Michael Forbes (footballer)

Michael Forbes

Personal information
Full name	Michael Forbes
Date of birth	(2004-04-29) 29 April 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth	Ardboe, Northern Ireland [1]
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Colchester United (on loan from West Ham United)
Number	24
Youth career
2008–2009	Ardboe
2009–2017	Cookstown Youth
2017–2020	Dungannon Swifts
2020–	West Ham United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–	West Ham United	0	(0)
2024–2025	→ Bristol Rovers (loan)	7	(0)
2025–	→ Colchester United (loan)	0	(0)
International career‡
2019	Northern Ireland U16	4	(1)
2022	Northern Ireland U18	2	(1)
2021–2022	Northern Ireland U19	6	(0)
2023	Northern Ireland U21	2	(0)
2023–	Northern Ireland	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:11, 30 January 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 02:39, 17 November 2023 (UTC)

Michael Forbes (born 29 April 2004) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a defender for Colchester United on loan from Premier League club West Ham United, and the Northern Ireland national team.

Club career

Forbes is a youth product of Ardboe, Cookstown Youth, and Dungannon Swifts. ^[2] He joined the youth academy of West Ham United on 24 July 2020 when he signed a scholarship contract with the club. ^[3] The following season, he captained the U18s and debuted with the U23s in December 2021. ^[4] He signed his first professional contract with the club on 31 May 2022. ^[5] He made his first appearance on the senior West Ham squad for a UEFA Conference League match against FCSB on 3 November 2022. ^[6]

On 5 July 2024, Forbes joined League One club Bristol Rovers on a season-long loan deal. ^{[7] [8]} He was recalled on 3 January 2025 to continue rehabilitation from a hamstring injury suffered two weeks prior. ^[9] On 30 January 2025, he joined League Two side Colchester United on loan for the remainder of the season. ^[10]

International career

Forbes is a youth international for Northern Ireland, having played up to the Northern Ireland U21s. ^[11] After injuries to the senior squad in November 2021, he was called up to train with the senior national team. ^[12] He debuted with the senior Northern Ireland national team as a late substitute in a 4–0 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying loss to Finland on 17 November 2023. ^[13]

Career statistics

As of 3 January 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
West Ham United U21	2020–21 [14]	Premier League 2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 [a]	0	1	0
	2021–22	Premier League 2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2022–23 [15]	Premier League 2	0	0	0	0	0	0	3 [a]	0	3	0
	2023–24 [16]	Premier League 2	0	0	0	0	0	0	3 [a]	0	3	0
	2024–25	Premier League 2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	6	0
Bristol Rovers (loan)	2024–25 [17]	League One	7	0	2	0	1	0	2 [a]	0	12	0
	Total		7	0	2	0	1	0	2	0	12	0
Colchester United (loan)	2024–25 [17]	League Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		7	0	2	0	1	0	2	0	12	0
Career total			7	0	2	0	1	0	8	0	18	0

1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

International

As of matches played 17 November 2023 ^[18]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Northern Ireland	2023	1	0
	Total	1	0

References

1. "Michael Forbes | Laufbahn | Spielerprofil". kicker.
2. "Dungannon star Forbes tipped for top career after Premier League move". 29 April 2020 – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
3. "Dungannon Swifts starlet joins West Ham".
4. "M. Forbes | West Ham United F.C." www.whufc.com.
5. Fullerton, Darren (1 June 2022). "NI teen awarded pro contract after impressing at West Ham United". Belfast Live.
6. Colman, Jonty (3 November 2022). "West Ham team news as Oliver Scarles and Divin Mubama make debuts vs FCSB". Football London.
7. "Michael Forbes joins Bristol Rovers on loan". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
8. "Michael Forbes: West Ham defender joins Bristol Rovers on loan". BBC Sport. 5 July 2024.
9. "Garrett & Forbes return to Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 3 January 2025. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
10. "U'S TAKE WEST HAM'S FORBES". www.cu-fc.com. 30 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
11. "Michael Forbes vows to seize next chance with West Ham and Northern Ireland". 23 October 2023 – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
12. "West Ham: Michael Forbes handed int'l chance after Tuesday development". West Ham Zone. 14 November 2023.
13. "Injury-hit NI suffer further misery in Finland" – via www.bbc.com.
14. "Games played by Michael Forbes in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
15. "Games played by Michael Forbes in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
16. "Games played by Michael Forbes in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
17. "Games played by Michael Forbes in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
18. "Games played by Michael Forbes in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 January 2025.

External links

• Michael Forbes at Soccerway
• Michael Forbes at BDFutbol