Ireland’s newest footballing phenomenon, Troy Parrott, could very easily have been walking out at Elland Road this season, wearing the number nine shirt and carrying the weight of Leeds United’s goalscoring hopes on his shoulders. Instead, after a jaw-dropping international break that has captivated the entire footballing world, Leeds are now left in the uncomfortable position of playing catch-up — and possibly paying a premium for a striker they once declined to sign for a fraction of his current value.
This is no longer just a story about interest.
This is a story about timing.
About belief.
About the fine margins that define modern football recruitment.
And about a player who has gone from forgotten prospect to national saviour in one extraordinary week.
From Tottenham’s ‘next big thing’ to the edge of obscurity
Parrott’s journey has never been straightforward. When he burst onto the scene at Tottenham Hotspur as a teenager, the hype machine kicked into overdrive. Spurs supporters were convinced they had unearthed the next generational Irish talent. There were headlines. There were expectations. There were lofty comparisons to the likes of Robbie Keane.
But football does not care for hype.
It cares for timing, maturity, and opportunity.
Parrott was loaned out to Millwall. Then Preston. Then Ipswich. Each spell felt like a reset, another attempt at finding the spark that made him such a talked-about player in the first place.
The reality was harsh:
He had become the kind of young player people spoke about in the past tense.
“Remember when Troy Parrott was meant to be the next big thing?”
That was the tone of the conversation.
Even when he settled briefly during a loan at MK Dons, it wasn’t enough to fully change the narrative. Spurs fans had run out of patience. Some doubted he would truly make it.
And then came the move that changed everything.
AZ Alkmaar’s £3.5m gamble becomes one of Europe’s smartest transfers
AZ Alkmaar saw what others were beginning to miss. They recognised not just a striker, but a player with hunger, resilience, and untapped potential. Signing him for £3.5 million was not just a deal — it was a calculated risk based on raw talent and a belief that Parrott still had levels to reach.
They were right.
Over two seasons in the Netherlands, Parrott has undergone an extraordinary transformation. He hasn’t just improved. He hasn’t just regained his confidence.
He has become one of Europe’s most dangerous and consistent forwards.
33 goals. 7 assists. 61 matches.
Those are elite striker numbers — the kind that draw scouts, analysts, and sporting directors from across the continent.
And this season?
He is playing like a man possessed.
13 goals in his first 14 games — a goalscoring rate that no longer signals potential, but blunt, undeniable reality: Troy Parrott is here.
He is real.
He is ready.
He is fearless.
AZ believed in him. And he has repaid them tenfold.
But it is with Ireland that he carved his name into international folklore.
Ireland on the brink — and one man refuses to let the dream die
Ireland’s World Cup qualification chances were hanging by a thread heading into the November international break. Every scenario placed them as underdogs. Every prediction saw them falling short.
They needed to beat Portugal.
They needed to beat Hungary.
They needed a miracle.
And miracles, as it turns out, wear the number 10 for Ireland.
The Portugal game: the moment a nation woke up
Ireland’s victory over Portugal will be taught to future generations. A 2–0 win against one of the strongest national teams in world football, achieved through grit, discipline, belief — and the ice-cold finishing of Troy Parrott.
When he slotted in his first goal, fans dared to believe.
When he scored his second, the Aviva Stadium erupted with a sound that felt like a decade of frustration releasing at once.
Ireland were alive. More importantly, Troy Parrott was reborn in front of millions.
The Hungary game: chaos, drama, destiny
But the Hungary match was something else entirely.
It was a spectacle rarely seen at international level.
Ireland conceded.
They equalised.
They led.
They were pegged back.
And then, in the dying seconds, with the clock racing toward heartbreak, who stepped up?
Troy Parrott.
He buried the winning goal to complete his hat-trick and secure a 3–2 win — a victory that kept Ireland’s World Cup dream burning.
Five goals in two games.
One player dragging a nation forward.
One player changing the course of a qualification campaign.
And, crucially, one player sending shockwaves across Europe.
Leeds United scouts were watching — and the regret is real
LeedsUnited.News confirmed that Leeds had scouts present for Parrott’s star-making brace against Portugal. This wasn’t casual interest — this was active evaluation.
The tragedy, from Leeds’ perspective, is that this is not new territory.
Back in the summer, Leeds were offered the chance to sign Parrott.
The briefings were positive.
The data was encouraging.
The potential was evident.
But when AZ quoted £25 million, Leeds walked away.
It wasn’t unreasonable. Parrott had not yet exploded to the level he has now. There were still questions. There were still doubts.
But that number — £25m — now looks like a bargain that slipped through their fingers.
Voetbal Nieuws: Leeds have reopened talks with AZ Alkmaar
Dutch outlet Voetbal Nieuws now claims Leeds have re-engaged in discussions with AZ to try and secure the striker in January. Their interest is described as ‘intense’. The club is actively trying to rectify the mistake they made in the summer window.
But the price has changed.
Significantly.
AZ Alkmaar are bracing for an enormous offer. Their current club-record sale of £22m is expected to be demolished in spectacular fashion. They believe Parrott may command a figure well north of the £25m Leeds previously rejected.
Some in the Netherlands even believe AZ may demand something approaching £30–£40 million, depending on competition.
Because now, Leeds aren’t the only club watching.
Not even close.
Every goal Parrott scores increases the pressure.
Every performance adds another £1m.
Every highlight clip widens the audience.
AZ are in the perfect position: a hot striker, a hot market, and multiple buyers.
Is Parrott ready for the Premier League? Leeds must decide quickly
This is the question that will dominate Leeds’ recruitment meetings.
Parrott is performing in the Eredivisie.
He is performing for Ireland.
He is performing under pressure.
He is performing in moments that define careers.
But the Premier League is the ultimate test.
Would he be the player Leeds need to lift them?
Would his form translate?
Is he the ruthless finisher Daniel Farke has been missing?
Nobody can know for sure.
But what is certain is this: Leeds cannot afford to hesitate again.
Not when goals are needed.
Not when the margins are tight.
Not when a player like Troy Parrott is entering the prime of his career with world-class momentum behind him.
Leeds declined to take the risk in summer.
Now the risk has become a necessity — and the price of hesitation has gone up dramatically.
Troy Parrott has become one of football’s most compelling redemption stories, one of its most in-form forwards, and one of the hottest January targets in Europe.
Leeds United had their chance.
This time, they will have to fight to get him.
And they will have to pay.