Jimmy Dunne (footballer, born 1997)

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Jimmy Dunne
Queens Park Rangers v Cardiff City 05042025 (3) (Jimmy Dunne).jpg
Dunne with Queens Park Rangers in 2025
Personal information
Full name James Gerard Dunne [1]
Date of birth (1997-10-19) 19 October 1997 (age 27) [2]
Place of birth Dundalk, Ireland
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) [3]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Queens Park Rangers
Number 3
Youth career
St. Kevin's Boys
2007–2016 Manchester United
2016–2017 Burnley
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2017–2021 Burnley 3 (1)
2017–2018 → Barrow (loan) 21 (2)
2018 → Accrington Stanley (loan) 20 (0)
2018–2019 → Heart of Midlothian (loan) 12 (2)
2019 → Sunderland (loan) 12 (1)
2019–2020 → Fleetwood Town (loan) 9 (1)
2021– Queens Park Rangers 157 (11)
International career‡
2018 Republic of Ireland U21 2 (0)
2025– Republic of Ireland 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:01, 27 September 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:16, 23 March 2025 (UTC)

James Gerard Dunne (born 19 October 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL Championship club Queens Park Rangers and the Republic of Ireland national team.

Contents

Dunne played locally in Ireland before joining the youth set-up at Manchester United in 2007. After transferring to Burnley in 2016, he spent time on loan at Barrow (where he made his senior debut in August 2017) and Accrington Stanley (where he made his Football League debut in January 2018).

Club career

Born in Dundalk, [4] [5] [6] [7] Dunne began his career with St Kevin's Boys before joining the Manchester United Academy in Belfast at the age of 10. [4] [8]

Burnley

In July 2016, Dunne signed a two-year contract (with a further year's option in the club's favour) with Burnley. [4] In July 2017, he moved to National League side Barrow on a six-month loan. [5] He made his senior debut on 5 August 2017. [3]

In early January 2018, the club confirmed Dunne's loan would not be extended and he would return to parent club Burnley. [9] Later that month he joined EFL League Two club Accrington Stanley on loan for the remainder of the season. [10] He made his Football League debut on 6 January 2018. [11]

On 21 August 2018, Dunne joined Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian (Hearts) on a six-month loan deal. [12] His loan ended in January 2019. [13] A few days later he moved on loan to Sunderland. [14] In September 2019 he moved on loan to Fleetwood Town. [15]

On 17 September 2020, Dunne made his senior debut for Burnley in the second round of the EFL Cup, in a 1–1 draw against Sheffield United which Burnley eventually won on penalties. [16] He scored on his Premier League debut on 20 September 2020, in a 4–2 defeat away at Leicester City. [17]

Queens Park Rangers

On 13 July 2021, Dunne joined Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee, agreeing a three-year deal. [18]

Ahead of the 2023–24 season, he dislocated his shoulder in a pre-season friendly in August. [19] He was close to a return at the end of the month, [20] but was not fit enough until the end of September. [21] Following a poor start to the season, the club's fortunes improved under new manager Martí Cifuentes, who converted Dunne into a right-back. [22] On 29 March 2024, Dunne scored a 92nd minute winner from twenty-five yards to secure Rangers a 2–1 victory over fellow relegation-threatened side Birmingham City, [23] a strike later voted as the club's Goal of the Season. [24] At the end of season awards, he was also voted Junior Hoops' Player of the Year and PFA Men's Community Champion of the Year. [24]

In the 2024–25 season, he continued to impress in the right-back position, being voted as the club's Player of the Season, also winning the Players' Player of the Year and retaining the Junior Hoops' Player of the Year. [25]

In June 2025 Dunne signed a new contract with the club, [26] and in July 2025 was named club captain ahead of the 2025–26 season. [27]

International career

In March 2018, Dunne received a call-up to the Republic of Ireland under-21 side for the first time, making his debut on 22 March 2018 in a 3–1 friendly win over Iceland, replacing Corey Whelan as a substitute late in the game. [28]

On 6 November 2018, Dunne was named in the provisional senior Republic of Ireland squad for the first time for the friendly match against Northern Ireland on 15 November and the UEFA Nations League match against Denmark on 19 November 2018. [29] He was omitted from the final squad, and was linked with a call-up to the Northern Ireland team, for whom he qualifies through the grandparent rule. [30]

