Mikey Johnston
{{Short description|Irish footballer (born 1999)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Mikey Johnston
| image = Celtic-20240722-073.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Johnston training with Celtic in 2024
| full_name = Michael Andrew Johnston
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|4|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland
| height = {{convert|1.76|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/mikey-johnston/ |title=Mikey Johnston: Profile |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |accessdate=15 March 2023}}
| position = Winger
| currentclub = West Bromwich Albion
| clubnumber = 22
| youthyears1 = 2008–2017
| youthclubs1 = Celtic
| years1 = 2017–2024
| clubs1 = Celtic
| caps1 = 61
| goals1 = 9
| years2 = 2022–2023
| clubs2 = → Vitória Guimarães (loan)
| caps2 = 25
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2024
| clubs3 = → West Bromwich Albion (loan)
| caps3 = 20
| goals3 = 7
| years4 = 2024–
| clubs4 = West Bromwich Albion
| caps4 = 37
| goals4 = 3
| nationalyears1 = 2017
| nationalteam1 = Scotland U19
| nationalcaps1 = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 3
| nationalyears2 = 2018–2019
| nationalteam2 = Scotland U21
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2023–
| nationalteam3 = Republic of Ireland
| nationalcaps3 = 15
| nationalgoals3 = 2
| club-update = 22:09, 13 April 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 21:56, 23 March 2025 (UTC)
}}
Michael Andrew Johnston (born 19 April 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for {{English football updater|WestBrom}} club West Bromwich Albion. Born in Scotland, he plays for the Republic of Ireland national team.
Early life
Michael Andrew Johnston was born on 19 April 1999 in Glasgow.
Club career
=Celtic=
Johnston made his first-team debut for Celtic on 6 May 2017, in a 4–1 victory over St Johnstone at Celtic Park.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39753995 |first=John |last=Barnes |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 May 2017 |accessdate=6 May 2017 |title=Celtic 4–1 St Johnstone}} Shortly after the game, the winger signed a new three-year contract with his boyhood club.{{cite web | url=http://www.celticfc.net/news/12568 | title=Delight as Michael Johnston signs new three-year deal | publisher=Celtic | date=6 May 2017 | accessdate=6 May 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39844455 |title=Celtic: Youngster Michael Johnston delighted to sign new three year contract |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=8 May 2017 |accessdate=8 May 2017}}
In November 2018, Johnston signed a contract with Celtic to run until the end of the 2022–23 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46281541 |title=Michael Johnston: Celtic winger signs new five-year contract |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 November 2018 |accessdate=21 November 2018}} In the following month, Johnston scored his first goal for the club in a 3–0 win against Motherwell.{{Cite news |title=Highlights: Celtic 3-0 Motherwell |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/46628718 |access-date=2023-01-03}}
On 28 November 2019, Johnston scored in a 3–1 victory against Ligue 1 team Stade Rennais in the UEFA Europa League.{{Cite news |title=Celtic confirm top spot with Rennes win |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50489724 |access-date=2023-01-03}} Johnston signed a new five-year contract with Celtic on 28 December 2019.{{cite web |title=Celtic: Mikey Johnston signs five-year contract extension |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50934652 |publisher=BBC Sport |accessdate=28 December 2019 |date=28 December 2019}}
Johnston's Celtic career has been disrupted by numerous injuries, which had seen him miss much of the 2019–20 and 2020–21 Scottish Premiership seasons. He subsequently found opportunities rare during the 2021–22 campaign with arrivals Jota, Liel Abada and Daizen Maeda ahead of Johnston in the pecking order for his position.{{Cite web |last=Pilcher |first=Ross |date=2022-09-01 |title=Mikey Johnston seals Celtic exit as winger leaves on loan |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mikey-johnston-seals-celtic-exit-27887445 |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=Daily Record |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-07-24 |title=Mikey Johnston linked with move to Ronny Delia's Standard Liege |url=https://thecelticstar.com/mikey-johnston-linked-with-move-to-ronny-delias-standard-liege/ |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=thecelticstar.com |language=en-GB}}
==Vitória de Guimarães (loan)==
During the summer of 2022, manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed that Celtic would look to loan Johnston out for more regular game time, commenting that: "There's definitely a talented footballer there, but sometimes you just need a different environment to help that happen". Belgian Pro League club Standard Liège (managed by former Celtic head coach Ronny Deila) were reportedly interested in his services, along with Scottish Premiership side Hibernian.{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Euan |date=2022-07-29 |title=Mikey Johnston set for Celtic loan exit as Ange Postecoglou confirms plans |url=https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/mikey-johnston-set-celtic-loan-24625457 |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=footballscotland |language=en}} On 2 September 2022, Johnston went on a season-long loan to Primeira Liga side Vitória de Guimarães. He also signed a one-year extension to his current Celtic deal prior to the move.{{Cite web |title=Celtic ace Mikey Johnston joins Vitoria Guimarase on season-long loan |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/20883031.celtic-ace-mikey-johnston-joins-vitoria-guimaraes-loan/ |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=HeraldScotland |date=2 September 2022 |language=en}} On 15 October 2022, Johnston scored his first goal and brace for Vitória S.C. in a 3–1 Taça de Portugal win against CF Canelas 2010. On 31 October 2022, Johnston scored his first league goal in a 3–2 home win against Famalicão.{{Cite web |last=Galindo |first=Alan |date=2022-11-01 |title=Mikey Johnston nets Vitoria Guimaraes cracker as Celtic loan star impresses |url=https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/sport/mikey-johnston-nets-vitoria-guimaraes-25403408 |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=GlasgowLive |language=en}}
