Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley has made a bold call for 17-year-old Victor Ozhianvuna to receive a senior international call-up, following the teenager's outstanding recent performances. The young talent, who is already set to join Arsenal in 2027, is making waves in the League of Ireland Premier Division.
Ozhianvuna's rise has been nothing short of impressive. Last week, he was named Rovers' Player of the Month for April, and he backed that up with a standout display against Drogheda United on Monday. In that match, the midfielder showcased his vision and precision by threading three through-balls past the defense to create clear-cut chances for his teammates. The third of those passes was converted, earning him his first senior assist.
Bradley didn't hold back in his praise after the game, insisting Ozhianvuna is ready for the international stage. "There's no one that can tell me that kid shouldn't be in the Ireland squad," the manager said. "There's not one player in the Ireland set-up, from senior team down to Victor's age, that can do what he does. He's different. He takes one on his chest, and within two seconds he's five yards away from the press. You watch PSG and Bayern Munich the other night—that's what the game was. All one-v-one situations. We're crying out for something like that, a player that can break lines."
Bradley believes the sooner Ozhianvuna is integrated into the senior setup, the better prepared he'll be for the future. "I promise you get him in that camp and in 10 minutes he'll show what he's about," he added.
Despite his youth, Ozhianvuna has already made 33 appearances for Rovers' senior side, including 15 starts across all competitions. He scored his first competitive goal last July, and Monday's assist marks another milestone in his development. For fans of the Gunners and Irish football alike, this is a name to keep an eye on—both for his current form and his bright future at the Emirates.
