Huddersfield Town
Daly signed a two-year scholarship with Huddersfield in April 2017. [6] After impressing in pre-season with the first-team, he signed his first professional contract in July 2018, a three-year deal with an option to extend for a further year. [7] He made his first team debut for the Terriers as a first-half substitute for Jonathan Hogg in their 2–1 defeat to Watford in the Premier League on 20 April 2019. [5] He was 18 years, 1 month and 10 days old during the appearance, making him the youngest Huddersfield player to play in the Premier League. [8] Daly finished the season with 2 appearances, as Huddersfield were relegated to the Championship. [9] [10]
On 10 December, Daly scored his first senior goal against Charlton Athletic in his fifth appearance for Huddersfield, an injury time winner to win the match 1–0. [11] After the match, manager Danny Cowley stated he thought Daly could "press for a place in the first eleven". [12] In August 2020, he extended his contract by two years with an additional one-year option. [13] He received his first start later that year on 1 December, in a 3–0 defeat to Cardiff City. [14] Daly struggled for gametime under Carlos Corberán, as there was midfield competition. [15] Ahead of the 2021–22 season, he looked to go out on loan, with only 12 appearances in total for Huddersfield. [16] He went on trial with recently relegated League One club Rotherham United, but nothing came of it. [17]
Loans to Hartlepool United and Bradford City
On 5 August 2021, Daly signed for newly promoted League Two side Hartlepool United for the first loan move of his career. [18] He made his debut for Hartlepool as a late substitute in a 1–0 victory against Crawley Town on 7 August. [19] [20] He scored his first goal on 31 August in an EFL Trophy match against Carlisle United. [21] [20] He scored his first league goal on 23 October in a 3–2 win over Harrogate Town. [22] Daly became an important player at Hartlepool, with interim manager Anthony Sweeney stating, "He’s growing into a key player for us. He’s got real ability and can affect games." [23] Huddersfield recalled Daly on 17 January 2022, supposedly due to injury problems. [24] However, it was later revealed that Huddersfield had recalled him due to playtime concerns under new manager Graeme Lee. [25] Daly made 27 appearances and scored seven goals in total for Hartlepool, including five goals in four appearances in the EFL Trophy. [20] [24]
On 18 January 2022, the day after being recalled from Hartlepool United, Daly returned to League Two to join Bradford City on loan until the end of the season. [26] He made his debut on 22 January, starting in a 0–0 draw against Rochdale. [27] He scored his first goal for The Bantams on 25 January in a 2–1 win over Walsall. [28] He suffered a foot injury which led to him being recalled by Huddersfield for surgery. [29] He finished his loan with 1 goal in 9 appearances. [20]
2022–23 season: Loan to Harrogate Town
"I think he will get people off their seats this season, if we get him in the right areas where he can be as creative as he wants and a real goalscoring threat then he will excite the Harrogate fans, I’ve no doubt about that."
On 27 June 2022, Daly joined Harrogate Town on loan for the whole of the 2022–23 season. [31] [32] He scored on his debut on 30 July 2022, a 3–0 win over Swindon Town on opening day. [33] On 5 November, he scored in a 1–0 win over former club Bradford in the FA Cup, his fourth consecutive goal. [34] Later that month on 19 November, in a 3–0 win over Manfield Town, he came off shortly after half-time after injuring his knee. [35] Following a scan, it was revealed that he would be out for eight weeks. [36] He made his return on 28 January, in a 1–0 defeat to Sutton United. [37] He finished his loan with 8 goals in 39 appearances. [37] He also helped Harrogate avoid relegation. [38]
Harrogate Town
Daly was released by Huddersfield in 2023. [39] Due to his successful loan, he began negotiations to return to Harrogate. [40] Daly agreed to return to Harrogate on a two-year deal in May to become Harrogate's first summer signing. [41] He made his first appearance on his return on opening day, in a 1–0 victory against Doncaster Rovers on 5 August. [42] [43] He scored his first goal of the season on 16 September in a 1–1 draw to former team Bradford. [43] He maintained his place as a first team regular, making 46 appearances and scoring 6 times that season. [43]
After a hamstring injury kept him out for six weeks, Daly made his return on 14 October in a 1–0 win over Newport County. Manager Simon Weaver said Daly's return made Harrogate "a better team". [44] He would then suffer a toe injury however, which kept him out from November until returning on 3 December, in a 2–0 defeat to Salford City. [45] [46]
