Luke McCowan
Scottish footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Luke McCowan (born 9 December 1997) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or left wing-back for Scottish Premiership club Celtic.
|
McCowan in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 9 December 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | Greenock, Scotland | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Celtic | ||
| Number | 14 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| East End United F.C. | |||
| 2015–2017 | Ayr United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2021 | Ayr United | 56 | (10) |
| 2015–2016 | → Lugar Boswell Thistle (loan) | ||
| 2016–2017 | → Annbank United (loan) | ||
| 2021–2024 | Dundee | 99 | (23) |
| 2024– | Celtic | 64 | (7) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10 May 2026 | |||
Early life
McCowan was born in Greenock, Scotland[2] and attended St. Laurence's Primary School and Notre Dame High School.[2]
Career
Youth career
In 2015, McCowan won the West of Scotland Title with East End United F.C.[2] While at the Ayr United's youth teams, he had a busy day as he had to be up at 5am to work as a lifeguard at Waterfront Leisure Complex before attending gym sessions in the afternoon, then driving for over an hour to train with Ayr.[2]
Ayr United
On 1 July 2017, McCowan signed his first professional contract for Ayr United lasting one year.[2] In his first season, he made five appearances, scoring one goal in all competitions, with one appearance coming in the League. On 6 June 2019, it was announced that McCowan had been given a two-year contract after getting rave reviews from the game against Partick Thistle in late April.[3]
Dundee
On 1 June 2021, McCowan signed a two-year deal with Scottish Premiership side Dundee.[4] He made his debut for the club in the Scottish League Cup against Brora Rangers.[5] McCowan got his first competitive goal for the Dee the following week against Montrose.[6] He later scored his first Premiership goal which clinched a win over Aberdeen.[7]
In December 2022, McCowan scored a brace away against his former club Ayr United to help Dundee win and put them top of the Scottish Championship for Christmas.[8] He concluded a strong season with an excellent performance and goal against Queen's Park to help Dundee clinch the Scottish Championship title.[9]
On 4 June 2023, Dundee announced that McCowan had signed a new two-year deal, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2025.[10] McCowan marked his 100th appearance for the Dark Blues with an eventful performance, scoring a goal and receiving a red card in a comfortable away win over Livingston.[11] Near the end of a successful season which saw Dundee reach top six and McCowan switch from the wing to centre midfielder with ease and captaining the squad following an injury to Joe Shaughnessy, McCowan was awarded as the Scottish Premiership Player of the Month for April 2024.[12][13] At the end of the season, McCowan was named Dundee's Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year.[14]
Celtic
On 30 August 2024, McCowan signed for Scottish champions Celtic on a three-year deal, for a reported fee of around £1 million.[15] He made his Celtic debut on 1 September, coming on as a substitute in an Old Firm win over Rangers.[16] He opened his scoring account for his boyhood club in his next game, netting at home in a win against Hearts.[17] On 23 October, McCowan made his UEFA Champions League debut off the bench in a draw in Italy away to Atalanta.[18] He won the Scottish Premiership title with Celtic at Tannadice Park in April 2025.[19]
On 3 August 2025, McCowan scored Celtic's first competitive goal of the 2025–26 season, in a 1–0 win against St. Mirren. He also scored the Bhoys' fourth goal in their 6-2 win against the same opponent in the Scottish Cup semi-final on 19 April 2026. Five days later, he extended his contract at Celtic Park until 2028.[20]
Style of play
McCowan is left footed and right handed. A versatile player, he often plays across all sides of the midfield and even sometimes plays as a winger.[2]
Career statistics
- As of match played 10 May 2026
| Club | Season | League | Scottish Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Ayr United | 2017–18[21] | Scottish League One | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[a] | 1 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2018–19[22] | Scottish Championship | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[b] | 1 | 9 | 1 | ||
| 2019–20[23] | Scottish Championship | 24 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | — | 1[a] | 0 | 31 | 8 | ||
| 2020–21[24] | Scottish Championship | 26 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 33 | 9 | |||
| Total | 56 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 78 | 19 | ||
| Dundee | 2021–22[25] | Scottish Premiership | 29 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 36 | 5 | ||
| 2022–23[26] | Scottish Championship | 30 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | 3[a] | 1 | 40 | 10 | ||
| 2023–24[27] | Scottish Premiership | 37 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 10 | |||
| 2024–25[28] | Scottish Premiership | 3 | 2 | — | 5 | 1 | — | — | 8 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 99 | 23 | 6 | 1 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 125 | 28 | ||
| Celtic | 2024–25[28] | Scottish Premiership | 33 | 6 | 4 | 1 | — | 3[c] | 0 | — | 40 | 7 | ||
| 2025–26[29] | Scottish Premiership | 30 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5[d] | 1 | — | 42 | 4 | ||
| Total | 63 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 82 | 11 | ||
| Career total | 218 | 40 | 20 | 5 | 30 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 285 | 58 | ||
- Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
- One appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup, two appearances and one goal in Scottish Premiership play-offs
- Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
- One appearance in UEFA Champions League, four appearance in UEFA Europa League