Luke Turner (footballer)

Luke Turner

Turner with Cliftonville in 2021
Personal information
Full name	Luke Turner
Date of birth	(2002-05-20) 20 May 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth	Dublin, Ireland
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	St Patrick's Athletic
Number	24
Youth career
	Shamrock Rovers
2018–2019	Aberdeen
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2022	Aberdeen	0	(0)
2020–2021	→ Turriff United (loan)	1	(0)
2021	→ Wexford (loan)	10	(1)
2021–2022	→ Cliftonville (loan)	35	(1)
2022–2024	Cliftonville	62	(3)
2024–	St Patrick's Athletic	30	(3)
International career‡
2018	Republic of Ireland U16	2	(0)
2018–2019	Republic of Ireland U17	7	(0)
2019	Republic of Ireland U18	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:12, 8 March 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 February 2023

Luke Turner (born 20 May 2002) is an Irish footballer who plays as a centre-back for League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick's Athletic.

Club career

Youth career

As a youth player, played in the youth academy of Shamrock Rovers. ^[1]

Aberdeen

Turner began his career at Aberdeen. ^{[2] [3] [4]} After that, he had loan spells at Turriff United, Wexford and Cliftonville. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

Cliftonville

On 25 June 2022, Cliftonville announced the permanent signing of Turner from Aberdeen following his impressive performances throughout the 2021–22 season. ^{[8] [9]} He helped them win the 2021–22 Northern Ireland Football League Cup. ^[10] He also won that season's Young Player of the Year award. ^[11]

St Patrick's Athletic

On 30 January 2024, it was announced that Turner had signed for his boyhood club St Patrick's Athletic on a multi-year contract for an undisclosed fee that also saw David Odumosu move the other way to Cliftonville on a permanent contract. ^{[12] [13]} On 1 April 2024, he scored his first goals for the club in a 3–0 win over Sligo Rovers, first scoring a half volley from Conor Keeley's knockdown header from a corner to open the scoring, then doubling his side's lead with a diving header from another corner. ^[14] On 10 May 2024, he scored his side's first equaliser of the game in a 2–2 draw away to Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium. ^[15] On 17 September 2024, Turner scored his fourth goal of the season, opening the scoring with a header from a corner in an eventual 3–1 win over Maynooth University Town in the Semi Final of the Leinster Senior Cup. ^[16] On 8 October 2024, Turner was part of the Pats side that defeated St Mochta's 2–1 in the final of the 2023–24 Leinster Senior Cup. ^[17]

Career statistics

As of match played 7 March 2025 ^[18]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Aberdeen	2019–20	Scottish Premiership	0	0	0	0	0	0	0 [a]	0	1 [b]	0	1	0
	2020–21		0	0	0	0	0	0	0 [a]	0	—		0	0
	2021–22		0	0	0	0	0	0	0 [a]	0	1 [b]	0	1	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	0
Turriff United (loan)	2020–21	Highland Football League	1	0	—		—		—		—		1	0
Wexford (loan)	2021	LOI First Division	10	1	—		—		—		—		10	1
Cliftonville (loan)	2021–22	NIFL Premiership	35	1	3	1	5	0	—		0	0	43	2
Cliftonville	2022–23	NIFL Premiership	35	1	3	0	3	0	2 [c]	0	3 [d]	0	45	1
	2023–24		25	2	1	0	1	0	—		1 [b]	0	28	2
	Total		60	3	4	0	4	0	2	0	4	0	67	3
St Patrick's Athletic	2024	LOI Premier Division	28	3	1	0	—		0 [e]	0	4 [f]	1	33	4
	2025		2	0	0	0	—		0 [e]	0	2 [g]	0	4	0
	Total		30	3	1	0	—		0	0	6	1	37	4
Career total			136	8	8	1	9	0	2	0	12	1	167	10

1. Appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa League
2. Appearance(s) in the Scottish Challenge Cup
3. Appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa Conference League
4. 2 appearances in the 2023 NIFL Premiership UEFA Europa Conference League Play-offs & 1 appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup
5. Appearance(s) in the UEFA Conference League
6. 1 appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup & 3 appearances, 1 goal in the Leinster Senior Cup
7. Appearances in the Leinster Senior Cup

Honours

Cliftonville

• Irish League Cup: 2021–22 ^[19]

St Patrick's Athletic

• Leinster Senior Cup (1): 2023–24

References

1. "Cliftonville's Luke Turner reveals he considered quitting football". belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
2. "Boss Jim Goodwin explains why Nottingham Forest target Luke Turner is leaving Aberdeen". pressandjournal.co.uk (Archived).
3. "Luke Turner set for Aberdeen exit as Nottingham Forest look to snap up defender". aberdeenlive.news.
4. "Manager reveals contract decision on Nottingham Forest transfer target". nottinghampost.com.
5. "Cliftonville teenager Luke Turner has been a Reds revelation, says Paddy McLaughlin". belfastlive.co.uk.
6. "Paddy McLaughlin: Staying with Cliftonville would benefit Luke Turner". belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
7. "Crossing the border: Players that could move from Scotland to England this summer". footballwhispers.com.
8. "Cliftonville fans flying high with news of Luke Turner deal". belfastlive.co.uk.
9. "Cliftonville Football Club » Turn back" . Retrieved 17 February 2023.
10. "Cliftonville defender Luke Turner is kept firmly grounded on and off the pitch". belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
11. "Young Player of the Year Luke Turner credits Cliftonville coaching staff". belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
12. "Luke Turner Is A Saint". www.stpatsfc.com.
13. "Luke Turner describes move to boyhood club St Pat's as 'pure elation'". Independent.ie. 30 January 2024.
14. "'They have taken a lot of stick' – St Pat's boss Jon Daly hits back at criticism after Saints sink Sligo". Irish Independent. 2 April 2024.
15. "St Pat's teen star Mason Melia denies Shamrock Rovers in Dublin derby thriller". Irish Independent. 10 May 2024.
16. https://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=9678
17. Team, Extratime. "St Patrick's Athletic crowned Leinster Senior Cup winners". extratime.com.
18. "Republic of Ireland - L. Turner - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
19. "CLIFTONVILLE: BETMcLEAN LEAGUE CUP WINNERS 2021/22!". NI Football League. Retrieved 17 February 2023.