Jon Gallagher
{{Short description|Irish footballer (born 1996)}}
{{distinguish|John Bán Gallagher|John Gallacher (footballer, born 1951)|John Gallacher (footballer, born 1969)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Jon Gallagher
| image = Jon Gallagher (53210514812) (cropped).jpg
|caption=Gallagher before the 2023 MLS All-Star Game
| full_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|2|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = Dundalk, Ireland
| height = 1.75 m
| position = Right-back, midfielder, forward
| currentclub = Austin FC
| clubnumber = 17
| youthyears1 = 2008–2010
| youthclubs1 = Beachside SC
| youthyears2 = 2010–2012
| youthclubs2 = Home United
| collegeyears1 = 2014–2017
| college1 = Notre Dame Fighting Irish
| collegecaps1 = 84
| collegegoals1 = 39
| years1 = 2018–2020
| clubs1 = Atlanta United
| caps1 = 16
| goals1 = 4
| years2 = 2018–2019
| clubs2 = Atlanta United 2
| caps2 = 38
| goals2 = 7
| years3 = 2019–2020
| clubs3 = → Aberdeen (loan)
| caps3 = 22
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2021–
| clubs4 = Austin FC
| caps4 = 14w
| goals4 = 12
| club-update = 14:16, 5 June 2025 (UTC)
}}
Jon Gallagher (born 23 February 1996) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club Austin FC. He can also play as a right-back or midfielder.
Early life
Born in Dundalk in Ireland, growing up Gallagher also spent time in the United States, Jamaica, Singapore and England. While moving around, Gallagher played with Beachside SC in Connecticut, Home United in Singapore and England Schoolboys in England. He also spent time on trial with the likes of Juventus, Marseille, Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers.{{Cite web |url=https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/jon-gallaghers-irish-roots-helped-shape-soccer-career/ |title=MLS Player Combine: Jon Gallagher's Irish roots helped shape soccer career | Pro Soccer USA |website=prosoccerusa.com |access-date=25 March 2018 |archive-date=26 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326034116/https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/jon-gallaghers-irish-roots-helped-shape-soccer-career/ |url-status=dead }}
Gallagher played four years of college soccer at the University of Notre Dame between 2014 and 2017. In his senior year, he was named USC Second Team All-American, USC First Team All-South Region, First Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference, and Atlantic Coast Conference All-Tournament Team.{{Cite web |url=http://www.und.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/jon_gallagher_904790.html |title=Jon Gallagher Bio :: Notre Dame Men's Soccer :: UND.COM :: The Official Site of ND Athletics |access-date=25 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726111428/http://www.und.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/jon_gallagher_904790.html |archive-date=26 July 2018 |url-status=dead }} Overall, Gallagher scored 39 goals and tallied 15 assists in 84 appearances for the Fighting Irish.
Club career
Ahead of the 2018 Major League Soccer season, it was announced that Gallagher had signed a contract with Major League Soccer, making him eligible for the 2018 MLS SuperDraft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/76368/2018-mls-superdraft-ranking-the-top-23-pre-combin.html|title=2018 MLS SuperDraft: Ranking the top 23 pre-combine prospects|website=www.socceramerica.com|date=11 January 2018 }} On 19 January 2018, Gallagher was selected 14th overall in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft by Atlanta United.{{Cite web |url=https://www.atlutd.com/post/2018/01/19/atlanta-united-selects-jon-gallagher-oliver-shannon-gordon-wild-mls-superdraft |title=Atlanta United selects Jon Gallagher, Oliver Shannon, Gordon Wild in MLS SuperDraft | Atlanta United FC|date=20 January 2018}}
Gallagher made his professional debut on 24 March 2018, scoring two goals for Atlanta's United Soccer League affiliate side in a 3–1 win over New York Red Bulls II.{{Cite web |url=https://www.uslsoccer.com/atlantaunited2-newyorkredbullsii-971237 |title=Atlanta United 2 vs New York Red Bulls II |website=uslsoccer.com |access-date=25 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206054747/https://www.uslsoccer.com/atlantaunited2-newyorkredbullsii-971237 |archive-date=6 December 2018 |url-status=dead }}
Gallagher was loaned to Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen from Atlanta United on 22 June 2019.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48733922 |title=Jon Gallagher: Atlanta United right-back joins Aberdeen on loan |date=22 June 2019 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=28 August 2019}} The loan was initially for the remainder of the 2019 MLS season,{{Cite web |url=https://www.atlutd.com/post/2019/06/21/atlanta-united-loans-jon-gallagher-aberdeen-fc |title=Atlanta United loans Jon Gallagher to Aberdeen FC |website=Atlanta United FC |publisher=Atlanta United Communications |access-date=22 June 2019|date=21 June 2019 }} but was subsequently extended to the end of the 2019–20 Scottish season.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51056471 |title=Jon Gallagher extends Aberdeen loan for rest of season |date=9 January 2020 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=10 January 2020}} He played in 31 matches in all competitions for Aberdeen and scored his only goal against Rangers in a 2–2 draw on 4 December 2019.
