Breaking | 
Chris Atherton signed his first professional deal with Chelsea
Chelsea academy winger Chris Atherthon has committed his international future to the Republic of Ireland after successfully switching his allegiance from Northern Ireland, Fifa have confirmed.
The 17-year-old, who hails from Armagh, had represented Northern Ireland at U-17 and U-16 levels but has now transferred to represent the Boys in Green instead. Atherton previously went on trial for Ireland in Dublin in 2021 and impressed FAI coaches, but the IFA’s head of elite youth performance, Andy Waterworth, persuaded the player’s family to commit to Northern Ireland at that stage.