Aaron Donnelly

Aaron Donnelly

Donnelly training with Dundee in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Aaron Martin Donnelly [1]
Date of birth	(2003-06-08) 8 June 2003 (age 21) [2]
Place of birth	Magherafelt, Northern Ireland [3]
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) [4]
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Colchester United (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
Number	25
Youth career
	Magherafelt Sky Blues
2015–2019	Dungannon Swifts
2019–2022	Nottingham Forest
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–	Nottingham Forest	0	(0)
2023	→ Port Vale (loan)	20	(1)
2023–2024	→ Dundee (loan)	21	(0)
2024–	→ Colchester United (loan)	12	(0)
International career‡
2019	Northern Ireland U17	2	(0)
2021–	Northern Ireland U21	16	(0)
2024–	Northern Ireland	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:00, 14 December 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 October 2024

Aaron Martin Donnelly (born 8 June 2003) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays for EFL League Two club Colchester United, on loan from Premier League club Nottingham Forest. A Northern Ireland international, he turned professional at Nottingham Forest in August 2021. He spent the second half of the 2022–23 season on loan at Port Vale and was loaned out to Dundee for the 2023–24 season. He joined Colchester United on a season-long loan in August 2024.

Early and personal life

Aaron Martin Donnelly was born on 8 June 2003 in Magherafelt to Noel and Martina. ^{[2] [5]} He has family from Newcastle upon Tyne and is related to Dec Donnelly. ^[5] He played gaelic football as a forward growing up. ^[5]

Club career

Nottingham Forest

In June 2019, Donnelly signed a deal with English side Nottingham Forest from Dungannon Swifts, ^[6] who he had played for since he was twelve. ^{[7] [8]} He had been scouted by Gary Brazil and Bob Shaw whilst playing in the Victory Shield. ^[9] In August 2021, Donnelly signed his first professional contract with Forest. ^{[10] [11]} That deal was extended at the end of the 2021–22 season when Forest gained promotion to the Premier League. ^[12] He made his professional debut for Forest on 23 August 2022, when manager Steve Cooper started him in a 3–0 EFL Cup win over Grimsby Town. ^[13] In December 2022, Donnelly had extended his contract with Forest. ^[14]

Port Vale (loan)

On 23 January 2023, Donnelly joined EFL League One side Port Vale on loan for the remainder of the 2022–23 season. ^{[15] [16]} Manager Darrell Clarke said that Donnelly would provide competition on the left-side of defence following the departure of Connor Hall earlier in the month and noted that assistant manager Andy Crosby had coached the player with the Northern Ireland under-21s. ^[17] Donnelly made his debut in the English Football League on 28 January, playing on the left-side of a back three alongside Nathan Smith and Lewis Cass as the Vale kept a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw at Cheltenham Town. ^[18] On 4 March, he scored his first career goal to secure a 1–0 win over Milton Keynes Dons at Vale Park, and dedicated the goal to a deceased supporter whose memory was being honoured with a minute's applause as Donnelly's volley hit the back of the net. ^[19]

Dundee (loan)

On 24 July 2023, Donnelly joined Scottish Premiership club Dundee on a season-long loan. ^[20] Donnelly would suffer an injury in training shortly after, with Dundee manager Tony Docherty saying Donnelly "will be out for a while", and returned to Nottingham for treatment. ^[21] He returned to Dundee ahead of schedule in September. ^[22] He made his debut for the Dee on 28 October, starting in a 2–0 league victory away at Livingston. ^[23] He missed ten weeks due to injury. ^[24] He was diagnosed with Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome and underwent surgery in January. ^[25] He said he had a good 2023–24 season despite the initial injury and health scares, making 21 total appearances, helping Dundee achieve a top six finish and earning call-ups to the Northern Ireland senior squad. ^[26]

Colchester United (loan)

On 28 August 2024, Donnelly joined League Two club Colchester United on loan for the 2024–25 season. ^[27] He made his debut on the same day in the EFL Cup against Premier League club Brentford. ^[28]

International career

Donnelly has competed with the Northern Ireland national team at under-17 and under-21 level. ^{[29] [30]} He received his first call-up to the senior side in June 2023. ^[31] He was again called up in March 2024. ^[32]

Donnelly made his debut on 11 June 2024 in a friendly against Andorra at Estadio Nueva Condomina in Murcia, Spain. He substituted Ciaron Brown in the 69th minute of a 2–0 victory for Northern Ireland. ^[33]

Style of play

Donnelly is a left-sided defender who is aggressive in both defence and attack, providing crosses going forward, along with overlaps and underlaps. ^[34]

