Jake Doyle-Hayes

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Jake Doyle-Hayes
Doyle-Hayes, Jake.jpg
Doyle-Hayes in July 2019
Personal information
Full name Jake Billy Doyle-Hayes [1]
Date of birth (1998-12-30) 30 December 1998 (age 26) [2]
Place of birth Ballyjamesduff, Ireland
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Exeter City
Number 31
Youth career
2014–2017 Aston Villa
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2017–2020 Aston Villa 0 (0)
2019 → Cambridge United (loan) 6 (0)
2019–2020 → Cheltenham Town (loan) 30 (1)
2020–2021 St Mirren 22 (1)
2021–2025 Hibernian 52 (2)
2025 Sligo Rovers 18 (0)
2025– Exeter City 6 (0)
International career‡
2014–2015 Republic of Ireland U17 4 (0)
2016 Republic of Ireland U18 2 (0)
2016 Republic of Ireland U19 3 (0)
2018–2020 Republic of Ireland U21 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:15, September 7, 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 09:59, 23 August 2017 (UTC)

Jake Billy Doyle-Hayes (born 30 December 1998) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for EFL League One club Exeter City.

Contents

He has represented Ireland as a youth international. Doyle-Hayes is a product of the Aston Villa Academy and spent six years at the club, making appearances in the Football League Cup in 2017 and 2018 before loan spells at Cambridge United and Cheltenham Town, he left Villa in June 2020. After a season with St Mirren, he signed for Hibernian in June 2021. Doyle-Hayes was released by Hibernian in January 2025 following persistent injuries, and he then returned to Irish football with Sligo Rovers.

Club career

Aston Villa

In his early teens, he was spotted by scouts while playing for Cavan-Monaghan, a regional representative side. There was interest from Manchester United and Chelsea but he ultimately chose Aston Villa where former Ireland captain Roy Keane was the assistant manager. [3] Doyle-Hayes made his debut for Aston Villa in the League Cup on 22 August 2017, starting the match in midfield in a 4-1 victory over Wigan Athletic. [4]

On 5 September 2017 Doyle-Hayes agreed a new three-year contract with the club. [5]

On 31 January 2019, Doyle-Hayes joined Cambridge United on a 6-month loan. [6] However, he struggled to cement a place in the first team due to injury and international call-ups and only made 6 appearances. [7]

On 1 August 2019, Doyle-Hayes joined EFL League Two side Cheltenham Town on a season-long loan. [8] He impressed Cheltenham fans immediately, and was voted player of the month for August. [9] Doyle-Hayes scored his first ever goal at senior level on 17 September 2019, in a 3-2 victory over Bradford City. [10]

On 25 June 2020, Doyle-Hayes was released by Aston Villa. [11]

St Mirren

On 3 November 2020, Doyle-Hayes signed a short-term contract with Scottish Premiership side St Mirren, due to last until the end of the 2020–21 season. [12] Doyle-Hayes explained that while he had had "a lot of interest" since leaving Aston Villa, the opportunity to work with manager Jim Goodwin excited him the most. [13]

Doyle-Hayes made his debut on 6 November 2020, in a 0-0 draw in the Scottish Premiership against Dundee United. [14] Doyle-Hayes scored his first goal in the Scottish Premiership on 22 November 2020, in a 1–0 victory at Livingston. [15] He made 30 appearances in total for St Mirren, before choosing to leave the club at the end of his contract. [16]

Hibernian

Doyle-Hayes signed a two-year contract with Hibernian in June 2021. [16] He played regularly for the team during his first season with the club, and he signed an extended contract in November 2021. [17] On 19 February 2022, Doyle-Hayes scored both goals in a 2–0 win against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership. [18] Hibs accepted an offer from Forest Green Rovers for Doyle-Hayes in December 2022, [19] but he rejected that proposal. [20] His appearances over the next two seasons were limited by persistent injuries, and he was released from his contract in January 2025. [21]

In May 2025, Doyle-Hayes began court proceedings against Hibernian due to an ankle injury caused by then manager Lee Johnson during a training session. [22]

Sligo Rovers

On 13 February 2025, Doyle-Hayes signed for Sligo Rovers for the upcoming 2025 League of Ireland Premier Division season. [23] [24]

Exeter City

On 1 August 2025, Doyle-Hayes joined EFL League One side Exeter City for an undisclosed fee on a two-year deal. [25]

Doyle-Hayes was given the number 31 shirt which is reserved for the clubs "1931 Fund Player" which is a player part funded by the supporters.

