 McGinn playing forCeltic in 2009 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Niall McGinn[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1987-07-20)20 July 1987 (age 38) | ||
| Place of birth | Dungannon, Northern Ireland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Winger,Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Peterhead | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1999–2005 | Dungannon Swifts | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2008 | Dungannon Swifts | 42 | (4) |
| 2008–2009 | Derry City | 31 | (6) |
| 2009–2012 | Celtic | 28 | (4) |
| 2011–2012 | →Brentford (loan) | 37 | (5) |
| 2012–2017 | Aberdeen | 179 | (58) |
| 2017 | Gwangju | 7 | (0) |
| 2017–2022 | Aberdeen | 100 | (13) |
| 2022–2023 | Dundee | 19 | (1) |
| 2023–2025 | Glentoran | 50 | (14) |
| 2024–2025 | →Greenock Morton (loan) | 20 | (1) |
| 2025– | Peterhead | 7 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2007–2008 | Northern Ireland U23 | 2 | (0) |
| 2009 | Northern Ireland B | 1 | (0) |
| 2008–2022 | Northern Ireland | 72 | (6) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:00, 20 September 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 16:42, 12 June 2022 (UTC) | |||
Niall McGinn (born 20 July 1987) is a Northern Irish professionalfootballer who plays as aforward forScottish League One clubPeterhead. McGinn has also played forDungannon Swifts,Derry City,Celtic,Brentford,Aberdeen (two spells),Gwangju,Dundee,Glentoran andGreenock Morton. He made his debut forNorthern Ireland in 2008 and has gone on to make over sixty international appearances.
McGinn began his football career atDungannon Swifts in his native county. In his first full season, the club finished in 10th place.
McGinn was signed byDerry City managerStephen Kenny in January 2008 for an undisclosed fee fromDungannon Swifts in theCarnegie Premier League, who in turn signed him from Donaghmore Celtic. His decision to sign a professional football contract meant that McGinn retired from playingGaelic football for Donaghmore andTyrone under-21s.[3] McGinn mainly plays on the left or right side of midfield but he can also be employed as a secondary striker. On 14 March 2008, McGinn made his debut for the club in a 2–1 win overFinn Harps. On 25 March 2008, McGinn scored his first goal for the club in a 4–1 win overUniversity College Dublin. On 1 June 2008, McGinn scored his second goal in a 3–2 loss againstCork City. On 25 July 2008, McGinn scored his third goal in a 4–0 win overGalway United and scored again (fifth) in the second meeting on 2 November 2008 in a 2–0 win. On 9 August 2008, McGinn scored his fourth goal in a 3–0 win overCobh Ramblers and scored again (sixth) in the second meeting on 14 November 2008 in a 4–2 win.
During 2008, he attracted interest from such clubs asCeltic andChampionship sidesIpswich Town andSwansea City.[4] He also attracted interest fromBirmingham City.[5]
McGinn signed for Celtic on 1 January 2009.[6] On 12 September 2009, McGinn made his first team debut for Celtic againstDundee United. Although the game ended in a 1–1 draw, McGinn was awarded the official Man of the Match award. On 17 September 2009, McGinn made hisEuropa League debut in a 2–1 loss againstHapoel Tel Aviv. In the last group stage game, with Celtic already eliminated, they faced Austrian sideRapid Wien. The match ended 3–3 which meant Celtic finished third in their group. McGinn started the match and provided an assist forMarc-Antoine Fortuné to score the second goal before being substituted forGraham Carey.
On 31 October 2009, McGinn scored his first goal for Celtic coming on as a 66th-minute substitute in a 3–0 win overKilmarnock at Celtic Park. McGinn scored his second goal for Celtic againstHamilton Academical on 26 December 2009 by driving a right footed shot into the top corner. He scored his first goal in theScottish Cup and his third of the 2009–10 season to put Celtic 1–0 ahead againstGreenock Morton on 19 January 2010. In the January transfer window, McGinn was a transfer target for Premier League sideWigan Athletic but wished to stay at Celtic.[7] At the end of the season, McGinn suffered an injury during the end of the last training session of the season on 17 May 2010 after breaking a metatarsal bone in his right foot and would be out for two months.[8] After recovering from his injury, McGinn said managerNeil Lennon played a big role in helping him recover from his injury.[9]
After being on the substitute's bench without coming on, McGinn scored in twice his first game of the2010–11 season, a 3–2 win overSt Johnstone in theScottish League Cup on 27 October 2010.[10] Three days later on 30 October 2010, he scored twice against the same opponent again but this time in the 3–2 league win. In the nextmatch against Aberdeen (a 9–0 victory which broke the record as the biggest ever win in theSPL, as well as being the biggest ever defeat in the history of Aberdeen), McGinn provided an assist forGary Hooper to score his second goal. Later on the season, McGinn would play less and usually be on the bench.
