Evan McLaughlin
{{short description|Irish footballer}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Evan McLaughlin
| full_name = Evan McLaughlin
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|2002|3|30}}
| birth_place = Derry, Ireland
| height =
| position = Midfielder
Left back
| currentclub = Cork City
| clubnumber = 8
| youthyears1 = –2020
| youthclubs1 = Derry City
| years1 = 2020–2023 | clubs1 = Derry City | caps1 = 30 | goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2022 | clubs2 = → Coleraine (loan) | caps2 = 20 | goals2 = 3
| years3 = 2024– | clubs3 = Cork City | caps3 = 39 | goals3 = 6
| club-update = 16:00, 29 April 2025 (UTC)
}}
Evan McLaughlin (born 30 March 2002) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or left back for League of Ireland Premier Division club Cork City. His former clubs are Derry City and Coleraine.
Career
=Youth career=
Derry man McLaughlin came through the academy at Derry City, playing for their under-17 side from 2018 to 2019, before playing for their under-19s from 2019 to 2021 when he made his first team debut.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/player/11128335/evan_mclaughlin/|title=Evan McLaughlin | Stats | History | Career Details | Images | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football - Extratime.com|website=www.extratime.com}}
=Derry City=
After being an unused substitute twice in 2020,{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/player/stats/11128335/evan_mclaughlin/?results=2020#detailed|title=Evan McLaughlin | Stats | History | Career Details | Images | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football - Extratime.com|website=www.extratime.com}} McLaughlin made his senior debut on 2 July 2021, in a 2–0 win over Waterford at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, scoring his side's first goal in the 42nd minute of the game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.derryjournal.com/sport/football/derry-citys-long-wait-for-home-win-over-as-evan-mclaughlin-scores-debut-goal-against-waterford-3295281|title=Derry City's long wait for home win over as Evan McLaughlin scores debut goal against Waterford|date=July 2, 2021|website=Derry Journal}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.derryjournal.com/sport/football/higgins-hails-derry-debutante-evan-mclaughlin-i-dont-care-about-size-or-age-he-caught-my-eye-from-the-word-go-3295318|title=Higgins hails Derry debutante Evan McLaughlin: 'I don't care about size or age, he caught my eye from the word go'|date=July 3, 2021|website=Derry Journal}} On 24 July 2021, McLaughlin scored the decisive penalty in his sides penalty shootout victory away to Drogheda United in the FAI Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.derryjournal.com/sport/football/evan-mclaughlin-showed-zero-hesitation-when-asked-to-take-fifth-penalty-in-derry-city-fai-cup-win-3322285|title=Evan McLaughlin showed 'zero hesitation' when asked to take fifth penalty in Derry City FAI Cup win|date=July 24, 2021|website=Derry Journal}} On 14 July 2022, he made his first European appearance of his career, coming off the bench in a 2–0 defeat away to Latvian side Riga in the UEFA Europa Conference League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62168592|title=Europa Conference League: Derry City exit from Europe after 2-0 Riga defeat|date=July 14, 2022|via=www.bbc.com}}
==Coleraine loan==
On 27 July 2022, McLaughlin signed a new contract with Derry City and on the same day joined NIFL Premiership club Coleraine until January 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.derrycityfc.net/2022/07/evan-mclaughlin-extension-loan-move/|title=Evan McLaughlin Extension & Loan Move|date=July 27, 2022}} On 13 August 2022, he made his debut for the club and scored a brace in a 3–1 win at home to Cliftonville.{{Cite web|url=https://www.derryjournal.com/sport/football/coleraine-manager-oran-kearney-delighted-for-new-boy-evan-mclaughlin-3811667|title=Derry City loanee Evan McLaughlin gets off to blistering start at Coleraine|date=August 18, 2022|website=Derry Journal}}
==Return from loan==
On 2 January 2023, Derry City recalled him early from his loan spell after impressing during his time with Coleraine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.derryjournal.com/sport/football/derry-city-recall-evan-mclaughlin-from-coleraine-loan-spell-3971601|title=Derry City recall Evan McLaughlin from Coleraine loan spell|date=January 2, 2023|website=Derry Journal}} McLaughlin made just 3 appearances in the 2023 season and announced at the end of the season that he would be leaving the club in search of more regular first team football, with manager Ruaidhrí Higgins stating that he would not be surprised to see McLaughlin back at the club in the future.{{Cite web|url=https://www.derryjournal.com/sport/football/ruaidhri-higgins-says-he-wouldnt-be-surprised-to-see-evan-mclaughlin-return-to-derry-city-in-future-4412971|title="Evan's very, very clear that he wants to go and pursue first team football."|date=November 16, 2023|website=Derry Journal}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.derrynow.com/news/derry-sport/1347952/midfielder-evan-mclaughlin-announces-departure-from-derry-city.html|title=Midfielder Evan McLaughlin announces departure from Derry City|first=Gary|last=Ferry|date=November 14, 2023|website=www.derrynow.com}}
=Cork City=
