Getafe's promising Irish talent John Joe Patrick Finn
The central midfielder became the youngest player in the club's history to make a competitive appearance back in 2021.
Despite a huge surge in young players from the Republic of Ireland moving to clubs across Europe to secure regular first team football, there has been a scarcity of Irish talent in La Liga.
Matt Doherty was a high-profile Irish international who joined Atletico Madrid on an unusual short term deal last January, but during an underwhelming spell in which he failed to gain the regular minutes he craved he was out the door and back to Wolves in the summer.
Even back when the Republic of Ireland were qualifying for major tournaments on a regular basis not many of their best players ventured to Spain to play their club football.
Only eight before Doherty had played in LaLiga and his departure in the summer left one active Irish player in the Spanish top-flight.
Step forward John Joe Patrick Finn.
The 19-year old was born in Spain to a Cameroonian mother and a father who hails from Mayo, with Finn opting to declare for the nation of his late father’s birth.
The Madrid-born youngster was signed by Real Madrid's academy when he was just nine. He then had spells at CD Canillas and Alcobendas CF before moving to Getafe's youth team.
The commanding midfielder then made his first team debut aged 17, coming off the bench for the last five minutes of Getafe’s 3-0 defeat against Levante in 2021.
Under Jose Bordalas he would make eight brief appearances in total in the league and Copa Del Rey in the 2020-21 campaign, but the manager’s departure for Valencia saw his involvement with the first team become non-existent under Quique Sances Flores the following season.
Last campaign Finn had a year out from football all together to focus on his university exams, but with those out of the way and Bordalas back in the hot seat, this may be the season that Finn finally establishes himself at El Coliseum.
After featuring in a number of pre season games, Finn has been on the bench for Getafe’s last three league games against Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal and Celta Vigo.
He has also started three of Getafe B’s games so far this term as he aims to get back up to speed following his time off.
He has yet to feature for his country at U21 level due to university commitments and injury, but despite interest from England following his breakout in 2021 all signs still indicate that he will play for Boys in Green.
Festy Ebosele is a prime example to Finn how good performances at the top level in another country will be noticed and rewarded with a senior call-up, with Ebosele making his senior debut against France in September.
A first start for Getafe, an injury free campaign and consistent first team appearances will of course be Finn’s focus this year and it is worth remembering that he is only 19 years of age.
He will hope to establish himself this term as the next Irish talent playing abroad, who fans of the national team should sit up and take notice of.