Before the start of the 2011–12 season rumours flowed that there was a fall-out between McGinn and Lennon with McGinn being unhappy over being left out of the pre-season tour of Australia. Lennon denied this and explained the leaving out of McGinn was due to his international commitments at theNations Cup in May.[11] McGinn signed a new one-year extension on his contract at the start of the2011–12 season before moving to Brentford.[12] After his loan move to Brentford, McGinn says moving to Brentford could be an end of his Celtic career after a phone-call conversation from Lennon.[13]
On 7 July 2011, McGinn signed forEnglish League One clubBrentford on a season long loan deal.[12] On 6 August 2011, McGinn made his debut for the club in a 2–0 win againstYeovil Town where he made his first start before coming off in the second half. On 16 August 2011, McGinn provided an assist forClayton Donaldson to make it 2–0 againstExeter City, only for the game to end in a 2–1 win. On 20 August 2011, McGinn scored his first goal for the club in a 5–0 win overLeyton Orient. On 17 September 2011, he scored his second goal for the club in a 2–0 win overPreston. On 10 December 2011, McGinn scored his third goal for the club in a 2–1 win overHartlepool United. On 14 February 2012, McGinn scored his fourth goal for the club in a 2–1 loss againstColchester United. On 3 April 2012, McGinn scored his fifth goal for the club in a 2–1 win overOldham Athletic and in the first meeting of the season, McGinn set up a goal forMyles Weston in a 2–0 win on 24 September 2011.
On 4 July 2012, McGinn signed for Scottish Premier League clubAberdeen on a two-year contract after his deal with Celtic expired.[14] After his move, McGinn revealed the club's aim to challenge his former club Celtic and gain a place in Europe.[15] McGinn joined up with his teammates as they headed out to Germany for a pre-season tour which included games againstWerder Bremen andFC St. Pauli. He scored his first goal for theDons in the friendly against St. Pauli, rounding the goalkeeper after picking up the ball from a poor back pass.[16]
He went on to make his competitive debut for Aberdeen in an opening day 1–0 defeat away to SPL champions Celtic.[17] The following weekend, he made his home debut against newly promoted sideRoss County.[18] The game finished 0–0 and also saw McGinn stretchered off towards the end of the game after an accidental collision with veteran defenderGrant Munro.[19] Manager Craig Brown spoke after the game, ruling McGinn out of the Northern Ireland squad that was due to faceFinland on 14 August.[20] The former Scotland manager said: "We can't tell the length of the recovery period but he will certainly be out in the immediate future."[21]
After being out for four weeks due to an ankle injury, McGinn featured as a substitute in a 1–1 draw with Inverness Caledonian thistle. The next week he came on as a substitute againstMotherwell and scored his first competitive goal for the club, helping Aberdeen come back from 1–3 down to draw 3–3. He then went on to score in his next two appearances for theDons. A 2–1 victory at home to Hibernian and helped the Dons come back to beat Kilmarnock 3–1 atRugby Park. A fortnight later, he scored his thirtieth goal in four matches atTannadice in a 1–1 draw withDundee United. On 27 October 2012, McGinn became the first Aberdeen player in twenty years to score in five successive league matches, netting the opening goal in a 2–0 win overDundee.[22] The following week, in a 2–1 loss to Ross County in Dingwall, McGinn scored in his sixth straight league match, breakingDuncan Shearer's record. McGinn headed a late equaliser in aScottish Cup tie with Motherwell to level the match and set up a replay atFir Park.
McGinn then bagged the first hat-trick in his professional career in a convincing 3–1 victory over Dundee atDens Park, on 29 December 2012;[23] this brought his goal tally to 14 before the turn of the year. He scored a free kick in a 2–2 draw withDundee United at Pittodrie three days later, his 14th goal in 19 league games. On the last day of the transfer window, McGinn revealed he offers from three clubs in England's Championship which he rebuffed, to return the faith shown in him byCraig Brown.[24] Later in the 2012–13 season, McGinn's impressive display earned him a nomination forPFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year.[25]
On 3 May 2013, McGinn was awarded both Aberdeen Player of the Year and Aberdeen Players' Player of the Year for the 2012–13 season. On picking up the awards, he said: "The fans have been unbelievable towards me and I am very thankful to them for that. To win the award voted for by the fans means that you are doing something right on the park. Thank you to everyone that took the time to vote for me".[26] McGinn finished the season with 21 goals in all competitions, 20 of those coming in league matches. On 17 May, McGinn signed a two-year extension to his current contract, tying him to the club until 2016.[27] After signing the new contract, he insisted that he had unfinished business to do by winning trophies for the club.[28] At the end of the 2012–13 season, McGinn finished with 21 goals in thirty-nine appearances in all competitions.[29]
In 2013–14 season, McGinn scored his first goals of the campaign in a 3–1 win over Motherwell,[30] followed up his third goal, in a 2–1 loss againstHearts.[31] However, he soon sustained an ankle injury during an international game that cause him to miss two games.[32] McGinn then came into goalscoring form with five goals in four games, againstPartick Thistle,[33] Hearts,[34] Celtic[35] and St Johnstone.[36] I the second part of 2013–14, McGinn would play a vital role when he provided a double assist in a 2–1 win over Celtic, giving the Glasgow club their first defeat of the season.[37] A few weeks later, McGinn played the full 120 minutes of normal plus extra time in theScottish League Cup final againstInverness Caledonian Thistle which Aberdeen won 4–2 on penalty kicks.[38] He scored his first league goal in three months, as Aberdeen drew 1–1 withDundee United.[39] McGinn scored twice on 30 March 2014 in a 2–0 win overHibernian.[40] He finished 2013–14 season as the top scorer for the second time in a row with thirteen goals in all competitions.
