Ryan McLaughlin

Ryan McLaughlin

McLaughlin warming up for St Patrick's Athletic in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Ryan McLaughlin [1]
Date of birth	(1994-09-30) 30 September 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth	Belfast, Northern Ireland
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) [2]
Position(s)	Right-back
Team information
Current team	St Patrick's Athletic
Number	23
Youth career
2009–2011	Glenavon
2011–2014	Liverpool
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2016	Liverpool	0	(0)
2014	→ Barnsley (loan)	9	(0)
2015–2016	→ Aberdeen (loan)	4	(0)
2016–2018	Oldham Athletic	52	(3)
2018–2019	Blackpool	6	(0)
2019–2021	Rochdale	50	(0)
2021–2022	Morecambe	19	(0)
2023–	St Patrick's Athletic	18	(0)
International career‡
2009–2010	Northern Ireland U16	11	(0)
2010–2011	Northern Ireland U17	13	(0)
2011–2012	Northern Ireland U19	7	(2)
2012–2016	Northern Ireland U21	6	(0)
2014–2018	Northern Ireland	5	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:10, 2 November 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:28, 28 July 2023 (UTC)

Ryan McLaughlin (born 30 September 1994) is a Northern Irish footballer who last played as a right-back for League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick's Athletic. He has been capped five times by the Northern Ireland national team during his career.

Club career

Liverpool

McLaughlin with Liverpool in 2012.

Liverpool signed 16-year-old Ryan McLaughlin in the summer of 2011 from Glenavon on a three-year deal. ^[3]

On 9 January 2014, McLaughlin was signed by Football League Championship side Barnsley on a 28-day loan deal and was given squad number 27. ^[4] He made his club and senior career debut on 18 January against Blackpool in the Championship. On 29 January 2014 it was announced that McLaughlin sustained an injury that will keep him out for four weeks. ^[5] Two days later his loan was extended until the end of the season. ^[6]

The only senior appearance McLaughlin made in the 2014–15 season was in an international friendly for Northern Ireland. ^[7] In August 2015, he was loaned to Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen. ^{[7] [8]}

On 10 June 2016, he was released from the club. ^[9]

Oldham Athletic

On 8 August 2016, McLaughlin signed a one-year deal with League One side Oldham Athletic, with the option of a further year. ^[10] He was offered a new contract by Oldham at the end of the 2017–18 season, following their relegation. ^[11]

Blackpool

He joined Blackpool on 17 July 2018 with the clubs agreeing a compensation package. ^[12]

Rochdale

On 23 January 2019, McLaughlin signed for Rochdale for an undisclosed fee. ^[13]

On 17 August 2020, McLaughlin returned to Rochdale signing a one-year contract. ^[14]

Morecambe

On 10 September 2021, McLaughlin joined League One side Morecambe on a one-year deal. ^[15]

On 1 September 2022, it was announced that McLaughlin had departed the club by mutual consent. ^[16]

St Patrick's Athletic

On 28 July 2023, McLaughlin signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick's Athletic. ^[17] He made his debut for the club on 25 August 2023, playing the full 90 minutes of a 1–0 win away to UCD. ^[18] McLaughlin featured in the Quarter and Semi Finals of the club's run to the 2023 FAI Cup Final, but missed out on the matchday squad due to injury as his side defeated Bohemians 3–1 at the Aviva Stadium in front of a record FAI Cup Final crowd of 43,881. ^[19] He signed a new contract with the club on 7 December 2023. ^[20] On 8 October 2024, McLaughlin captained a second string Pats side to a 2–1 win over St Mochta's in the final of the 2023–24 Leinster Senior Cup. ^[21] On 5 December 2024, it was announced that McLaughlin had signed a new contract with the club. ^[22]

International career

McLaughlin has represented Northern Ireland at Under-16, Under-17 and currently at Under-19 and Under-21 level. He was called up to the Northern Ireland senior squad for a friendly against Finland on 15 August 2012 but was forced to withdraw due to a hip injury. ^[23]

On 19 May 2014, he was once again called up to the senior squad for two friendly matches in South America. ^[24] On 31 May 2014, he made his National Team debut as a substitute against Uruguay. McLaughlin became the first Liverpool player to appear for the Irish Football Association selection since Elisha Scott 78 years previously. ^[25]

May 2018 saw a return to the Northern Ireland team, after he was called up to the cohort for a tour of Central America, featuring games against Panama and Costa Rica. ^[26]

