Pierce Sweeney
Irish footballer
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Pierce Liam Sweeney (born 11 September 1994) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League One side Exeter City.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Pierce Liam Sweeney[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 11 September 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Exeter City | ||
| Number | 26 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2012 | Belvedere | ||
| 2012 | Bray Wanderers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012 | Bray Wanderers | 12 | (0) |
| 2012–2016 | Reading | 0 | (0) |
| 2016–2021 | Exeter City | 186 | (17) |
| 2021 | Swindon Town | 0 | (0) |
| 2021– | Exeter City | 172 | (4) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2010–2011 | Republic of Ireland U17 | 2 | (0) |
| 2011–2013 | Republic of Ireland U19 | 6 | (0) |
| 2013 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 1 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21 February 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 18:00, 1 August 2016 (UTC) | |||
Career
Schoolboy football
Sweeney began his career at Ardmore Rovers in his hometown of Bray, before moving on to the under-13 level with Belvedere.[3]
Bray Wanderers
In 2012, Sweeney joined League of Ireland Premier Division side Bray Wanderers. He made 12 appearances for the Seagulls during the 2012 season.
Reading
On 6 July 2012, Sweeney signed with then-Premier League side Reading. Although he was a member of Reading's Under 21 2013-14 Premier League Cup-winning side, on 9 May 2016, Sweeney was released by Reading without having made a first-team appearance for the club.[4]
Exeter City
On 22 July 2016, Sweeney signed with Exeter City as the 1931 Fund fan-funded player after a successful trial.[5] He scored two goals and an assist in Exeter's 5–1 defeat of Notts County on 8 September 2018,[6] and had already scored two additional goals before the end of September 2018.
Swindon Town
On 11 June 2021, Sweeney signed a two-year deal with Swindon Town to begin on 1 July 2021,[7] after rejecting an offer from Exeter City.[8] His contract was terminated by mutual consent on 2 July 2021, with Sweeney stating that 'due to family circumstances at this current moment I am unable to fulfil relocating to be part of the team'.[9]
Exeter City return
Following his abrupt departure from Swindon Town, Sweeney returned to Exeter City on 8 July 2021.[10][11] He was vice-captain as Exeter City secured a return to League One for the first time since 2012. In June 2022, Sweeney signed a new two-year deal with the club.[12]
On 14 January 2023, in his first match as club captain following the departure of Matt Jay, Sweeney made his 300th appearance for Exeter City in all competitions.[13] At the end of the 2022–23 season, Sweeney was chosen as Exeter's Player of the Year.[14]
International career
Sweeney has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-U17, under-U19, and under-U21 levels.[15]
Career statistics
- As of match played 27 January 2026
| Club | Season | Division | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Bray Wanderers | 2012[15] | LOI Premier Division | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Reading | 2012–13[16] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2013–14[17] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15[18] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16[19] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Exeter City | 2016–17[20] | League Two | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5[b] | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| 2017–18[21] | League Two | 40 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4[c] | 0 | 49 | 9 | |
| 2018–19[22] | League Two | 43 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 46 | 4 | |
| 2019–20[23] | League Two | 36 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6[e] | 0 | 47 | 3 | |
| 2020–21[24] | League Two | 38 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 42 | 3 | |
| 2021–22[25] | League Two | 43 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[d] | 0 | 49 | 0 | |
| 2022–23[26] | League One | 43 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 49 | 2 | |
| 2023–24[27] | League One | 42 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 48 | 0 | |
| 2024–25[28] | League One | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[d] | 1 | 23 | 1 | |
| 2025–26[29] | League One | 21 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 26 | 2 | |
| Total | 353 | 21 | 21 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 29 | 1 | 416 | 24 | ||
| Career total | 365 | 21 | 21 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 30 | 1 | 429 | 24 | ||
- Appearance in Setanta Sports Cup
- Three appearances in EFL Trophy, two appearances in EFL League Two play-offs
- One appearance in EFL Trophy, three appearances in EFL League Two play-offs
- Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
- Three appearances in EFL Trophy, three appearances in EFL League Two play-offs
Honours
- Reading
Exeter City
- EFL League Two runner-up: 2021–22[15]
Individual
- FAI Under-19 Irish International Player of the Year: 2013
- Exeter City Player of the Year: 2022–23[14]