==West Bromwich Albion (loan)==
On 1 February 2024, Johnston joined West Bromwich Albion on loan for the remainder of the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/mikey-johnston-joins-loan-celtic |title=Mikey Johnston joins on loan from Celtic |website=West Bromwich Albion |date=1 February 2024 |accessdate=1 February 2024}} On 13 February 2024, Johnston scored his first goal for the club against Cardiff City, scoring just 30 seconds into the game on his first start for the Baggies.{{Cite news |title=Johnston ready for 'massive' West Brom challenge |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68295245 |access-date=2024-02-14 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} Across March 2024, Johnston scored four goals, assisting another, as he was awarded the EFL Championship Player of the Month.{{cite web|url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/mikey-johnston-wins-marchs-sky-bet-championship-player-month-award|title=MIKEY JOHNSTON WINS MARCH'S SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYER OF THE MONTH AWARD|website=www.wba.co.uk|date=12 April 2024|accessdate=12 April 2024}}
= West Bromwich Albion =
On 30 August 2024, Johnston signed permanently for West Bromwich Albion on a four year contract.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-30 |title=West Brom re-sign Celtic winger Johnston & Everton defender Holgate |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cp81r1rrrz4o |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
International career
Johnston was born in Glasgow and represented Scotland in youth internationals.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/08/07/do-celtic-replacing-mikey-johnston-with-husein-balic-is-now-unth/|title=Celtic replacing Mikey Johnston with Husein Balic is now unthinkable|first=Danny|last=Owen|date=7 August 2019|website=HITC}} Selected for the Scotland under-21 squad in the 2018 Toulon Tournament,{{ cite web | title=Scotland Under-21 squad announced for Toulon tournament | url = https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/news/scotland-under-21-squad-announced-for-toulon-tournament/ | publisher = Scottish Football Association | date = 3 May 2018 | access-date = 1 July 2022 }} the team lost to Turkey on penalties and finished fourth.{{ cite web | url = https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/news/scotland-finish-fourth-at-the-toulon-tournament-after-shoot-out-defeat-to-turkey/ | title = Scotland finish fourth at the Toulon tournament after shoot-out defeat to Turkey | publisher = Scottish Football Association | date = 10 June 2018 |access-date = 1 July 2022 }} He was voted third best player{{cite web|title=Festival International Espoirs 2018 : les récompenses |url=https://festival-foot-espoirs.com/festival/detail_actualite.php?id=3394 |date=12 June 2018 |publisher=Toulon Tournament |language=French
|access-date = 1 July 2022}} and selected in the Best Tournament XI.{{cite web|title=L'équipe type du Festival International Espoirs 2018 |url=https://festival-foot-espoirs.com/festival/detail_actualite.php?id=3391 |date=11 June 2018 |publisher=Toulon Tournament |language=French
|access-date = 1 July 2022}}
Johnston is eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland, through his grandfather who was born in Derry.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64827362 |title=Mikey Johnston: On-loan Vitoria winger to declare for Republic of Ireland |website=BBC Sport |date=3 March 2023 |accessdate=3 March 2023}} Ireland manager Stephen Kenny confirmed in March 2023 that the FAI had applied for permission to select Johnston. It was then confirmed by the FAI the same month that the application had been approved by FIFA,{{Cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/johnston-receives-fifa-international-clearance|title=Johnston receives FIFA international clearance | Football Association of Ireland|website=www.fai.ie}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64827362 |title=Mikey Johnston: Celtic winger's switch to Republic of Ireland approved by Fifa |website=BBC Sport |date=8 March 2023 |accessdate=8 March 2023}} and he was selected for their squad later that month.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64977722 |title=Mikey Johnston: Celtic winger receives first Republic of Ireland call-up |website=BBC Sport |date=16 March 2023 |accessdate=16 March 2023}}
He made his debut for the Republic of Ireland on 22 March 2023, coming on as a substitute in the 63rd minute of a 3–2 win against Latvia.{{cite news |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mikey-johnston-become-instant-ireland-29527922 |title=Mikey Johnston becomes instant Ireland hero as Celtic loan star's magic show sparks thrilling win over Latvia |first=Graeme |last=Young |newspaper=Daily Record |date=22 March 2023 |accessdate=23 March 2023}}
On 19 June 2023, he scored his first goal for Ireland, the opening goal in a 4-0 win against Gibraltar in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier.{{cite web|url= https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2023/0619/1390073-magic-johnston-off-the-bench-to-guide-ireland-to-win/|title= Ireland 4 Gibraltar 0|date=19 June 2023|work=RTE Sport|accessdate=20 June 2023}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 15 March 2025}}{{cite web|title=[Celtic player] Johnston, Michael |url=http://www.fitbastats.com/celtic/player.php?playerid=8071 |accessdate=2 February 2020 |website=Fitbastats}}{{Soccerway|id=423874}}
| 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 Scottish Cup, Taça de Portugal, FA Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Scottish League Cup, Taça da Liga, EFL Cup}} !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Celtic Under-20s{{efn|name=SCC|Matches in the Scottish Challenge Cup, in which teams from the SPFL Development League compete against senior clubs}}
