Danny McNamara (footballer)
Footballer (born 1998)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Danny John McNamara (born 27 December 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a full back for EFL Championship club Charlton Athletic. He is a former Republic of Ireland under-21 international.
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Danny McNamara in 2025. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Danny John McNamara[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 27 December 1998 | ||
| Place of birth | Sidcup, England | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2] | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Charlton Athletic | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Charlton Athletic | |||
| –2017 | Millwall | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2026 | Millwall | 157 | (2) |
| 2018–2019 | → Welling United (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2019 | → Dover Athletic (loan) | 8 | (1) |
| 2019 | → Havant & Waterlooville (loan) | 4 | (1) |
| 2019–2020 | → Newport County (loan) | 21 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | → St Johnstone (loan) | 22 | (1) |
| 2026– | Charlton Athletic | 5 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2019–2020 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 2 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:10, 5 September 2026 (UTC) | |||
Playing career
Early career
Born in nearby Sidcup, McNamara began his development at the Charlton Athletic Community Trust Advanced Centre at the age of seven. He then joined the Charlton Athletic Academy where he played until the age of 14. After leaving Charlton, he had a brief spell playing for non-League side Corinthian F.C..[3]
Millwall
Millwall scouted McNamara in 2015, and signed him up on a two-year scholarship.[3] He signed his first professional contract with the club in July 2017.[4]
Loan spells
McNamara spent time on loan during the 2018–19 season at Welling United,[5] Dover Athletic[6] and Havant & Waterlooville.[7] Upon his return in May 2019, McNamara signed a new one-year contract with Millwall with an option for a further year.[8]
On 31 July 2019, McNamara joined League Two side Newport County on a season long loan.[9] On 3 August 2019, he made his Football League debut for Newport, being named in the starting line-up for a 2–2 draw against Mansfield Town on the opening day of the 2019–20 season.[10] On 6 January 2020, Millwall recalled McNamara from his loan spell at Newport.[11]
On 14 July 2020, McNamara and fellow Lion Isaac Olaofe joined Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone on season-long loans.[12] On 4 January 2021, McNamara was recalled by Millwall, with teammate James Brown being sent on loan to St Johnstone.[13]
Return to Millwall and breakthrough
Following his return to Millwall in early January 2021, McNamara made his debut for the club on 9 January 2021 in an FA Cup victory over Boreham Wood[14] and made his league debut three days later in a 1–1 away draw with AFC Bournemouth.[15]
On 9 April 2022, McNamara opened his account for the club with the first two goals in a 4–1 thrashing of Barnsley.[16]
On 6 November 2024, during a 1–0 home win against Leeds, McNamara was headbutted in stoppage time by opposing player, Junior Firpo. Referee Leigh Doughty referred the incident to the Football League and Firpo received a three-game suspension. The incident, and subsequent aftermath led to Leeds manager, Daniel Farke questioning McNamara's conduct, along with the methods and consistency as to how the Football League imposes retrospective sanctions.[17]
McNamara was involved in an altercation with a Charlton Athletic fan in the stands during a 1–1 draw at The Valley on 13 September 2025. McNamara characterised the incident as "just a bit of banter."[18]
On 15 May 2026, it was announced that McNamara would depart the club upon the expiry of his contract.[19]
Charlton Athletic
On 23 July 2026, McNamara joined Charlton Athletic on a two-year deal.[20][21]
International Career
On 28 August 2019, McNamara was named in the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad.[22] He qualifies through his grandparents from Leitrim.[citation needed]
Personal life
Career statistics
- As of 5 September 2026
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Millwall | 2018–19[24] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019–20[25] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2020–21[26] | Championship | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| 2021–22[27] | Championship | 37 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 2 | |
| 2022–23[28] | Championship | 42 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 0 | |
| 2023–24[29] | Championship | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| 2024–25[30] | Championship | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2025–26[31] | Championship | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| Total | 157 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 166 | 2 | ||
| Welling United (loan) | 2018–19[32] | National League South | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Dover Athletic (loan) | 2018–19[24] | National League | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| Havant & Waterlooville (loan) | 2018–19[24] | National League | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Newport County (loan) | 2019–20[25] | League Two | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| St Johnstone (loan) | 2020–21[26] | Scottish Premiership | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 |
| Charlton Athletic | 2026–27[33] | Championship | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Career total | 226 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 239 | 5 | ||
- Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup
- Includes EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup
- Appearance in the EFL Trophy