Dan Neil (footballer)

Dan Neil

Personal information
Full name	Daniel Neil [1]
Date of birth	(2001-12-13) 13 December 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth	South Shields, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) [2]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Sunderland
Number	4
Youth career
	Hebburn Town
2010–2018	Sunderland
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–	Sunderland	173	(11)
International career
2021–2022	England U20	3	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:14, 21 September 2025 (UTC)

Daniel Neil (born 13 December 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Sunderland.

Club career

Born in South Shields, ^[2] Neil grew up as a Sunderland fan, ^[3] and began his career with the club after a stint with Hebburn Town Juniors. ^{[4] [5]}

He made his senior debut on 13 November 2018, in the EFL Trophy, appearing as a late substitute in injury time. ^{[6] [7]} Neil scored his first professional goal when he scored against Accrington Stanley on 11 September 2021 in a 2–1 win. ^[8]

In December 2021 and January 2022 he was linked with possible transfers to Premier League clubs Burnley and Aston Villa, however he remained with Sunderland. ^{[9] [10]} This speculation came on the back of Neil being awarded the EFL Young Player of the Month award for December 2021. ^[11]

International career

On 11 November 2021, Neil made his England U20 debut during a 2–0 defeat to Portugal in the 2021–22 Under 20 Elite League. ^[12]

Career statistics

As of match played 21 September 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sunderland	2018–19 [6] [7] [13]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 [a]	0	1	0
	2019–20 [14]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2020–21 [15]	League One	2	0	0	0	0	0	6 [a]	0	8	0
	2021–22 [16]	League One	39	3	1	0	5	0	1 [a]	1	46	4
	2022–23 [17]	Championship	45	2	3	0	0	0	2 [b]	0	50	2
	2023–24 [18]	Championship	42	4	1	0	1	0	0	0	44	4
	2024–25 [19]	Championship	44	2	1	0	0	0	3 [b]	0	48	2
	2025–26 [20]	Premier League	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0
Career total			173	11	6	0	7	0	13	1	199	12

1. Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy
2. Appearances in the EFL Championship play-offs

Honours

Sunderland

• EFL Trophy: 2020–21 ^[21]
• EFL Championship play-offs: 2025 ^[22]

Individual

• EFL Young Player of the Month: December 2021 ^[11]

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Sunderland" (PDF). English Football League. 11 September 2020. p. 68. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
2. Dan Neil at Soccerway. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
3. "Sunderland's Dan Neil: 'The gaffer said I needed to improve'". The Northern Echo.
4. "Profile". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
5. "Inside the Hebburn production line that has produced Manchester United starlet Shola Shoretire plus Sunderland, Leeds and Norwich trio Bali Mumba, Dan Neil and Sam Greenwood". www.shieldsgazette.com.
6. "Morecambe vs. Sunderland – 13 November 2018 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
7. James Hunter (13 November 2018). "Morecambe 0–1 Sunderland report: Josh Maja's late strike send Black Cats through". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
8. "Sunderland 2–1 Accrington Stanley". BBC. 11 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
9. King, Kieran (26 December 2021). "Burnley to test Sunderland's resolve with Dan Neil bid". ChronicleLive.
10. Hewitt, Matty (16 January 2022). "Steven Gerrard plotting Aston Villa approach for Dan Neil, according to reports". ChronicleLive.
11. "Dan Neil claims EFL Young Player of the Month award for December". www.efl.com. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
12. Veevers, Nicholas (11 November 2021). "Portugal 2–0 England MU20s". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
13. "Games played by Dan Neil in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
14. "Games played by Dan Neil in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
15. "Games played by Dan Neil in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
16. "Games played by Dan Neil in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
17. "Games played by Dan Neil in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
18. "Games played by Dan Neil in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
19. "Games played by Dan Neil in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
20. "Games played by Dan Neil in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
21. Pilnick, Brent (14 March 2021). "Sunderland 1–0 Tranmere Rovers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
22. "Sheffield United 1–2 Sunderland: Line-ups". BBC Sport. 24 May 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.