On 15 December 2023, McLaughlin signed for recently relegated League of Ireland First Division club Cork City.{{Cite web|url=https://www.corkcityfc.ie/blogs/news/evan-mclaughlin-signs-for-city|title=Evan McLaughlin Signs for City!|website=Cork City FC Shop}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41291113.html|title=Derry's Evan McLaughlin completes move to Cork City|first=Shane|last=Donovan|date=December 15, 2023|website=Irish Examiner}} On 9 March 2024, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 win away to Longford Town.{{Cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41349520.html|title=Cork City beat Longford thanks to goals from Jack Doherty and Evan McLaughlin|date=March 9, 2024|website=echo live}} He scored 5 goals in a total of 36 appearances in all competitions{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/player/stats/11128335/evan_mclaughlin/?results=2024#detailed|title=Evan McLaughlin | Stats | History | Career Details | Images | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football - Extratime.com|website=www.extratime.com}} as his side won the 2024 League of Ireland First Division title to earn promotion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/cork-city-seal-promotion-back-to-premier-division-with-victory-at-ucd/a1182648885.html|title=Cork City seal promotion back to Premier Division with victory at UCD|date=September 7, 2024|website=Irish Independent}} In November 2024, he was named in the PFAI First Division Team of the Year as voted by his fellow professionals.{{Cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41515109.html|title=Five Cork City players included in First Division Team of the Year|date=November 12, 2024|website=echo live}} On 6 January 2025, McLaughlin signed a new contract with the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.corkcityfc.ie/blogs/news/new-contract-for-evan-mclaughlin|title=New Contract for Evan McLaughlin!|website=Cork City FC Shop}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41548996.html|title=Midfielder Evan McLaughlin signs a new contract ahead of the 2025 season with Cork City|date=January 8, 2025|website=echo live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/35206/evan-mclaughlin-re-signs-for-cork-city-for-2025-season/|title=Evan McLaughlin re-signs for Cork City for 2025 season|first=Patrick|last=O'Connor|website=extratime.com}} After signing his new deal, he revealed that he delayed his decision on the contract due to the 6 and a half hour commute to his hometown of Derry.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41565178.html|title=Evan McLaughlin: 'Cork City doesn’t belong in the First Division'|first=John|last=Fallon|date=January 31, 2025|website=Irish Examiner}} On 21 April 2025, he scored his first goal of the season with an 89th minute equaliser from the penalty spot against Waterford at Turners Cross, before his side went on to win the game minutes later in injury time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41617795.html|title=Cork City grab two late goals in dramatic win over Waterford at Turner's Cross|date=April 21, 2025|website=echo live}}
International career
McLaughlin received his first international call up for the Republic of Ireland U21 side in October 2021 for their game against Montenegro U21, but was not capped.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/latest/u21-squad-announced-for-luxembourg-and-montenegro/|title=U21 squad announced for Luxembourg and Montenegro|website=www.fai.ie}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played on 26 April 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/evan-mclaughlin/736281/|title=Republic of Ireland - E. McLaughlin - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National Cup{{efn|Includes FAI Cup}} !colspan=2|League Cup{{efn|Includes Northern Ireland Football League Cup}} !colspan=2|Europe !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|Derry City
|2020 |rowspan="4"|LOI Premier Division |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|Appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2021
|15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 17 | 1 | ||||
| 2022
|12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearance in the UEFA Europa Conference League|name=statsUECL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 13 | 0 | |||
| 2023
|3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|name=statsUECL}} | 0 | 0{{efn|Appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup}} | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!30 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 1 | ||
| Coleraine (loan)
|20 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 24 | 6 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|Cork City
|2024 |34 | 5 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|Appearance(s) in the Munster Senior Cup|name=statsMSC}} | 0 | 36 | 5 | |||
| 2025
|5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|name=statsMSC}} | 0 | 5 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!39 | 6 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 41 | 7 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career Total
!89 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 98 | 13 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
=Club=
;Cork City
=Individual=
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.extratime.com/player/11128335/evan_mclaughlin/ Evan McLaughlin Extratime.com Profile]
{{Cork City F.C. squad}}
{{2024 PFAI League of Ireland First Division Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McLaughlin, Evan}}
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Derry City F.C. players
Category:Coleraine F.C. players
Category:Cork City F.C. players
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Association footballers from Derry (city)
Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers