Braiden Graham
{{short description|Northern Irish association football player}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Braiden Graham
|fullname = Braiden David Jay Graham{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/4323529|title=Premier League clubs publish 2024/25 retained lists|publisher=Premier League|date=9 June 2025|accessdate=13 June 2025}}
|birth_place = Ballygowan, Northern Ireland
| height =
|image =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2007|11|07|df=y}}
|position = Forward
|currentclub = Everton
|clubnumber =
|youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2023
|youthclubs1 = Linfield
|youthyears2 =
|youthclubs2 =
|years1 = 2023–2024
|clubs1 = Linfield
|caps1 = 10
|goals1 = 1
|years2 = 2024–
|clubs2 = Everton
|caps2 = 0
|goals2 = 0
|nationalyears1 = 2023
|nationalteam1 = Northern Ireland U16
|nationalcaps1 = 1
|nationalgoals1 = 1
|nationalyears2 = 2023–2024
|nationalteam2 = Northern Ireland U17
|nationalcaps2 = 5
|nationalgoals2 = 3
|nationalyears3 = 2024–
|nationalteam3 = Northern Ireland U18
|nationalcaps3 = 1
|nationalgoals3 = 1
|nationalyears4 = 2024–
|nationalteam4 = Northern Ireland U19
|nationalcaps4 = 9
|nationalgoals4 = 2
|club-update = 10:27, 24 June 2024 (UTC)
|ntupdate = 09:55, 13 June 2025 (UTC)
}}
Braiden David Jay Graham (born 7 November 2007) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as forward for Premier League side Everton. He is a Northern Ireland youth international.
Club career
=Linfield=
From Darragh Cross,{{cite news|first=Stephen|last=Looney|date=25 November 2023|accessdate=26 November 2023|url=https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/sport/everton-beat-rivals-and-win-race-to-snap-up-linfield-prodigy-braiden-graham/a728999225.html#|title= Everton beat rivals and win race to snap up Linfield prodigy Braiden Graham|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph.co.uk }} at the age of 15 years-old Graham was the leading scorer for the Linfield U18 side.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishnews.com/sport/footballsoccer/2023/06/15/news/five_young_irish_league_stars_who_could_follow_in_sean_moore_s_footsteps-3353641/|date=15 June 2023|website=Irish News|first=Calum|last=Galvan|title= Five young Irish League stars who could follow in Sean Moore's footsteps}}
On 24 March 2023, Graham made his NIFL Premiership league debut for Linfield appearing as substitute in a 5-0 win against Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park.{{cite web|url=https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/irish-league/linfield-put-in-a-five-star-showing-to-crush-dungannon-swifts-as-braiden-graham-makes-history/485379432.html|website=Belfast Telegraph|accessdate=26 November 2023|title= Linfield put in a five-star showing to crush Dungannon Swifts as Braiden Graham makes history|first=Adrian|last=Rutherford |date=25 March 2023}} At 15 years and 137 days, he became the youngest player in Linfield history by 19 days, breaking the previous record set by Charlie Allen in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/football/northern-ireland/david-healy-believes-the-future-is-bright-at-linfield-for-history-maker-braiden-graham-4079988|first=Jonny|last=Morton|website=The Newsletter|date=26 March 2023|accessdate=26 November 2023|title= David Healy believes the "future is bright" at Linfield for history-maker Braiden Graham}}{{cite web|website=Belfast Live|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/charlie-allen-happy-give-up-26560528?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target|date=25 March 2023|first=Steven|last=Crawford|accessdate=26 November 2023|title= Charlie Allen happy to give up his record as Braiden Graham makes history}} He scored his first senior goal in December 2023 aged 16 years-old. Linfield were 2-1 down in injury time against Larne in the Northern Ireland Football League Cup when Graham scored to equalise. In the subsequent penalty shoot-out Graham also scored as his side triumphed.{{cite news|url=https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/irish-league/nis-greatest-ever-goalscorer-hails-16-year-old-linfield-ace-braiden-graham-as-a-ruthless-finisher/a1717655116.html|first=Stephen|last=Beacom|accessdate=7 December 2023|date=6 December 2023|title= NI's greatest ever goalscorer hails 16 year-old Linfield ace Braiden Graham as a ruthless finisher|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph.co.uk }}
=Everton=
Reports in Northern Ireland suggest that Graham has agreed to join Premier League side Everton in 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/braiden-graham-remember-name-david-28238885.amp|website=Belfast Live|accessdate=7 December 2023|title= Braiden Graham, remember the name: David Healy hails Linfield's teen hero|first=Gareth|last=Fullerton|date=6 December 2023}} On 2 July 2024 Graham signed a scholar contract with Everton to play in their Academy side.{{cite web|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/braiden-graham-remember-name-david-28238885.amp|website=Everton F.C|accessdate=2 July 2024|title= Meet the 2024/25 academy scholars|date=2 July 2024}} In November 2024, he signed his first professional contract, agreeing a three-year deal.{{cite web|title= Linfield youth product signs professional deal with Everton: 'I've worked for this since I was a kid'|accessdate=8 November 2024|url= https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/linfield-youth-product-signs-professional-deal-with-everton-ive-worked-for-this-since-i-was-a-kid/a1569669205.html|first=Kieth|last=Bailie|work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |date=8 November 2024}}
International career
In March 2023, Graham was called up to the Northern Ireland U16 squad.{{cite web|website=Belfast Telegraph|url=https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/sport/david-healy-linfields-record-breaking-striker-braiden-graham-is-already-a-natural-goalscorer/127957151.html|first=Adrian|last=Rutherford|date=26 March 2023|accessdate=26 November 2023|title= David Healy: Linfield's record-breaking striker Braiden Graham is already a natural goalscorer}} Later that year he was also called up to the Northern Ireland U17 side.{{cite web|date=19 October 2023|url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/football/northern-ireland/nine-young-stars-from-irish-league-clubs-included-in-northern-ireland-u17-squad-for-2024-european-championship-qualifiers-4378205|title= Nine young stars from Irish League clubs included in Northern Ireland U17 squad for 2024 European Championship qualifiers |website=The Newsletter|first=Johnny|last=Morton|accessdate=24 November 2023}} In May 2024, he made his debut for the under–18 side, scoring a 4–2 defeat to England U18.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishfa.com/news/2024/may/northern-ireland-u18s-perform-well-against-england|title=Northern Ireland U18s perform well against England|publisher=Irish Football Association|date=24 May 2024|accessdate=24 June 2024}} The following month, he made his debut for the under–19 side, scoring a 2–2 draw with Slovakia U19.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishfa.com/news/2024/june/northern-ireland-u19s-draw-with-slovakia|title=Northern Ireland U19s draw with Slovakia|publisher=Irish Football Association|date=7 June 2024|accessdate=24 June 2024}}
Style of play
The Northern Ireland record goalscorer David Healy was the manager at Linfield when Graham made his league debut, and Healey praised Graham for his scoring ability, being quoted by BBC Sport as saying "he's 'goals, goals, goals', he prowls in and around and he's a deadly finisher."{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65074658|accessdate=26 November 2023|title= Braiden Graham: 'Goals, goals, goals' - Fifteen-year-old Linfield striker has 'big future'|date=25 March 2023|website=BBC Sport}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{soccerway|braiden-graham/900100}}
- {{worldfootball.net|braiden-graham}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Graham, Braiden}}
Category:Association footballers from Belfast
Category:Men's association footballers from Northern Ireland
Category:Northern Ireland men's youth international footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Linfield F.C. players