Christopher Atherton

Chelsea On 3 July 2025, Glenavon confirmed that Atherton had moved to Chelsea.

Ipswich Town On 17 July 2026, Atherton joined the academy of Ipswich Town on a permanent basis.

International career Atherton is eligible to represent Northern Ireland, Scotland, as his father was born in Glasgow, and the Republic of Ireland, trialling with the youth side of the latter in 2021. He was called up again for the Victory Shield, getting an assist against Wales in a 2–0 win. Having made a further four appearances in friendly matches in 2023 he was called up to the Northern Ireland under-17 squad later in the same year.

On 25 February 2026, Atherton's request to his switch international allegiance to the Republic of Ireland was approved by FIFA. He received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland U19 squad in March 2026.

Style of play A player with a low centre of gravity, Atherton often takes players on during games, with Glenavon manager Gary Hamilton describing him as a player similar to Bernardo Silva or Phil Foden, able to play in both midfield and the forward line.

Career statistics

Honours Chelsea U18 U18 Premier League – National Champions: 2025–26 U18 Premier League – Southern Champions: 2025–26