Profile of Naj Razi who is latest Shamrock Rovers Academy graduate now with an Italian job

Éabha O'Mahony in action for Cork City in June 2021

Naj Razi in action for Shamrock Rovers u19 in August 2023 and for Ireland u17 against hosts Hungary during 2023 UEFA u17 European Championship – Images Martin Doherty (left) & Ben McShane (Sportsfile/UEFA/Getty Images) Credit: Steve Alfred (ETPhotos)

Naj Razi has become the latest young Irish player heading to Italy as a next step in their fledgling football career. Serie B side Como have secured the services of teenager Razi for an initial fee of close to half a million Euro.

The Italian Job

With Brexit closing the door on Irish players moving to the UK prior to reaching 18, 17-year-old Razi joins the growing list of Irish players who have made the move from Ireland to other EU nations - with Italy proving a very popular destination.

In recent seasons other players who have gone to Italy include Festy Ebesole and James Abankwah (both Udinese), Cathal Heffernan (AC Milan – now at Newcastle United), John Ryan (Sassuolo – now at Reading), Derin Adewale (Lecce) and Senan Mullen who moved from Dundalk to Torino just this week.

In 2022, Liam Kerrigan (now on loan with Novara) moved from UCD to Razi’s new club Como, who currently sit fifth in Serie B just two points off second place and automatic promotion.

Zefi and Ferizaj

Razi becomes the third graduate from the Shamrock Rovers Academy now playing their football in Italy. Kevin Zefi debuted in the League of Ireland First Division back in 2020 playing 11 games for the Shamrock Rovers II side and having moved to Inter Milan in 2021, he joined Roma last month.

Justin Ferizaj played 21 times for Rovers’ first team before transferring to Serie A side Frosinone in August last year but he has yet to make a first team appearance.

Pico praise

Last year Razi made six appearances for Rovers’ first team with his debut in the starting XI coming in the league for the Hoops in Turner’s Cross two days after he turned 17.



The expectation was he would have more of a role in this upcoming campaign until Como came in with an offer this week. Hoops defender Pico Lopes spoke highly of Razi with Shamrock Rovers TV this weekend ahead of Cape Verde’s AFCON quarter final.

“Naj is a fantastic person first and foremost,” said Lopes. “Everyone knows the ability that he has. He has shown that already in glimpses with the first team towards the back end of last year where he played in Cork and I thought he was amazing.

“I don't want to put a ceiling on him. He has tonnes of ability. I think everyone knows he was destined to go abroad and challenge himself at the top level of football. We just didn't know whether it would be sooner rather than later but it turns out to be now and it is a great move for him.”

Price praise

Razi played in the UEFA Youth League qualifiers for Shamrock Rovers in 2022 in a team managed by Aidan Price, the Head of Coaching at the Rovers Academy, who has seen the player grow up at the club.



Speaking about Razi to extratime.com at the time, Price said: “Naj has been at the club since he was five years of age when we were playing in the cages in the Spawell in Templeogue. I had him in the first year of the under-13s National League. He has come the whole way through (the Rovers Academy).” 

Last year he won the FAI under-17 player of the year award and was one of five Rovers players, including Freddie Turley (now on loan at Bray), Ike Orazi (on loan at Stade Reims), Ade Solanke and Cory O'Sullivan, who were all part of the Republic of Ireland under-17 squad that made it to the quarter-finals of the 2023 European Championship in Hungary.

Transition

Razi was part of the transition year programme Shamrock Rovers run in conjunction with Ashfield College out of their Roadstone Academy base in Kingswood which enables players to train regularly with Stephen Bradley’s first team squad. He won a league and cup double with Rovers under-19 team in 2023.

Bradley, similar to how he managed Gavin Bazunu, brought Razi gradually into his match night squad. As a 16-year-old Razi was named on the bench for the first time in a home game against Sligo Rovers last April. Speaking after that match Bradley explained his thinking on introducing the teenager to his first team squad.

“We've wanted to give him a feel of it,” said Bradley. “You can come and watch it but when you are involved in the dressingroom and are at pitch level you can see the tempo of the game and what you are going to face.

"It is really important for a young player to see that as early as possible. Naj is a player we rate really highly here and tonight was about getting him involved.”

Bradley gave him his debut in Oriel Park off the bench in the FAI Cup in July and he got game time in their next game – away to Ferencvaros in a Europa Conference League qualifier.

Talking to extratime.com in Budapest after that game Bradley said: “Naj is a young player at the club who we really like. He is one I've no doubt has a big future in the game. I've no doubt he will be a big player for us at Shamrock Rovers and a big player for the country going forward. He is a kid with tremendous ability.”

Como transfer

With his contract up at the end of the season and turning 18 in October, Razi could have left at the end of the year at which point Rovers would have been due training compensation of €290,000 as reported in the Irish Independent.

As such, the Hoops hierarchy decided to allow Razi to leave with the player signing a three year contract with Como.

Rovers will pick up an initial transfer for of a €450,000 with adds ons (typically for club appearances, contract renewals and competitive senior international starts) that could lead to a doubling of that figure. In addition Rovers will be due a percentage of any sell on transfer fee.

The Hoops earned over €3m from Gavin Bazunu’s move to Manchester City with all those add ons and his subsequent switch to Southampton.

Foundation and friendships

On his own Instagram account, Razi said: “It’s hard to believe that my journey with the club began way back when I was just a 5-year-old. While this marks the beginning of a new adventure, I want to say that Shamrock Rovers will always hold a special place in my heart.

“The foundation you’ve provided and the friendships forged will undoubtedly shape my path moving forward. Thank you, Shamrock Rovers, for being more than just a club; you’ve been a family. I look forward to carrying the spirit of Shamrock Rovers with me as I embark on this exciting new phase of my career.”

Speaking to his new club on comofootball.com he said: “I can’t quite believe I am here. It’s been a brilliant six months from making my first team and the UEFA Conference (League) debut to playing in the European U17 Championships. It’s exciting to be part of a big project like this and the coaching squad is first class. Forza Como!”

About Macdara Ferris

Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile