Irish under-21 international Ollie O’Neill has put pen to paper on a new contract at Fulham in a major boost to the club’s academy.

The talented teenager, who joined Fulham’s youth set-up after Brentford closed their academy, starred for Steve Wigley’s under 23s last season – scoring eight goals and adding nine assists in 27 appearances – as the Whites won promotion back to the top flight. Ealing-born O’Neill had rejected Fulham’s first offer of a professional deal at the end of his scholarship but has rejected interest from Tottenham and West Ham to continue his development at Craven Cottage.

The nineteen year old, comfortable as an orthodox central midfielder and number ten was outstanding when used as an inverted winger by Wigley last term, and was an unused substitute for the senior side when Marco Silva’s men were beaten on penalties by Leeds in the League Cup last September. His consistent displays for Fulham’s under 23s were rewarded with a call-up to the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad and O’Neill memorably scored a 92nd-minute winner in a European Championship qualifier against Sweden back in November.

The highly-rated youngster is set to become the first Fulham academy product to join one of the club’s development partners with O’Neill finalising the details of a ;loan move to Croatian club Gorica at present.