton regularly featured for our Under-18s last season and also appeared in the Under-17 Premier League Cup, scoring for both teams.
“We would like to thank Chris for his contributions at Chelsea and wish him luck in his next move.”
Atherton represented Northern Ireland up to U17 level before switching his international allegiance to the Republic of Ireland earlier this year.
He featured for their U19s in March during European Championship qualifying matches against Poland and Italy.
It came as a major blow to the Irish FA – Atherton was Northern Ireland’s youth ambassador at the announcement of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland co-hosting the 2028 European Championships aged 14.
"Our son is Irish,” he said. “Christopher wants to play for Ireland.
“Crucially, he retains the self belief in his own ability that if he keeps working hard and developing then one day he will realise his dream of representing his country in a full international at the Aviva.
"For Christopher it was never about accumulating international caps early and always about following his heart.
"I’m sure that all right thinking members of the community in the North will respect and understand that.
"As a family we wish nothing but success for the IFA in the years to come.”