| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 13 September 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) [1] | ||
| Position(s) | Left back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Dumbarton | ||
| Number | 22 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Rangers | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2021 | Rangers | 0 | (0) |
| 2018 | → Edinburgh City (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2019 | → Dumbarton (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2020 | → Orange County SC (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2020 | → Clyde (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Hamilton Academical | 35 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Dumbarton | 17 | (2) |
| 2024 | Cove Rangers | 8 | (0) |
| 2024– | Dumbarton | 18 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2017 | Republic of Ireland U18 | ||
| 2018 | Republic of Ireland U19 | ||
| 2018–2019 | Scotland U19 | 10 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:41, 2 March 2025 (UTC) | |||
Matthew Shiels (born 13 September 2000) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a left back for Scottish League One side Dumbarton.
Shiels was born in Glasgow. [1] His paternal grandparents were from Donegal in Ireland, [2] and he grew supporting Celtic. [3]
After playing youth football for Rangers, and spending loan spells at Edinburgh City, Dumbarton and Clyde, [4] [5] [6] as well as in the United States with Orange County SC, [7] Shiels signed for Hamilton Academical in summer 2021. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
Shiels left Hamilton in June 2023 [15] and re-joined Dumbarton in August 2023 [16] scoring his first goal for the club in a 4–0 victory against Bonnyrigg Rose in November 2023, [17] in a game where he also won a penalty and provided an assist. [18] After impressing for the Sons, he left for Scottish League One side Cove Rangers in January 2024 – scoring on his final appearance for the Sons in a 4–1 defeat to Rangers. [19] [20] He left Cove after just eight appearances, [21] and returned to Dumbarton on a season long deal in the summer of 2024. [22]
Having previously been called up for Scotland at under-17 level, in November 2017 he was called up to the Republic of Ireland under-18 squad, [2] [23] making his debut on 9 November. [24]
He also played with the Republic of Ireland under-19s, [25] before later reverting his international allegiance back to Scotland, [26] playing ten games for the Scotland under-19 team. [27]
Shiels plays primarily as a left back, but also played as a left winger and striker for Rangers. [28] On signing for Dumbarton in August 2023 he said he preferred playing in a more attacking role. [29]
Hamilton Academical