Owen Elding's Journey to Republic of Ireland Call-Up
Owen Elding has been waiting years for this moment. Not just the usual climb through academies and first-team minutes, but a wait that ended up tangled in bureaucracy, fuel protests and a passport ceremony that never happened.
Now, finally, the Hibernian striker has his first official call-up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad – and this time, he can actually play.
A long road to green
Elding, 20, was brought into Heimir Hallgrimsson’s squad for the summer friendlies against Qatar and Canada, but only as a training player. He trained, he mixed with the group, he wore the gear. He just couldn’t pull on the shirt.
The problem wasn’t form or fitness. It was paperwork.
Born in England, Elding has lived in the Republic of Ireland since the age of six, when his father Anthony moved the family over after signing for Sligo Rovers. Residency gave him the right to represent Ireland, and last year he started the process of securing Irish citizenship.
Everything seemed on track. Then the country’s fuel protests in April forced the cancellation of a mandatory citizenship ceremony – the final step before he could receive his Irish passport. Without that passport, Hallgrimsson’s new face in camp was stuck in limbo.
He trained with the squad. He watched the games. He waited.
Now the document is finally in his hand, and with it comes the chance to make his Republic of Ireland debut at the start of their Nations League campaign, in a demanding four-game window.
Sligo roots, Hibs platform
The Elding story in Ireland started in Sligo and, fittingly, that’s where Owen’s own career took off. Like his father, he came through the Sligo Rovers academy and broke into the first team as a 17-year-old in October 2023.
By 2025, he was no longer just a promising youngster. He was one of the league’s standout forwards.
Sixteen goals, five assists, and the PFAI Young Player of the Year award told the story of a breakout season in the Irish Premier Division that clubs across the water couldn’t ignore. Scottish Premiership side Hibernian moved quickly, tying him down in January on a four-and-a-half-year deal.
The step up hasn’t fazed him. Six goals in 22 games for Hibs, with three in nine so far this campaign, have underlined why Ireland’s staff wanted him in the building early.
That early taste mattered to him.
“Definitely getting that experience with the first-team international set-up was massive,” he said in August, reflecting on his summer stint as a non-playing squad member. He knew he couldn’t feature, but he treated it like an audition.
“It was just a chance for me to go in and show the staff and everyone what I could do. Just being around the boys for the camp and seeing what it’s like is something I want to be a part of.”
Hallgrimsson’s new option
He made an impression. Hallgrimsson has now named him in a squad that faces Kosovo and Austria, with a double-header against Israel sandwiched in between during a 12-day burst that will test Ireland’s depth and resilience.
Elding arrives still working his way back to full sharpness after a recent injury. The pathway to minutes is crowded too, with Troy Parrott, Adam Idah and Tom Cannon all in strong form and already established in the set-up.
Yet the Icelandic coach has made it clear that Elding is not just there to make up numbers.
“He really impressed us with his attitude and his character and how he presented himself as a player,” Hallgrimsson said. “He has been struggling with injury, he’s been coming back, but you can see the quality this kid has.”
For now, his role might be limited to cameos, or even just another stretch of training-ground work and a seat on the bench. But this time, if Hallgrimsson turns to him, there will be no administrative barrier, no cancelled ceremony, no delay.
Just a striker who grew up in Ireland, learned his trade in Sligo, earned his move to Scotland – and is finally free to chase his first cap in green.
