Niamh Fahey
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.jpg) Fahey with Liverpool in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 13 October 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Galway, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| Youth career | |||
| Moycullen | |||
| Salthill Devon | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2008 | Salthill Devon | ||
| 2007 | → Galway (loan) | ||
| 2008–2014 | Arsenal | 73 | (2) |
| 2015–2017 | Chelsea | 28 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | Bordeaux | 17 | (0) |
| 2018–2025 | Liverpool | 92 | (5) |
| Total | 210+ | (7+) | |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2007–2025 | Republic of Ireland | 114 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10:04, 11 February 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 12 August 2023 | |||
Niamh Fahey (/niːv ˈfæhi/ neev FA-hee; born 13 October 1987) is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder or centre-back. Beginning her career with Salthill Devon, she moved to Arsenal in 2008, where she spent six seasons before moving to Chelsea in 2014. After a spell at Bordeaux, Fahey signed for Liverpool in 2018. Fahey would go on to become club captain in 2020, before retiring at the club in 2025. From 2007 to 2025, she also represented the Republic of Ireland national team. She has also won national cups playing Gaelic football with Galway Ladies Football.[1] Niamh is the sister of Galway's 2001 All-Ireland-winning Gaelic football captain Gary Fahey.[2]
Liverpool
Fahey began playing football with Moycullen as her hometown, Killanin, did not have a soccer club at the time.[3][4] She then moved to Salthill Devon and progressed through the ranks alongside future international teammate Méabh De Búrca.[5] Both players helped Galway win the FAI Women's Cup in 2007. In the final against Raheny United, Fahey scored the winning penalty and also subdued the attacking threat of Raheny's Olivia O'Toole, in what RTÉ described as "a splendid individual display."[6]
She joined Arsenal Ladies in August 2008.[7] In her first season with the Gunners Fahey made 18 appearances, mostly at left full–back, as the club won a domestic treble.[5]
On 19 December 2014, Fahey signed for Chelsea L.F.C.[8]
In the summer of 2018, Fahey signed for her lifelong supported club Liverpool where she has been the club captain since 2020. She stayed with the club after they were relegated on a points by points basis in the summer of 2020.[9]
In the 2021–22 FA Women's Championship season, Fahey led Liverpool to the FA Women's Championship title winning sixteen out of their twenty two league games, earning their promotion back to the FA Women's Super League. She missed only three games and also scoring two goals during the entirety of the season.[10]
After Liverpool finished seventh on their return to the top flight, Fahey then signed a contract extension ahead of the 2023-24 season.[11]
On 2 May 2025, Fahey announced her retirement from football at the end of the 2024–25 season.[12]
Gaelic football
Fahey won the All-Ireland Ladies Football Championship in 2004 with Galway defeating Dublin by 3–11 to 0–9[13] She also played in the 2005 final for Galway losing to Cork by 1–11 to 0–08.[14] In 2012 she also won the All-Ireland Ladies Intermediate Club Football Championship with London club Parnells defeating Cahir of Tipperary by 2–14 to 1–2.[15]
International career
Fahey has won over 100 caps for the Republic of Ireland, having previously represented her country at Under-17 and Under-19 level. In March 2007, Fahey made her senior debut for Ireland in a 1–1 draw with Portugal in the opening match of the Algarve Cup.[16] After becoming a regular in the team, Fahey was named FAI Women's Senior International Player of the Year in 2008,[17] 2009[18] and 2011.[19]
In April 2013, Fahey suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury while playing for Arsenal. The 30 minutes she played for Ireland against the Basque Country in May 2014 was her first game back.[20]
On 16 February 2022, she played her 100th match for Republic of Ireland in a 2–1 win over Poland in the 2022 Pinatar Cup.[21] She scored her first ever goal for Ireland on the occasion of her 104th cap, in a 9–0 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A win over Georgia in Gori on 27 June 2022.[22]
Post-playing career
In October 2025, Liverpool announced that Fahey had returned to the club as technical co-ordinator for the women's side.[23]
Personal life
Fahey grew up a life long Liverpool fan and idolised Michael Owen.
‘I was out in the garden, pretending to be Michael Owen. Most of my family are Liverpool supporters, so it was only natural for me.’
During her career, she completed her degree and masters in pharmacology, as well as completing a master's degree in business administration (MBA) at Liverpool John Moores University in July 2025.[23] Fahey has also started some of her coaching badges.[4]
