Charles' rise to NI's most expensive footballer
After he became Northern Ireland's most expensive player, BBC Sport NI looks at the rise of Shea Charles, from Manchester City's academy to Fulham's £30m man.
Shea Charles, a Northern Ireland footballer, has become the country's most expensive player in history after a £30 million transfer from Southampton to Fulham. Born as a center-back, Charles made his international debut for Northern Ireland in June 2022, despite never having played a senior club match. His impressive performances for Manchester City, including a Premier League title-winning season in 2021-22, led to his call-up to the national team.
Coach Gerard Lyttle has praised Charles for his calm demeanor and exceptional ball-playing skills, while Rodri at Manchester City has been a key mentor in Charles' development. After a four-year stint at Southampton, where he scored six goals and helped the team secure promotion back to the Premier League, Charles returned to St Mary's for the 2023-24 season.
His biggest contribution was the winning goal against Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals and a goal against Liverpool in the EFL Cup semi-finals. Southampton's promotion hopes fell short due to the Spygate controversy, but Charles' talent and potential remain undeniable, with manager Michael O'Neil confident he can play at the highest level in the Premier League.
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