Personal life

Born and raised in Belfast, McLaughlin has stated that he is a Catholic. ^[27] McLaughlin is the younger brother of fellow defender Conor McLaughlin. ^[26] He is friends with boxer Michael Conlan, and is sometimes nicknamed "Becks". ^[28] McLaughlin proposed to his partner Jennifer on Christmas Eve 2023 at the Rockefeller Ice Rink. ^[29] In 2024, McLaughlin stated in an interview that as well as providing him with occasional media work, his former club Liverpool were currently putting him through his UEFA B licence for coaching. ^[30]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 24 January 2025 ^[31]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup [a]		League Cup [b]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Liverpool	2013–14	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	–		0	0
	2014–15		0	0	0	0	0	0	0 [c]	0	0	0
	2015–16		0	0	0	0	0	0	0 [d]	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Barnsley (loan)	2013–14	Championship	9	0	0	0	0	0	–		9	0
Aberdeen (loan)	2015–16	Scottish Premiership	4	0	0	0	1	0	–		5	0
Oldham Athletic	2016–17	League One	36	2	2	0	1	0	4 [e]	0	43	2
	2017–18		16	1	0	0	1	0	2 [e]	0	19	1
	Total		52	3	2	0	2	0	6	0	62	3
Blackpool	2018–19	League One	6	0	1	0	1	0	3 [e]	0	11	0
Rochdale	2018–19	League One	13	0	–		–		–		13	0
	2019–20		3	0	2	0	1	0	0 [e]	0	6	0
	2020–21		34	0	0	0	1	0	1 [e]	0	36	0
	Total		50	0	3	0	2	0	1	0	56	0
Morecambe	2021–22	League One	19	0	3	0	0	0	1 [e]	0	23	0
	2022–23		0	0	0	0	0	0	0 [e]	0	0	0
	Total		19	0	3	0	0	0	1	0	23	0
St Patrick's Athletic	2023	LOI Premier Division	2	0	2	0	–		–		4	0
	2024		16	0	0	0	–		3 [f]	0	19	0
	2025		0	0	0	0	–		2 [f]	0	2	0
	Total		18	0	2	0	–		5	0	25	0
Career total			158	3	10	0	6	0	16	0	190	3

1. Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup & FAI Cup
2. Includes EFL Cup & Scottish League Cup
3. Appearances in the UEFA Champions League & UEFA Europa League
4. Appearances in the UEFA Europa League
5. Appearances in the EFL Trophy
6. Appearance(s) in the Leinster Senior Cup

International

As of match played 3 June 2018 ^[32]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Northern Ireland	2014	2	0
	2015	1	0
	2018	2	0
Total		5	0

Honours

St Patrick's Athletic

• FAI Cup (1): 2023
• Leinster Senior Cup (1): 2023–24

References

1. "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Oldham Athletic" (PDF). English Football League. p. 57. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
2. https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=68277
3. "Liverpool dive into Northern Ireland pool of talent". The Belfast Telegraph . Retrieved 21 November 2012.
4. "McLaughlin Signs on Loan from Liverpool". Barnsley F.C. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
5. "McLaughlin Injury Blow for Reds". Barnsley FC. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
6. "McLaughlin Extends Barnsley Stay". Barnsley FC. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
7. "Aberdeen: Liverpool's Ryan McLaughlin arrives on loan". BBC Sport. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
8. "McLaughlin seals Scottish loan switch". Liverpool F.C. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
9. "View The Retained And Released Lists Submitted By Premier League Clubs". The FA.
10. "SIGNING: Robinson Adds McLaughlin To His Squad". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
11. "Oldham Athletic release seven after relegation to League Two". BBC Sport. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
12. "Blackpool sign Oldham defender Ryan McLaughlin and ex-Arsenal left-back Marc Bola". BBC Sport. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
13. "Ryan McLaughlin Joins Rochdale From Blackpool On A Permanent Deal". Rochdale A.F.C. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
14. "Ryan McLaughlin Returns". Rochdale A.F.C. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
15. "Ryan McLaughlin: Morecambe sign Northern Ireland defender on one-year deal". BBC. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
16. "McLaughlin Departs the Club by Mutual Consent". Morecambe FC. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
17. "Ryan McLaughlin Joins The Saints". www.stpatsfc.com.
18. "Joe Redmond on target as Saints march on". Independent.ie. 25 August 2023.
19. Fullerton, Gareth (12 November 2023). "NI footballer shares comical 'John Terry' moment after FAI Cup win". Belfast Live.
20. "McLaughlin Extends Saints Contract". www.stpatsfc.com.
21. Team, Extratime. "St Patrick's Athletic crowned Leinster Senior Cup winners". extratime.com.
22. https://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=9721
23. "Quartet withdraw from NI squad". Sky Sports . Retrieved 21 November 2012.
24. "Defender Ryan McLaughlin back in Northern Ireland squad". BBC Sport. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
25. "Uruguay 1–0 Northern Ireland". BBC Sport. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
26. "Northern Ireland: Ryan McLaughlin replaces George Saville for Central American tour". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
27. "Ryan McLaughlin: I won't switch to Republic of Ireland". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 29 May 2014 – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
28. "Ryan McLaughlin: The life of a free agent footballer". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
29. "NI footballer stuns girlfriend with New York proposal in front of cheering crowd". Belfast Live. 26 December 2023.
30. "St Pat's Ryan McLaughlin admits he stayed at Liverpool too long and lauds Conor Bradley's 'unbelievable' rise". 2 May 2024.
31. "Northern Ireland - R. McLaughlin - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
32. Ryan McLaughlin at National-Football-Teams.com

External links

• Ryan McLaughlin at Premier League
• Ryan McLaughlin at irishfa.com
• Ryan McLaughlin – UEFA competition record ( archive ) 
• Ryan McLaughlin at Soccerbase
• Ryan McLaughlin at Soccerway