Heimir Hallgrímsson calls up Benfica teenager Jaden Umeh as Ireland rebuilds with nine uncapped players

Key facts

• Jaden Umeh, 18, of Benfica, is the youngest player in the 21-man Republic of Ireland squad.
• Nine uncapped players are included in the squad for the Murcia camp and friendly against Grenada on 16 May.
• Umeh represented Ireland at the FIFA U17 World Cup in November and made his under-21 debut in March.
• Jack Moylan, who scored 11 goals for Lincoln City from early December, earned his first senior call-up after the club's promotion to the Championship.
• The training camp at La Finca resort near Murcia was initially designed for lower-league English players whose season ended last weekend.
• Hallgrímsson thanked the FAI for allowing the camp to continue despite Ireland's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
• The manager omitted League of Ireland players to avoid disrupting the domestic season.

A camp to test limits

Heimir Hallgrímsson has named 18-year-old Benfica winger Jaden Umeh in a 21-man Republic of Ireland squad for a training camp in Murcia, Spain, and an official friendly against Grenada on Saturday, 16 May. The Cork native is the youngest member of the squad and the only player currently in-season, though he has yet to make a senior appearance for the Portuguese giants. “From what we've seen, obviously a high potential player. We don't know what his limit will be but it is exciting to work with him and see what his limitations are,” Hallgrímsson said at Tuesday's squad announcement at FAI headquarters. “But, from what we've seen with youth teams and clips from Benfica, an exciting player, one for the future, if he is ready for the first team we will have to wait and see.” The manager emphasised that the camp is an opportunity to evaluate Umeh up close, with an eye to the longer term. Umeh was recently promoted to José Mourinho's first-team training at Benfica after standout performances for the club's underage sides and the Ireland under-21s.

Nine uncapped players in the mix

Hallgrímsson has called up nine players without a senior cap, describing the 10-day camp as “a great opportunity for them to step up and shine.” Among them is Jack Moylan, the former Shelbourne attacker who helped Lincoln City earn promotion to the EFL Championship with 11 goals from early December onwards, playing as an attacking midfielder. “An interesting player, really interesting. Individual quality, creative, goalscoring,” Hallgrímsson said of Moylan. “I saw him in the last game of the season. It was a frantic atmosphere in Lincoln that day, it was enjoyable to be there. (He is) a good person as well, (and I) spoke to him.” Moylan had been close to a call-up for the March play-off in Czechia and was in contention for the previous camp. Hallgrímsson noted that Moylan's statistics are “incredible” but cautioned that his production came in League One, and the real test will come in the Championship next season.

Umeh's rapid rise through the ranks

Jaden Umeh's trajectory has been swift. As recently as November, he was representing Ireland at the FIFA U17 World Cup. He made his under-21 debut in March. Now, at 18, he is the youngest player in a senior international squad. Umeh is on the books at Benfica, one of Europe's most prolific talent factories, but has yet to feature for the first team. His inclusion in the squad was facilitated by the fact that he is not playing senior club football, leaving him available for the camp while other Irish players are engaged in club commitments. Hallgrímsson acknowledged the uncertainty around Umeh's readiness: “If he is ready for the first team we will have to wait and see.” The camp, he said, will help determine where the teenager stands.

A camp born from World Cup disappointment

The Murcia training camp at La Finca resort was originally designed to bridge the gap for Irish players at lower-league English clubs whose season ended last weekend, in advance of the World Cup in June. However, Ireland failed to qualify for the 2026 tournament in North America. Hallgrímsson thanked the Football Association of Ireland for allowing the camp to continue despite the failure to qualify. The squad includes no players from the League of Ireland, a decision the manager defended by saying he did not want to disrupt the domestic season. The friendly against Grenada, a nation ranked 173rd in the world, will serve as a low-stakes opportunity to test new combinations and give uncapped players their first taste of senior international football.

What comes next for Hallgrímsson's project

With nine uncapped players in the squad, Hallgrímsson is clearly looking to the future. “Hopefully, one or two, or three, will step up,” he said, opening the door for prospects like Umeh and Moylan to stake a claim for regular places. The manager has also dismissed any fears of a possible bid by England to secure Owen Elding, a young player eligible for both countries, though no further details were provided. For Umeh, the immediate task is to impress in Murcia and show he can translate his youth-level promise to the senior environment. For Hallgrímsson, the camp is a chance to gather “answers” about the depth of his squad as he rebuilds after a failed World Cup campaign.

The bottom line

• Jaden Umeh, 18, is the youngest player in the Republic of Ireland squad and has yet to play senior club football for Benfica.
• Nine uncapped players are included, reflecting a rebuilding phase after Ireland's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
• Jack Moylan earned his first call-up after a prolific season for Lincoln City, including 11 goals from early December and promotion to the Championship.
• The Murcia camp and friendly against Grenada are designed to test fringe players and build depth for future campaigns.
• Hallgrímsson has prioritised the camp over including League of Ireland players, citing the need to avoid disrupting the domestic season.
• Umeh's rapid rise from the U17 World Cup in November to senior squad selection underscores the manager's focus on youth.