In May 2025, Doyle-Hayes began legal action against Hibernian, after a tackle from his then manager Lee Johnson during a training match left Doyle-Hayes requiring surgery, which he claimed had "greatly restricted" his subsequent career. [26]

Career statistics

As of 6 September 2025 [27]
ClubSeasonLeagueNational Cup [a] League Cup [b] OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aston Villa 2017–18 Championship 000020—20
2018–19 000010—10
Total0000300030
Cambridge United (loan) 2018–19 EFL League Two 600000—60
Cheltenham Town (loan) 2019–20 EFL League Two30130102 [c] 0361
St Mirren 2020–21 Scottish Premiership 2214040—301
Hibernian 2021–22 Scottish Premiership34230403 [d] 0442
2022–23 1700020—190
2023–24 1000004 [d] 050
2024–25 100000—10
Total532306070692
Sligo Rovers 2025 LOI Premier Division 18010——190
Exeter City 2025–26 EFL League One 6000000060
Career total1354110140901694

Honours

Aston Villa U23s

References

  1. ↑ "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Aston Villa" (PDF). English Football League. p. 2. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "Jake Doyle-Hayes". 11v11. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  3. ↑ Enright, Seamus. "World at His Feet". The Anglo-Celt. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  4. ↑ "Aston Villa 4-1 Wigan Athletic". BBC Sport . BBC. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "Doyle-Hayes signs new deal". www.avfc.co.uk. Aston Villa FC. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  6. ↑ O'Hehir, Paul (31 January 2019). "Ireland youth international Jake Doyle-Hayes joins Cambridge United on loan from Aston Villa". Irish Mirror.
  7. ↑ Georgeson, Andrew (13 April 2019). "Consistency is key for Aston Villa loanee Jake Doyle-Hayes". Cambridgeshire Live.
  8. ↑ Preece, Ashley (1 August 2019). "Aston Villa let midfielder leave on season-long loan deal". Birmingham Mail.
  9. ↑ Saunders, Luke (10 September 2019). "Jake Doyle-Hayes chosen as Autovillage Player of the Month". Cheltenham Town Official Website.
  10. ↑ "Cheltenham 3-2 Bradford City". BBC Sport. 17 September 2019.
  11. ↑ "Premier clubs publish 2019/20 released listLeague s". Premier League. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  12. ↑ "St Mirren sign Irish midfielder Doyle-Hayes after Villa exit". BBC Sport . 3 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  13. ↑ Gunn, Kyle (3 November 2020). "Jake Doyle-Hayes joins St Mirren as Jim Goodwin strengthens squad for relegation battle". Daily Record. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  14. ↑ Southwick, Andrew (6 November 2020). "St Mirren 0-0 Dundee United". BBC Sport . Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  15. ↑ "Livingston 0-1 St Mirren: Jake Doyle-Hayes seals visitors' first win since August". Sky Sports . 22 November 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  16. 1 2 "Jake Doyle-Hayes: Hibs sign former St Mirren midfielder amid Dundee Utd interest". BBC Sport. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  17. ↑ "New Deal For Jake Doyle-Hayes!". Hibernian FC. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  18. ↑ Herrall, Jack (19 February 2022). "Hibernian 2–0 Ross County". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  19. ↑ "Forest Green Rovers bids for Hibs' Jake Doyle-Hayes and St Mirren's Ethan Erhahon accepted". BBC Sport. 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  20. ↑ McPartlin, Patrick (14 January 2023). "What Hibs boss Lee Johnson said about Jake Doyle-Hayes as he confirmed Forest Green decision". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  21. ↑ "Jake Doyle-Hayes departs Hibs". Hibernian FC. 2 January 2025. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  22. ↑ Delaney, James (30 May 2025). "Ex-player sues Hibs over injuries from tackle by manager". BBC News. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  23. ↑ "Jake Doyle-Hayes signs for Sligo Rovers – Sligo Rovers". 13 February 2025.
  24. ↑ "Ex-Hibs midfielder Doyle-Hayes makes Sligo Rovers move". 13 February 2025 – via www.rte.ie.
  25. ↑ "Jake Doyle-Hayes: Exeter City sign midfielder from Sligo Rovers". BBC Sport. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  26. ↑ Delaney, James (30 May 2025). "Ex-player sues Hibs over injuries from tackle by manager". BBC News . Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  27. ↑ "Summary - Jake Doyle-Hayes - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos - Soccerway".
  28. ↑ "Match report: Aston Villa U23s win Premier League Cup!". Aston Villa Football Club. 5 May 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
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