Career statistics

Club

As of matched played 14 December 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Nottingham Forest	2022–23 [35]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
	2023–24 [36]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2024–25 [37]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
Port Vale (loan)	2022–23 [35]	EFL League One	20	1	—		—		—		20	1
Dundee (loan)	2023–24 [36]	Scottish Premiership	21	0	0	0	0	0	—		21	0
Colchester United (loan)	2024–25 [37]	EFL League Two	12	0	1	0	1	0	3 [a]	0	17	0
Career total			53	1	1	0	2	0	3	0	59	1

1. Appearances in EFL Trophy

International

Northern Ireland national team [38]
Year	Apps	Goals
2024	1	0
Total	1	0

References

1. Aaron Donnelly at Soccerway. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
2. Aaron Donnelly at Soccerbase
3. Fullerton, Darren (6 September 2022). "Nottingham Forest first-team experience gives NI teen hunger for more". BelfastLive. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
4. "Aaron Donnelly player stats for team Nottingham Forest U21". tipsscore.com. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
5. Baggaley, Michael (1 April 2023). "Port Vale defender Aaron Donnelly confirms unlikely Ant & Dec connection". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
6. Beacom, Steven (24 June 2019). "Four Dungannon Swifts teenagers agree moves to top English teams". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
7. Fullerton, Darren (10 August 2021). "Northern Ireland U21 defender signs pro deal at Nottingham Forest". BelfastLive.
8. McMullan, Michael (11 August 2021). "Magherafelt teenager signs first professional soccer contract". Derry Post. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
9. The Official Matchday Programme of Port Vale FC Season 2022/23 Season - Issue 20 (PDF). 1 April 2023. p. 12. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
10. "Donnelly pens professional contract". Nottingham Forest Football Club. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
11. Abbott, Matt (11 August 2021). "Forest hand defender Aaron Donnelly first professional contract". NottinghamshireLive.
12. Clapson, Sarah (10 June 2022). "Nottingham Forest release three players as retained list announced". NottinghamshireLive.
13. "Forest progress with routine victory at Grimsby". BBC Sport. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
14. "Donnelly pens new contract". Nottingham Forest Football Club. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
15. "Donnelly joins Port Vale on loan". Nottingham Forest Football Club. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
16. "Aaron Donnelly joins the Valiants". Port Vale F.C. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
17. "Port Vale sign Forest defender Donnelly on loan". BBC Sport. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
18. "Aaron Donnelly | "Keeping a clean sheet important for me"". Port Vale F.C. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
19. "Aaron Donnelly | "I was absolutely buzzing when the ball hit the back of the net"". Port Vale F.C. 4 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
20. petermceleny (24 July 2023). "Donnelly signs on". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
21. Clapson, Sarah (10 August 2023). "Nottingham Forest's Aaron Donnelly suffers injury blow as loan halted". NottinghamshireLive. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
22. Cran, George (12 September 2023). "Dundee loanee Aaron Donnelly ready to return ahead of schedule as date set for Antonio Portales comeback". The Courier. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
23. "Late Shaughnessy double earns Dundee win at Livi". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
24. "Dundee's Donnelly 'thoroughly enjoying' Dens loan spell". BBC Sport. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
25. Robertson, Neil (22 March 2024). "Aaron Donnelly hailed for shock heart operation response as Dundee boss Tony Docherty highlights Nottingham Forest star's traits". The Courier. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
26. Smith, Peter (28 May 2024). "Donnelly opens up on heart scare that saw defibrillators placed around pitch". Nottinghamshire Live. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
27. "TRANSFER WINDOW: Colchester complete loan signing of Aaron Donnelly". Gazette. 28 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
28. "Colchester United 0-1 Brentford: Bees progress to EFL Cup third round". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
29. "Six Named In Under-21 Squad". NI Football League. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
30. "International Jet Set". Nottingham Forest Football Club. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
31. "Larne striker Bonis among three new NI call-ups". BBC Sport. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
32. Cran, George (28 March 2024). "Dundee loanee Aaron Donnelly backed to kick on after Northern Ireland call-up". The Courier. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
33. "Northern Ireland v Andorra game report". ESPN. 11 June 2024.
34. "Aaron Donnelly | "The system here really suits me"". Port Vale F.C. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
35. "Games played by Aaron Donnelly in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
36. "Games played by Aaron Donnelly in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
37. "Games played by Aaron Donnelly in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
38. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Aaron Donnelly (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 28 August 2024.