Mark McGuinness
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 McGuinness with the Republic of Ireland in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mark James McGuinness[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 5 January 2001[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Slough, England | ||
| Height | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Centre back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Sheffield United | ||
| Number | 25 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2011–2020 | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2021 | Arsenal | 0 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | → Ipswich Town (loan) | 24 | (1) |
| 2021–2024 | Cardiff City | 83 | (5) |
| 2022–2023 | → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) | 17 | (1) |
| 2024–2025 | Luton Town | 48 | (3) |
| 2025– | Sheffield United | 24 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019 | Republic of Ireland U19 | 10 | (2) |
| 2020–2022 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 13 | (1) |
| 2024– | Republic of Ireland | 1 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15:58, 25 April 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:33, 17 November 2024 (UTC) | |||
Mark James McGuinness (born 5 January 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre back for EFL Championship club Sheffield United. Born in England, McGuiness represents the Republic of Ireland national team.
Born in Slough, McGuinness joined Arsenal at the age of 10.[3] After featuring regularly for Arsenal's under-18s side during the 2018–19 season, he signed his first professional contract with the club in April 2019.[4][5] He broke into Arsenal's under-23 squad during the 2019–20 season, although he missed much of the season through injury.[5] He featured for the Arsenal first-team for the first time during pre-season for the 2020–21 season, including scoring a header in a 4–1 win over Milton Keynes Dons in a friendly on 25 August.[6]
McGuinness signed on a season long loan for Ipswich Town in September 2020.[3] He made his senior debut on 27 October 2020, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win over Gillingham.[7] He scored his first senior career goal in a 1–0 away win over Burton Albion on 16 January 2021.[8] McGuinness made 25 appearances during his loan spell at Ipswich, scoring once.[7]
He signed for Cardiff City on 21 June 2021, on a three-year contract.[9] He scored his first goal for Cardiff in a 2–1 win against Preston North End on 20 November 2021.[10]
On 18 August 2022, McGuinness joined Sheffield Wednesday on a season-long loan.[11][12] Two days later he made his debut, starting against Bolton Wanderers.[13] He would win the clubs player of the month for November, making five appearances and scoring his first goal for the club against Shrewsbury Town.[14] Another three clean sheets from a possible five in December saw him get back-to-back player of the month awards at the club.[15] He was recalled back to Cardiff City on 19 January 2023 having played 23 times.[16]
On 17 August 2023, it was announced that McGuinness had signed a new four-year deal that would keep him at Cardiff until the summer of 2027.[17]
In August 2024, he transferred to Luton Town for a "significant" sum.[18]
On 1 September 2025 he signed for Sheffield United.[19]
International career
McGuinness is a Republic of Ireland youth international,[3] qualifying through his Derry-born father (who grew up in Limavady)[20] and playing for them at under-19 level.[2] He made his debut for the Republic of Ireland under-19 side in March 2019 in a 5–0 win over Romania U19.[21]
He received his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland under-21 team in November 2020, for UEFA Under-21 European Championship Qualifiers at home to Iceland and away to Luxembourg.[22] He made his debut for the under-21s in a 2–1 win over Luxembourg on 18 November.[23] McGuinness scored his first goal for the U21s on 12 October 2021 in a 2–1 loss to Montenegro in Podgorica.[24]
On 3 October 2024, McGuinness received his first call up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures away to Finland and Greece.[25]
McGuinness made his Ireland debut on 17 November 2024, starting in their loss to England.[26][27]
Personal life
Mark's father, John McGuinness and brother Tom have represented England in bowls.[28]