|colspan="1"|2016–17 |— |colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="1"|2017–18
|— |colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="10"|Celtic
|2016–17{{soccerbase season|93317|2016|access-date=19 October 2021}} |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2017–18{{soccerbase season|93317|2017|access-date=19 October 2021}}
|Scottish Premiership |3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2018–19{{soccerbase season|93317|2018|access-date=19 October 2021}}
|Scottish Premiership |14 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5{{efn|One appearance in the UEFA Champions League and four appearances in the UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 23 | 5 | |
| 2019–20{{soccerbase season|93317|2019|access-date=19 October 2021}}
|Scottish Premiership |11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8{{efn|Four appearances and one goal in the UEFA Champions League and four appearances and two goals in the UEFA Europa League}} | 3 | 22 | 6 | |
| 2020–21{{soccerbase season|93317|2020|access-date=19 October 2021}}
|Scottish Premiership |10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2021–22{{soccerbase season|93317|2021|access-date=19 October 2021}}
|Scottish Premiership |12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4{{efn|Three appearances in the UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 20 | 0 | |
| 2022–23{{soccerbase season|93317|2022|access-date=2 March 2023}}
|Scottish Premiership |0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2023–24{{soccerbase season|93317|2023|access-date=28 November 2023}}
|Scottish Premiership |9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|One appearance in the UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | 12 | 2 | |
| 2024–25{{soccerbase season|93317|2024|access-date=22 December 2024}}
|Scottish Premiership |1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!61 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 19 | 3 | 93 | 13 | |
| Vitória de Guimarães (loan)
|2022–23{{soccerbase season|93317|2022|access-date=2 March 2023}} |25 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 3 | ||
| West Bromwich Albion (loan)
|18 | 7 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|Appearances in 2024 EFL Championship Play-offs}} | 0 | 20 | 7 | |||
| West Bromwich Albion
|EFL Championship |33 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 2 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!137 | 19 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 23 | 3 | 180 | 25 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 23 March 2025}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="3"|Republic of Ireland
|2023 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 15 | 2 |
| class="wikitable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Mikey Johnston | ||||||
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=center | 1 | 19 June 2023 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | {{fb|GIB}} | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
| style="text-align:center"| 2 | 16 October 2023 | Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal | {{fb|GIB}} | style="text-align:center"|2–0 | style="text-align:center"|4–0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
Honours
Celtic
- Scottish Premiership: 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48075065|title=Celtic secured an eighth consecutive title in style with a convincing win away to wasteful Aberdeen|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=4 May 2019}} 2019–20,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52646282|title=Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL ends season|work=BBC Sport|date=18 May 2020|accessdate=18 May 2020}} 2021–22,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61316038|title=Dundee United 1–1 Celtic: Ange Postecoglou's side reclaim league title|work=BBC Sport|date=11 May 2022|access-date=12 May 2022}} 2023–24{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
- Scottish Cup: 2017–18, 2018–19,{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48318590|title=Heart of Midlothian 1-2 Celtic|publisher=BBC Sport|date=25 May 2019 |accessdate=25 May 2019}} 2019–20[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/20/celtic-hearts-scottish-cup-final-match-report Celtic win fourth straight Scottish Cup as Hazard's shootout saves break Hearts], Ewan Murray, The Guardian, 20 December 2020
- Scottish League Cup: 2018–19, 2019–20,{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50672183 | title=Rangers 0 – 1 Celtic | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=8 December 2019 |date=8 December 2019}} 2021–22{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59705941|title=Hibernian 1–2 Celtic|work=BBC Sport | accessdate=19 December 2021 |date=19 December 2021}}
Individual
- Toulon Tournament Bronze Ball: 2018
- Best XI - 2018 Toulon Tournament{{cite web|title=L'équipe type du Festival International Espoirs 2018 |url=https://festival-foot-espoirs.com/festival/detail_actualite.php?id=3391 |date=11 June 2018 |publisher=Toulon Tournament |language=French}}
- EFL Championship Player of the Month: March 2024
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{SFA player}}
{{West Bromwich Albion F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnston, Mikey}}
Category:Footballers from Glasgow
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's international footballers
Category:Scottish men's footballers
Category:Scotland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Scotland men's youth international footballers
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. players
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players
Category:Primeira Liga players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate men's association footballers
Category:Scottish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal
Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in Portugal
Category:Scottish expatriate sportspeople in Portugal
Category:People educated at St Ninian's High School, Kirkintilloch
Category:Irish people of Scottish descent
Category:Scottish people of Irish descent