He was called-up again by the Republic of Ireland in March 2019 but was not capped. [31] On 23 March 2025, he made his long-awaited senior debut in a 2–1 win against Bulgaria in the 2nd leg of the UEFA Nations League relegation playoff. [32]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 27 September 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational Cup [a] League Cup [b] OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Burnley 2017–18 [11] Premier League 000000—00
2018–19 [33] Premier League0000000000
2019–20 [34] Premier League000000—00
2020–21 [35] Premier League312020—71
Total3120200071
Barrow (loan) 2017–18 [3] National League 21210—1 [c] 0232
Accrington Stanley (loan) 2017–18 [11] League Two 200———200
Heart of Midlothian (loan) 2018–19 [33] Scottish Premiership 122—20—142
Sunderland (loan) 2018–19 [33] League One 121——2 [d] 0141
Fleetwood Town (loan) 2019–20 [34] League One91——2 [d] 0111
Queens Park Rangers 2021–22 [36] Championship 3832030—433
2022–23 [37] Championship4021010—422
2023–24 [38] Championship2911000—301
2024–25 [39] Championship4550030—485
2025–26 [40] Championship500000—50
Total1571140700016811
Career total23418701205025818
  1. ↑ Includes FA Cup
  2. ↑ Includes EFL Cup and Scottish League Cup
  3. ↑ Appearance in FA Trophy
  4. 1 2 Appearance in EFL Trophy

International

As of match played 23 March 2025
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Republic of Ireland 202510
Total10

Honours

Sunderland

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Premier League clubs publish retained lists". Premier League. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  2. ↑ "Jimmy Dunne". 11v11. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 Jimmy Dunne at Soccerway . Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 "Jimmy Dunne Joins The Clarets". Burnley F.C. 13 July 2016. Archived from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Jimmy Dunne: Barrow sign Burnley defender on loan". BBC Sport. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  6. ↑ "Northern Ireland coach makes case for Jimmy Dunne to switch allegiances". The 42. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  7. ↑ Pattullo, Alan (23 November 2018). "Hearts coach hopes to persuade Jimmy Dunne to switch to Northern Ireland". The Scotsman. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  8. ↑ "Talented Dundalk teenager nets dream Manchester United move". Irish Independent. 12 August 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  9. ↑ Paul Turner (3 January 2018). "Loan star Dunne 'not returning' to Barrow AFC". North West Evening Mail. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  10. ↑ "Jimmy Dunne: Accrington Stanley sign defender on loan from Burnley". BBC Sport. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  11. 1 2 3 "Games played by Jimmy Dunne in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "Hearts sign Republic of Ireland international Jimmy Dunne". STV. 21 August 2018. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  13. ↑ "Hearts: David Vanecek arrives from Teplice as Jimmy Dunne returns to Burnley". BBC Sport. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  14. ↑ "Jimmy Dunne: Sunderland sign Burnley defender on loan". BBC Sport. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  15. ↑ "Jimmy Dunne: Fleetwood Town sign Burnley centre-back on loan". BBC Sport. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  16. ↑ "Long, Dunne & Pieters impress – Burnley player ratings from penalty shootout win". Lancs Live. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  17. ↑ "Watch Premier League: Leicester City 4-2 Burnley - Foxes fight back to win". BBC Sport. 19 September 2020.
  18. ↑ "QPR sign Burnley defender Dunne". BBC Sport. 13 July 2021.
  19. ↑ Phelps, Luke (3 August 2023). "Ainsworth discusses Jimmy Dunne's injury as QPR gear up for Watford opener".
  20. ↑ Sport, West London (31 August 2023). "Dunne closing in on QPR return".
  21. ↑ McIntyre, David (18 September 2023). "Dunne gets green light to return for QPR".
  22. ↑ Evans, Dan (5 March 2024). "QPR boss Cifuentes explains reasons behind Jimmy Dunne's new role at right-back". London News Online. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  23. ↑ "Queens Park Rangers 2–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  24. 1 2 3 "Cook named QPR fans' player of season". www.qpr.co.uk. 26 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  25. 1 2 "Jimmy Dunne named QPR fans' player of season". www.qpr.co.uk. 25 April 2025. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  26. ↑ "Jimmy Dunne signs new deal". www.qpr.co.uk. 18 June 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  27. ↑ "Jimmy Dunne named QPR captain". www.qpr.co.uk. 13 July 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  28. ↑ Tony Scholes (25 March 2018). "Irish eyes are smiling for defenders Dunne and Clarke". UpTheClarets. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  29. ↑ "Nigerian-eligible Southampton teenager among four new call-ups in Ireland squad". The 42. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  30. ↑ O'Hehir, Paul (13 November 2018). "Northern Ireland on red alert after Jimmy Dunne dropped by Republic of Ireland". irishmirror.
  31. ↑ "Euro 2020 qualifiers: Republic of Ireland boss McCarthy hands three players first call-ups". BBC Sport. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  32. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c39vm48e90vo.amp
  33. 1 2 3 "Games played by Jimmy Dunne in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  34. 1 2 "Games played by Jimmy Dunne in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  35. ↑ "Games played by Jimmy Dunne in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  36. ↑ "Games played by Jimmy Dunne in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  37. ↑ "Games played by Jimmy Dunne in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  38. ↑ "Games played by Jimmy Dunne in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  39. ↑ "Games played by Jimmy Dunne in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  40. ↑ "Games played by Jimmy Dunne in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  41. ↑ Williams, Adam (31 March 2019). "Portsmouth 2–2 Sunderland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
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