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Festy Ebosele with Watford. Alamy Stock Photo

Festy Ebosele joins Istanbul Basaksehir, Ireland WNT internationals on the move

Wexford man has signed a three-and-a-half year permanent deal.

LAST UPDATE | 31 Jan

IRELAND INTERNATIONAL FESTY Ebosele has joined Istanbul Basaksehir on a three-and-a-half year contract.

The 22-year-old makes the move from Italian club Udinese, having spent the first half of the season on loan at Watford

Istanbul Basaksehir beat St Patrickโ€™s Athletic 2-0 over two legs in Europe last year. They sit seventh in the Turkish Super Lig.

Yet he suffered an ankle injury last week and was recalled by Udinese ahead of this transfer.

Ebosele made his breakthrough with Derby before joining Udinese in the summer of 2022 and spending two seasons with the Serie A club.

He won his first senior cap for Ireland against France in September 2023.

Meanwhile, several Irish womenโ€™s international players are on the move, with deals confirmed following Thursdayโ€™s transfer deadline.

Emily Murphy has signed for Championship outfit Newcastle United after a period of playing collegiate football in America.

The 21-year-old striker most recently represented Wake Forest Demon Deacons, having come through the youth ranks at Chelsea and begun her senior club career there. Murphy also had spells at Birmingham City (loan) and North Carolina Tar Heels.

The English-born forward declared for Ireland last year, winning five caps.

Grace Moloney is on the hunt for a new club, having departed London City Lionesses. The Championship side say they and the Ireland goalkeeper โ€œhave mutually agreed to part ways,โ€ with Ruesha Littlejohn exiting in the same manner earlier this month.

Moloney stated that Littlejohn โ€œdeserves so much betterโ€ as her international team-mate left. With England underage goalkeeper Sophia Poor joining on loan from Aston Villa this week, it was reported that Moloneyโ€™s time at the club was coming to an end.

Irelandโ€™s second-choice โ€˜keeper and Littlejohn are now free agents, along with Marissa Sheva following her December departure from Portland Thorns. New Ireland head coach Carla Ward will be keen to see them secure new clubs, particularly after Julie-Ann Russell today followed Niamh Fahey and Diane Caldwell into international retirement. 

In other news, former Cork City and Shamrock Rovers youngster Orlaith Oโ€™Mahony has signed for AFC Fylde in the FA Womenโ€™s National League Division One. The midfielder links up with ex-City boss Danny Murphy in Englandโ€™s fourth tier. 

And Emily Murphy has signed a new long-term contract at Glasgow City, the Irish striker committing her future to the club until 2028.

- Additional reporting from Emma Duffy

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3 Comments
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    Mute Eoin Nangle Ryan
    Favourite Eoin Nangle Ryan
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    Jan 31st 2025, 1:10 PM

    Very strange move, especially that heโ€™s moving injured. Hope it works out for him. I canโ€™t recall any player moving from England to Turkey improving their profile. Just look at Zaha. Heโ€™s younger than Zaha though and judging by his international form, heโ€™s a very high ceiling. Hope he continues to develop and gets to play week on week

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    Mute Kevin Bury
    Favourite Kevin Bury
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    Jan 31st 2025, 1:51 PM

    @Eoin Nangle Ryan: he has played 199 mins of international football in totalโ€ฆthat just over 2 games

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    Mute Caolan Z
    Favourite Caolan Z
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    Jan 31st 2025, 2:18 PM

    @Eoin Nangle Ryan: Zaha was already over the hill when he went to Tuekey aged 31. Festy is 22. Turkey could be a great future option for Irish players not getting minutes in the PL/Championship โ€“ the likes of Kasey McAteer, John Egan etc

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