While there have been a few high profile transfers involving Ireland players this summer, quite a few big name footballers from this part of the world still find themselves without a club as we enter the month of August.
Some of those players are likely holding out for a sizeable contract offer, while others may be struggling to drum up any interest after some underwhelming spells of form in recent times.
With that in mind, here are seven high profile Ireland players that are still free agents.
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7 High Profile Ireland Free Agents Still Looking For A Club
John Egan
John Egan announced his departure from Sheffield United one month ago, with the Cork man reportedly turning down a contract offer from the club in order to pursue options elsewhere.
It was previously suggested that a handful of Premier League teams were interested in signing him, with Nottingham Forest the side most frequently mentioned.
However, he has yet to sign with another club. Many assumed that the Ireland defender had a Premier League move lined up, although it remains unclear where he will be playing his football next season.
At 31-years old, his next contract could be the last long-term deal of his career.
Aaron Connolly
Aaron Connolly showed plenty of promise at Hull City during the first half of last season, scoring eights goals in the Championship before the turn of the year. He would earn a recall to the Ireland squad in the process.
However, a mix of injuries and lack of form meant he was a bit part player in the second half of the campaign. He would not score a single league goal from January onwards, with his final start coming at the beginning of that month.
Connolly would not be offered a new deal at the end of the season, with the departure of manager Liam Rosenior likely to have played a part in that decision. Rosenior knew the Irishman well from their time together at Brighton and had been the catalyst behind his arrival at Hull.
There has been little indication in recent weeks where the Galway man will be playing his football next season. Now 24-years old, he needs to get his next move right.
Jeff Hendrick
It may be difficult to believe, but Jeff Hendrick was actually a Newcastle United player up until recent weeks. The midfielder signed for the club on a free transfer in the summer of 2020, although he would only spend one season as part of their first team squad.
The Dubliner spent time on loan at the likes of QPR and Reading in the years that followed, before ending up at Sheffield Wednesday last season. Hendrick would make just 11 league appearances during his time at Hillsborough, only one of which came after the turn of the year.
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He was unsurprisingly released by Newcastle in June, with his rumoured £50,000 per week wages finally coming off the books. There have been few indications as to where he could end up next.
Cyrus Christie
Cyrus Christie has been an incredibly consistent operator at Championship level throughout his career, most recently making 27 appearances in the division for Hull City last season. He would leave the club at the end of the campaign and remains a free agent.
Christie reportedly agreed a deal with Turkish club Sakaryaspor early last month, although that looks as though it may have fallen through.
Still only 31-years old, the right back would certainly have plenty to offer at club level. In saying that, the injury issues he experienced in recent times may give interested sides pause on any potential deal.
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Sean Maguire
Sean Maguire has struggled over the last couple of years, with his spells at Coventry City and Carlisle United proving unfruitful. He would score two goals for the latter in League One last season, finding himself largely out of the side during the second half of the campaign.
The former League of Ireland standout has been heavily linked with a return to Cork City in recent weeks, the side he starred for prior to his move to Preston North End back in 2017.
It would certainly be a romantic reunion for the 30-year old.
Scott Hogan
Despite finding himself largely out of the international reckoning in recent years, Scott Hogan remained a consistent goalscorer at Championship level prior to last season.
However, his return of just one goal in Birmingham City’s relegation campaign is likely to have contributed to the apparent lack of his interest in his services this summer.
He has been linked with Sheffield Wednesday in recent times.
Mipo Odubeko
Mipo Odubeko was once viewed as one of the brightest prospects in Irish football, with his goalscoring exploits at youth level with Manchester United pointing towards a potentially bright future in the game.
However, things have not worked out for him up to this point in his career.
The forward would join West Ham as a 17-year old, and despite being given a few opportunities at first team level, he would not make a breakthrough at the club. He would also have loan spells at the likes of Huddersfield Town, Doncaster Rovers, and Port Vale, none of which were a massive success.
Odubeko made the rather unorthodox move to the Portuguese second tier in the summer of 2023, signing for Martimo on a free transfer. He would not make a single appearance for the club, being released at the end of the season.
Still just 21-years old, it is unclear where his career will go from here.
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