| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ciaran Paul McKenna [1] | ||
| Date of birth | 25 March 1998 | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre Back, Right Back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Alqueries CF | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2015 | Celtic | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2018 | Duke Blue Devils | 42 | (4) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017 | Jacksonville Armada U-23 | ? | (?) |
| 2019 | Falkirk | 17 | (2) |
| 2019–2020 | Hamilton Academical | 4 | (0) |
| 2020–2022 | Partick Thistle | 34 | (1) |
| 2022–2023 | Queen of the South | 22 | (0) |
| 2023– | Alqueries CF | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:03, 3 August 2025 (UTC) | |||
Ciaran Paul McKenna (born 25 March 1998) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a centre back or right back for Spanish club Alqueries CF. McKenna has previously played for Falkirk, Hamilton Academical, Partick Thistle and Queen of the South.
McKenna was born in Glasgow and was educated at Cardinal Newman High School, Bellshill, and St Ninian's High School, Kirkintilloch. McKenna played in the Celtic Academy, before turning down the offer of a three-year professional contract with the club, to accept the offer of a scholarship with Duke University in North Carolina. [2] [3]
McKenna had 42 appearances with the Duke Blue Devils over three seasons and scored two goals. [4] McKenna also spent a spell during 2017 playing for Jacksonville Armada U-23 in the National Premier Soccer League. [5]
In January 2019, McKenna joined Falkirk. [6] McKenna had 17 league appearances and scored two goals in his debut season as a professional with the Bairns. [7]
In June 2019, McKenna joined Hamilton Academical and had four league appearances and also four League Cup matches for the Accies. [7]
In August 2020, McKenna joined Partick Thistle on a two-year contract. McKenna had 34 league appearances and scored one goal, as well as 14 cup matches for the Harry Wraggs. [8]
On 24 June 2022, McKenna joined Queen of the South on a one-year contract. [9]
McKenna was released by the Doonhamers at the end of the 2022-23 season. [10]
In 2023, McKenna signed for Spanish club Alqueries CF. [11]
In early 2016, McKenna was accused of rape by a fellow student at Duke University. The establishment then issued a six-semester suspension following a University hearing. Upon appeal by McKenna, an appeals board concluded that the original panel had not applied the correct “reasonable person” standard pursuant to Duke policy. [12] A law suit was filed on Mckenna’s behalf alleging due process violations, and in February 2017, Durham Judge Orlando Hudson issued a permanent injunction preventing Duke from suspending McKenna. In July 2018, McKenna and Duke settled the case outside of court, and in December 2018 McKenna graduated. [13] Although the terms of the settlement are unknown, it is reported that McKenna made a six-figure donation to the Duke Wrongful Convictions Clinic shortly afterwards. [14]
In June 2022, McKenna, married Jamaica Women's national team player Kayla McCoy in Oak Park, Illinois, USA. [15] [16] The pair met in college.
| Club | Season | League | Scottish Cup | Scottish League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Falkirk | 2018–19 [17] | Scottish Championship | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 |
| Hamilton Academical | 2019-20 [18] | Scottish Premiership | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 2020–21 [19] | Scottish Premiership | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Partick Thistle | 2020-21 | Scottish League One | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | Scottish Championship | 23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 32 | 1 | |
| Total | 34 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 48 | 1 | ||
| Queen of the South | 2022-23 | Scottish League One | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 32 | 1 |
| Career total | 77 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 105 | 4 | ||