Tottenham’s Jamie Donley has been called into the Northern Ireland squad for the first time and could make his senior international debut in Friday’s friendly against Switzerland at Windsor Park.
The Belfast Telegraph understands that the process for Donley’s international transfer from England to Northern Ireland has begun.
The stunning development surrounding highly rated attacker Donley is a boost for Northern Ireland and a coup for manager Michael O’Neill ahead of the first international in 2025 in what is a huge year for the country with World Cup qualifiers taking place from September to November.
Last week it was revealed that Donley, who is on loan at Leyton Orient, was seriously considering switching international allegiance. Now that move is underway with the Irish FA expected to submit the details to FIFA this week.
FIFA control the speed in which the paperw
ork is processed but because Friday’s game at home to Switzerland and next Tuesday’s match in Sweden are friendlies, sources suggest Donley can feature in them hence his inclusion in the squad.
Antrim born Donley had previously played for both Northern Ireland and England at youth level but his most recent international action was for the latter at Under-19 level.
It is believed that O’Neill has been working behind the scenes on the switch for some time with the player whose dad is from Northern Ireland and his mum is from England.
Last week O’Neill named Ronan Hale in his squad for the first time for this month’s friendlies at home to Switzerland and away to Sweden after the Ross County striker made an international transfer having previously represented the Republic of Ireland at Under-19 and Under-21 level.
Leyton Orient’s Jamie Donley up against Rico Lewis of Manchester City at Gaughan Group Stadium, Brisbane Road (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
O’Neill was key to Hale coming on board and Donley’s call to play for Northern Ireland will be another feather in the cap of the man who led the country to the Euro 2016 finals.
Donley made his Premier League debut for Spurs as a late substitute against Manchester City in December 2023. This season he has been impressing in League One with Leyton Orient and was the architect behind one of the FA Cup’s most memorable goals in 2025.
Playing at home to Premier League champions City in the fourth round of the competition in February, Donley showed vision to see goalkeeper Stefan Ortega off his line and then produced a stunning 50 yard chip that sailed over the German and struck the bar before hitting Ortega and going into the net.
It went down as an own goal but everyone inside the stadium knew it was Donley’s magic that put Leyton Orient ahead with Pep Guardiola’s team eventually coming back to win 2-1.
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On the day Donley excelled for Leyton Orient as did Northern Ireland international Ethan Galbraith.
Many Tottenham supporters are excited by the potential of Donley hoping he will return to their club next season and make a positive impression.
Donley’s family moved to England when he was young. He shone with the Colchester Villa Youth Academy before joining the Tottenham youth ranks when he was eight years old.
He has come through the ranks for the London giants playing for their underage teams and signed his first professional contract in 2022. Since then he has extended his deal with Spurs until 2029 and made his Premier League debut as a substitute against Manchester City in December 2023.
This season he has enjoyed a loan spell at Leyton Orient winning an EFL Young Player of the Month award in the process.
Leyton Orient announced on Saturday that their game against Mansfield on March 22 had been called off due to international call-ups with Donley and Galbraith both in the Northern Ireland squad.
Speaking to the club’s social media channels on Donley’s call-up, Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens said: “I’m really pleased for him. He deserves it. He’s been outstanding. Hopefully he will benefit from the experience of international players and playing with good players.”