In 2014–15, McGinn scored two goals in the Europa League Qualifiers in a 5–0 win overDaugava Rīga in the first leg of the tie,[41] following up with his second in a 2–1 win overFC Groningen.[42] On 30 August 2014, McGinn's first domestic goal of the season came in a 1–0 win over Partick Thistle.[43] On 22 December, McGinn signed a contract extension, staying with theDons until Summer 2017.[44]
In the2016–17 season, McGinn and Aberdeen finished as runners-up in all three domestic competitions, losing out to his former club Celtic in all of them.[45][46]
In June 2017,Gwangju FC'sDirector of football Ki Young-ok, father of former Celtic midfielderKi Sung-yueng, made McGinn an offer to join the club.[47] On 4 July, McGinn joined Gwangju as theK League's first player from theUnited Kingdom.[48] McGinn struggled to settle in Korea, and it was mutually agreed to end his contract in November 2017.[49]
Despite receiving offers fromHearts andHibernian, on 28 December 2017, McGinn resigned forAberdeen on a three-and-a-half-year contract, officially rejoining the club on 1 January 2018.[50][51] He again finished on the losing side to his former employers when Celtic defeated Aberdeen 1–0 in the2018 Scottish League Cup final,[52] having also finished in second position behind them in the2017–18 Scottish Premiership.
On 24 January 2022, McGinn joinedScottish Premiership sideDundee on an 18-month deal.[53] McGinn made his debut 2 days later as a substitute againstSt Johnstone.[54] McGinn would score his first goal for Dundee in theScottish Cup againstPeterhead.[55] His first league goal for the Dee would come in a 3–1 home victory overHibernian.[56]
McGinn would score Dundee's opening competitive goal for the2022–23 season in a win overHamilton Academical in theScottish League Cup.[57] After having been frozen out of the squad, McGinn would leave Dundee by mutual consent on 9 January 2023.[58]
On the same day as his departure from Dundee, McGinn would return to his nativeNorthern Ireland and sign withNIFL Premiership clubGlentoran.[59]
On 1 December 2023, McGinn would receive praise for being involved in all the goals in a 4–0 win over Glentoran'sbitter rivalsLinfield.[60]
On 31 August 2024, McGinn returned to Scotland withScottish Championship clubGreenock Morton on loan until the end of the season.[61][62] He made his debut for theTon on the same day, coming off the bench in a league game at home toFalkirk.[63] On 26 February 2025, McGinn scored his first goal for Morton in an away league defeat againstLivingston.[64] At the end of the season, McGinn's parent club Glentoran confirmed that he would leave them upon the expiration of his contract.[65]
On 6 July 2025, McGinn joinedScottish League One clubPeterhead on a one-year deal.[66] On 12 August, McGinn scored his first pair of goals for Peterhead in aScottish Challenge Cup win overAberdeen U21.[67]
McGinn's performances for Derry City led to him featuring in theNorthern Ireland under-23 team.
