Sean McLoughlin (footballer)

For other people named Seán McLoughlin, see Seán McLoughlin (disambiguation).

Sean McLoughlin

McLoughlin with Hull City in 2022
Personal information
Full name	Sean Desmond McLoughlin [1]
Date of birth	(1996-11-13) 13 November 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth	Cork, Ireland
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) [2]
Position	Defender
Team information
Current team	Blackburn Rovers
Number	15
Youth career
	Springfield Ramblers
2013–2015	Cork City
2015–2016	College Corinthians
2016–2017	UCC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2019	Cork City	48	(5)
2019–2025	Hull City	129	(0)
2019	→ St Mirren (loan)	21	(1)
2025–	Blackburn Rovers	8	(0)
International career
	Republic of Ireland U21
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:30, 21 October 2025 (UTC)

Sean Desmond McLoughlin (born 13 November 1996) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL Championship club Blackburn Rovers.

Club career

Early career

Born in Cork, McLoughlin signed for Cork City in 2013 after previously playing for Springfield Ramblers. ^[3] He moved to College Corinthians in 2015, returning to Cork City in 2017 after a spell with UCC. ^[3] He made his debut for Cork City in October 2017. ^[3] He signed a new 18 month contract in July 2018. ^[4]

Hull City

McLoughlin signed for Hull City in July 2019. ^{[5] [6]} He moved on loan to Scottish club St Mirren later that month. ^[7] McLoughlin was an ever-present for St Mirren in the first part of the 2019–20 Scottish Premiership season, and returned to Hull at the end of the loan on 31 December 2019. ^[8]

He made his first start for Hull on 8 February 2020 in a 1–1 draw away to Reading. ^[9]

On 5 March 2021, McLoughlin signed a new three-year contract with Hull City. ^[10]

In March 2023, McLoughlin was named Hull City Player of the Month for February. ^[11]

On 18 April 2023, McLoughlin signed a new three-year contract with the club. ^[12]

Blackburn Rovers

On 19 July 2025, McLoughlin signed for fellow Championship club Blackburn Rovers on an initial two-year deal for an undisclosed fee. ^{[13] [14]}

International career

McLoughlin has represented Ireland at under-21 level. ^[5]

Playing style

Primarily a central defender, McLoughlin made his debut in October 2017 as a left-back. ^[3]

Career statistics

As of match played 21 October 2025. ^{[2] [15]}

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Cork City	2017	League of Ireland Premier Division	1	0	0	0	0	0	0 [a]	0	—		1	0
	2018		27	3	3	0	1	0	4 [b]	0	3 [c]	0	38	3
	2019		20	2	—		2	0	2 [a]	0	2 [d]	0	26	2
	Total		48	5	3	0	3	0	6	0	5	0	65	5
Hull City	2019–20	EFL Championship	7	0	0	0	—		—		—		7	0
	2020–21	EFL League One	3	0	1	0	2	0	—		6 [e]	0	12	0
	2021–22	EFL Championship	32	0	1	0	0	0	—		0	0	33	0
	2022–23	EFL Championship	26	0	1	0	1	0	—		0	0	28	0
	2023–24	EFL Championship	23	0	2	0	1	0	—		0	0	26	0
	2024–25	EFL Championship	36	0	1	0	1	0	—		0	0	38	0
	Total		129	0	6	0	5	0	0	0	6	0	146	0
St Mirren (loan)	2019–20	Scottish Premiership	21	1	—		—		—		—		21	1
Blackburn Rovers	2025–26	EFL Championship	8	0	0	0	0	0	—		—		8	0
Career Total			206	6	9	0	8	0	6	0	11	0	240	6

1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
2. 2 appearances in UEFA Champions League & 2 appearances in UEFA Europa League
3. 1 appearance in President's Cup and 2 appearances in Munster Senior Cup
4. 1 appearance in President's Cup and 1 appearance in Munster Senior Cup
5. Appearances in the EFL Trophy

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Hull City" (PDF). English Football League. p. 33. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
2. "Republic of Ireland – S.McLoughlin". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
3. Colman, Jonty (25 July 2019). "Who is Sean McLoughlin? Irish defender profiled ahead of Tigers move". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
4. Gallagher, Aaron. "One year after joining from UCC, highly-rated defender signs new deal with Cork City". The42.
5. "Sean McLoughlin: Hull City sign Cork City defender". BBC Sport. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
6. Colman, Jonty (28 July 2019). "Sean McLoughlin's absence for Doncaster Rovers draw explained". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
7. Colman, Jonty (31 July 2019). "New Hull City signing Sean McLoughlin heads to St Mirren on loan". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
8. "St Mirren: Sean McLoughlin returns to parent club Hull City". BBC Sport. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
9. "Reading 1–1 Hull City". BBC Sport. BBC. 8 February 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
10. "McLoughlin Signs New Deal". Hull City A.F.C. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
11. "McLoughlin wins February Player of the Month!". Hull City A.F.C. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
12. "McLoughlin signs new long-term contract". Hull City A.F.C. 18 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
13. "McLoughlin completes Rovers move". www.rovers.co.uk. 19 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
14. "Sean McLoughlin: Blackburn Rovers sign Hull City defender". BBC Sport. 19 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
15. Sean McLoughlin at Soccerbase