Gallagher returned to play with the Atlanta United first team in the middle of the 2020 Season, where he made 16 total appearances and registered 4 goals.{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlutd.com/players/jon-gallagher/match-log/|title=Match Log for Jon Gallagher - Atlanta United FC}}
Gallagher was traded to Austin FC in exchange for $225,000 in General Allocation Money on 13 December 2020, ahead of Austin's inaugural season in 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlutd.com/post/2020/12/13/atlanta-acquires-225000-general-allocation-money|title=Atlanta acquires up to $225,000 in General Allocation Money | Atlanta United FC}}
Gallagher scored the first ever goal at Q2 Stadium for Austin FC on 1 July 2021.{{cite web |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/austin/news/2021/07/02/gallagher-nets-q2-s-first-mls-goal--austin-tops-timbers-4-1 |title=Gallagher nets Q2′s first MLS goal, Austin tops Timbers 4-1 |date=2 July 2021 |website=www.SpectrumLocalNews.com |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=27 June 2023}} In 2022, he transitioned from winger to right-back and became a first team regular in this position.{{cite news |last=Gordan |first=Colby |date=3 July 2022 |title=A positional change of scenery is paying off for Austin FC defender Jon Gallagher |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/mls/2022/07/03/austin-fcs-jon-gallagher-thriving-move-forward-defender/7799250001/ |work=The Austin American Statesman |access-date=27 June 2023}} He scored his only goal of 2022 in a 4–3 comeback win against Sporting Kansas City.{{cite news |last=Gordan |first=Colby |date=14 August 2022 |title=Sebastián Driussi seals comeback win over Kansas City for Austin FC with stoppage-time goal |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/mls/2022/08/14/sebastian-driussi-completes-comeback-win-for-austin-fc-with-late-goal-sporting-kansas-city/65402934007/ |work=The Austin American Statesman |access-date=27 June 2023}}
In early 2023, Gallagher signed a four-year deal with Austin FC, keeping him at the club through 2026.{{cite news |last=Gordan |first=Colby |date=29 January 2023 |title=Austin FC's Jon Gallagher enters 2023 season in a happy place with club, future |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/mls/2023/01/29/after-breakout-2022-jon-gallagher-inks-four-year-deal-with-austin-fc/69851034007/ |work=The Austin American Statesman |access-date=27 June 2023}} He scored the team's second goal of the 2023 season in a 3–2 loss against St. Louis, coming off the bench.{{cite news |date=25 February 2023 |title=St. Louis City wins inaugural match, beats Austin 3-2 |url=https://apnews.com/article/sports-austin-fc-st-louis-city-sc-jon-gallagher-2b81282afe108282f84168ca50e96bd4 |work=Associated Press |access-date=27 June 2023}} On 27 June 2023, it was announced that Gallgher was being recognized for his strong season, which include 5 goals and 3 assists, by being named to the 2023 MLS All-Star Game.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2023/news/2023-mls-all-star-team-roster |title=2023 MLS All-Star Team Roster |date=27 June 2023 |website=www.MLSSoccer.com |publisher=Major League Soccer |access-date=27 June 2023 |archive-date=8 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708084838/https://www.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2023/news/2023-mls-all-star-team-roster |url-status=dead }}
Career statistics
{{updated|31 May 2025}}{{Soccerway|jon-gallagher/532849|accessdate=9 March 2023}}{{MLS player|jon-gallagher}}
{{notelist}}
Honours
Individual
- MLS All-Star: 2023{{cite web|title=2023 MLS All-Star Team Roster|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2023/news/2023-mls-all-star-team-roster|website=Major League Soccer|access-date=17 July 2023|date=7 July 2023|archive-date=8 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708084838/https://www.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2023/news/2023-mls-all-star-team-roster|url-status=dead}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{sports link}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20180726111428/http://www.und.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/jon_gallagher_904790.html Notre Dame profile] (archived)
{{Austin FC squad}}
{{Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Year navbox}}
{{2018 MLS SuperDraft}}
{{AtlantaUnitedFirstPick}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gallagher, Jon}}
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Association footballers from County Louth
Category:Atlanta United FC draft picks
Category:Atlanta United FC players
Category:Atlanta United 2 players
Category:Irish emigrants to the United States
Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's soccer players
Category:Sportspeople from Dundalk
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate men's association footballers
Category:Soccer players from Connecticut
Category:USL Championship players
Category:Aberdeen F.C. players
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players