JJ McKiernan

JJ McKiernan

McKiernan in 2025
Personal information
Full name	John Joshua McKiernan
Date of birth	(2002-01-18) 18 January 2002 (age 23)
Place of birth	Southampton, England
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) [1]
Position(s)	Central midfielder
Team information
Current team	Burton Albion (on loan from Lincoln City)
Number	7
Youth career
0000–2018	Andover Town
2018–2022	Watford
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–2023	Watford	0	(0)
2022	→ Bohemians (loan)	1	(0)
2022–2023	→ Eastleigh (loan)	41	(4)
2023–2024	Morecambe	28	(7)
2024–	Lincoln City	12	(0)
2025	→ Burton Albion (loan)	19	(1)
2025–	→ Burton Albion (loan)	5	(0)
International career‡
2020–2024	Northern Ireland U21	11	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:12, 2 September 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 09:42, 16 October 2024 (UTC)

John Joshua "JJ" McKiernan (born 18 January 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for EFL League One club Burton Albion on loan from EFL League One club Lincoln City. Born in England, he has represented Northern Ireland at youth international level.

Club career

Born in Southampton, McKiernan was part of the Hampshire side which won the English Schools' Football Association under-16 Inter County Trophy in July 2018, scoring the winner in the final at the Bet365 Stadium. ^[2] He joined Watford at U18 level in December 2018 ^[3] having previously played for non-league Andover Town in the FA Youth Cup. He signed his professional contract in July 2021 ^[4] and has been given squad number 43. ^[5]

McKiernan moved to Bohemians on loan in January 2022 ^[6] and made one appearance^{[ citation needed ]} before returning to Watford to attend pre-season training camp in Austria, including an appearance against Panathinaikos. ^[7] McKiernan joined National League team Eastleigh in August 2022 on loan. ^[8] He was released from Watford at the end of the 2022–23 season. ^[9]

On 1 July 2023, McKiernan signed for League Two club Morecambe on a one-year deal. ^{[10] [11]} On 7 October McKiernan made history at Morecambe with the club's first ever away hat-trick against Colchester United in a 3–1 win, ^[12] two of the goals scored after going down to a ten man team. ^[13]

On 1 July 2024, McKiernan joined Lincoln City on a four-year deal. ^[14] He made his debut on 10 August, in a 3–2 win against Burton Albion where he started the game. ^[15] His first goal came in the EFL Trophy against Manchester City U21 on 13 November 2024. ^[16]

On 10 January 2025, McKiernan joined Burton Albion on loan for the remainder of the season. ^{[17] [18]}

On 23 June 2025, McKiernan rejoined Burton Albion on loan for the 2025–26 season. ^[19] He made his second debut on the opening day of the season, starting the game against Mansfield Town which finised 2–1 to Burton. ^[20]

International career

McKiernan is eligible to represent England and Northern Ireland at international level. He chose to represent Northern Ireland at international level, qualifying through his paternal grandparents. ^[21] He was selected at 18 to make his debut with Andy Crosby's U21 squad against Finland, obtaining a yellow card in the 21st minute. ^[22] During the 2023–24 season, McKiernan was called up again for the Northern Ireland U21 2025 Euro Qualifiers. ^[23]

Career statistics

As of 2 September 2025 ^[24]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup [a]		League cup [b]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Watford	2018–19	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2019–20	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2020–21	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2021–22	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Bohemians (loan)	2022	League of Ireland Premier Division	1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
Eastleigh (loan)	2022–23 [25]	National League	41	4	2	0	—		2	1	45	5
Morecambe	2023–24 [26]	League Two	28	7	2	0	1	0	2 [c]	0	33	7
Lincoln City	2024–25 [27]	League One	12	0	2	0	1	0	2 [c]	1	17	1
	2025–26 [28]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		12	0	2	0	1	0	2	1	17	1
Burton Albion (loan)	2024–25 [27]	League One	19	1	—		—		—		19	1
	2025–26 [28]	League One	5	0	0	0	0	0	1 [c]	0	6	0
	Total		24	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	25	1
Career total			106	12	6	0	2	0	7	2	121	14

1. Includes FA Cup
2. Includes EFL Cup
3. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

References

1. https://www.whoscored.com/players/432491/show/john-mckiernan
2. "English Schools' Football Association 2017-18". English Schools' Football Association . Retrieved 13 May 2025.
3. Affleck, Kevin (1 July 2020). "Hart On McKiernan: "His Story Is Brilliant". Watford FC. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
4. "Official: Six Professional Deals In Academy". Watford FC. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
5. "Watford's players have their squad numbers, changes still possible". Watford Observer. 1 August 2022.
6. "Official: McKiernan Moves To Bohemian". Watford FC. 22 January 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
7. "Match Report: Watford 0–0 Panathinaikos". Watford FC. 10 July 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
8. Metcalfe, Neil (3 August 2022). "Watford's JJ McKiernan joins Eastleigh on loan". Watford Observer. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
9. "Academy: Contract Offers & Departures Confirmed". www.watfordfc.com. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
10. "McKiernan becomes latest addition". www.morecambefc.com. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
11. "Morecambe sign former Watford midfielder McKiernan". 31 March 2024. 1 July 2023 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
12. "Sky Bet League Two: Post-match stat pack". www.efl.com. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
13. "JJ McKiernan's fine hat-trick helped ten-man Morecambe claim an impressive win at Colchester". BBC . 7 October 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
14. "Imps sign exciting midfielder McKiernan". Lincoln City FC. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
15. "Burton Albion 2–3 Lincoln City". www.weareimps.com. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
16. "Imps 5–0 Man City U21". Lincoln City FC. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
17. "JJ McKiernan joins Brewers on loan from Lincoln City". Burton Albion FC. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
18. "Burton sign Lincoln midfielder McKiernan on loan". BBC Sport. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
19. "JJ McKiernan signs on loan". Burton Albion FC. 23 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
20. "Burton Albion 2–1 Mansfield Town". BBC. 2 August 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
21. Beacom, Steven (12 October 2020). "I can continue Northern Ireland's long links with Watford, says Under 21 debutant JJ McKiernan". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
22. "Northern Ireland-Finland". UEFA . Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
23. "Tommy Wright's reign as Northern Ireland Under-21 manager got off to a losing start as they were beaten 1-0 by Luxembourg in their opening Euro 2025 qualifier at Mourneview Park". BBC . 7 September 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
24. "JJ McKiernan". Soccerway. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
25. "Games played by JJ McKiernan in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
26. "Games played by JJ McKiernan in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
27. "Games played by JJ McKiernan in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
28. "Games played by JJ McKiernan in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 March 2024.