In November 2008, McGinn received his first call-up to theNorthern Ireland senior squad by managerNigel Worthington for the series of international friendlies[68] and he gained his first cap coming on as a substitute againstHungary on 19 November.[69] He was the first Derry City player to play for the senior Northern Ireland team in 19 years.[70] Although disappointed in the result, Nigel Worthington is quoted as saying of McGinn:
He was the one bright spark in our side. He did what he is good at – he kept it simple. He ran at players when he had the opportunity and was not afraid.[71]
McGinn again impressed when called up to the senior squad for the friendly againstIsrael atWindsor Park on 12 August 2009. The match ended 1–1, and McGinn came on as a second-half substitute. Again, his individual performance was praised by managerNigel Worthington:
Niall McGinn did terrifically well – he got us up the pitch and used his pace and ability.[72]
McGinn scored his first international goal in a draw against Portugal in a FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifier on 16 October 2012.[73] His second goal was the winning goal in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier, during Northern Ireland's first competitive away victory since September 2010, beating Hungary 2–1.[74] He scored his third goal at the 2016 Euro Championship in a 2–0 win over Ukraine. He stated later, "What a night and what an occasion. To come off the bench and to score as well was just unbelievable for me."[75] It was in a match that saw the team win for the first time at the European finals, and was the latest ever goal at the tournament, coming in the 96th minute.[76]
On 15 November 2016, McGinn won his 50th cap for Northern Ireland, as they playedCroatia in a friendly, being named as captain for the match.[77][78]
Upon his signing forBrentford, McGinn's new managerUwe Rösler said that, "Niall is a quick, very direct player and has a very good work ethic."[12]
McGinn's fine season with Derry City in 2008 was publicly recognised when he won the 2008PFAIYoung Player of the Year award.[79]
In January 2010 McGinn was awarded theGeorge Best Breakthrough Award for 2009 in recognition of his impressive performances for club and country.[80]
On 6 November 2012, it was announced thatAberdeen had scooped a hat-trick of awards for the month of October. Manager Craig Brown took Manager of the Month, McGinn took Player of the Month and midfielderRyan Fraser took the award for Young Player of the Month.[81]
In January 2011, it was reported that theRoyal Mail had intercepted packages sent byloyalists containing bullets addressed to McGinn,Paddy McCourt andCeltic managerNeil Lennon.[82] McGinn and McCourt were both shocked and disappointed to be subjected to such threats.[83]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Dungannon Swifts | 2005–06 | Irish Premier League | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2006–07 | Irish Premier League | 23 | 0 | — | — | — | 23 | 0 | ||||
| 2007–08 | Irish Premier League | 18 | 4 | — | — | — | 18 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 42 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 4 | ||
| Derry City | 2008 | League of Ireland Premier Division | 31 | 6 | 13 | 4 | — | — | 44 | 10 | ||
| Celtic | 2009–10 | Scottish Premier League | 14 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5[a] | 0 | 21 | 3 |
| 2010–11 | Scottish Premier League | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | |
| Total | 28 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 36 | 6 | ||
| Brentford (loan) | 2011–12 | League One | 37 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 41 | 5 |
| Aberdeen | 2012–13 | Scottish Premier League | 35 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 21 |
| 2013–14 | Scottish Premiership | 36 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 14 | |
| 2014–15 | Scottish Premiership | 36 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6[a] | 2 | 45 | 7 | |
| 2015–16 | Scottish Premiership | 36 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6[a] | 2 | 44 | 12 | |
| 2016–17 | Scottish Premiership | 36 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5[a] | 1 | 50 | 14 | |
| Total | 179 | 58 | 14 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 223 | 68 | ||
| Gwangju FC | 2017 | K League Classic | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Aberdeen | 2017–18 | Scottish Premiership | 11 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 |
| 2018–19 | Scottish Premiership | 27 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 37 | 8 | |
| 2019–20 | Scottish Premiership | 28 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6[a] | 1 | 41 | 8 | |
| 2020–21 | Scottish Premiership | 25 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1[a] | 0 | 30 | 2 | |
| 2021–22 | Scottish Premiership | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Total | 100 | 13 | 18 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 135 | 19 | ||
| Dundee | 2021–22[86] | Scottish Premiership | 15 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 |
| 2022–23[87] | Scottish Championship | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | |
| Total | 19 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 4 | ||
| Glentoran | 2022–23 | NIFL Premiership | 17 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 20 | 9 |
| 2023–24 | NIFL Premiership | 26 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6[d] | 0 | 37 | 6 | |
| 2024–25 | NIFL Premiership | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
| Total | 47 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 61 | 16 | ||
| Greenock Morton (loan) | 2024–25 | Scottish Championship | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[e] | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| Peterhead | 2025–26 | Scottish League One | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4[e] | 2 | 15 | 2 |
| Career total | 517 | 106 | 56 | 16 | 33 | 5 | 49 | 8 | 655 | 135 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | 2008 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2021 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 72 | 6 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 16 October 2012 | Estádio do Dragão,Porto, Portugal |  Portugal | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
2. | 7 September 2014 | Groupama Arena,Budapest, Hungary |  Hungary | 1–1 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |
3. | 16 June 2016 | Parc Olympique Lyonnais,Lyon, France |  Ukraine | 2–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2016 |
4. | 21 March 2019 | Windsor Park,Belfast, Northern Ireland |  Estonia | 1–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
5. | 8 October 2020 | Stadion Grbavica,Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1–1 | 1–1(4–3p) | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification play-offs |
6. | 28 March 2021 | Windsor Park,Belfast, Northern Ireland |  United States | 1–2 | 1–2 | Friendly |
Derry City
Celtic
Aberdeen
