Victor Ozhianvuna has said a heartfelt goodbye to Shamrock Rovers, signing off after 11 years with a league winner’s medal and a message to the fans before his move to Arsenal in January.
The midfielder, a boyhood Gooner, has been at Shamrock Rovers since the age of six. He will head to north London once he turns 18 in the New Year, completing a deal that was first agreed back in October 2025.
His farewell came after a special presentation at the club with Ronan Finn, Shamrock Rovers’ director of football, and youth coach Tony Cousins. Ozhianvuna then posted a statement on Instagram thanking everyone who helped him along the way.
It closes a long chapter. Rovers are the reigning League of Ireland Premier Division champions, and Ozhianvuna has 37 senior appearances to his name already. Last year he also became the second-youngest player ever to feature in the UEFA Conference League.
What did Victor Ozhianvuna say in his goodbye?
The teenager kept it personal. “After 11 amazing years, I’m saying goodbye to the club where I’ve made memories that I’ll never forget,” Ozhianvuna wrote. “I’ve met a lot of amazing people at the club and I’ve learned so much over the years as a footballer, but more importantly as a person and for that I’m forever grateful.”
He thanked his coaches, team-mates, friends and family, and the supporters for “the constant love and support they’ve shown to me and to the club.”
He finished with a line every Rovers fan will like: “As I move on to the next stage in my career, I’ll never forget the club that gave me a chance and I’m proud to say I’ve played for The Hoops. Forever grateful, Forever a Hoop.”
A back injury and a title to sign off
The last few months have not been easy. Ozhianvuna has not played since May because of a back injury, and he admitted in the same message that he was “gutted” to have missed so much football.
Still, he said he “couldn’t have asked for a better way to sign off than winning the league and lifting the trophy in front of the fans.” Rovers’ season is now over. They lost 3-1 at Dundalk on Friday and then lifted the title, which we covered when Ozhianvuna’s second league crown was sealed.
The injury also means he will miss this month’s Under-17 World Cup. The Republic of Ireland Under-17 international played at the tournament in Qatar last year.
What Arsenal are getting for £1.7m
The fee is believed to be worth around £1.7million, and Shamrock Rovers described it at the time as a “landmark transfer in Irish football.” He joins the academy ranks at Arsenal in January, where his development will continue under the club’s guidance.
Rovers have been a good hunting ground for Irish talent, and Arsenal have looked there before, having kept tabs on Michael Noonan at the Dublin club.
Verdict: Ozhianvuna is worth the patience
Nobody at the Emirates should expect him near the first team straight away. He is coming off a long layoff, he is still only 17 and he is moving countries, so the first priority is simply getting him fit and settled.
But 37 senior games and Conference League minutes before your 18th birthday is a real CV for an academy signing, and £1.7m is small money if he kicks on. The goodbye tells you something too: a lad who grew up supporting Arsenal, who talks about learning as a person as much as a player. That is exactly the kind of character an academy wants walking through the door in January.
