Shane McLoughlin
Irish footballer (born 1997)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shane Daniel McLoughlin (born 1 March 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for EFL League One club Cambridge United. Born in the United States, he represents the Republic of Ireland at youth level.
|
McLoughlin playing for AFC Wimbledon in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Shane Daniel McLoughlin[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 1 March 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | The Bronx, New York, U.S. | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2] | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Cambridge United | ||
| Number | 21 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Castleisland | |||
| Killorglin | |||
| St. Brendan's Park | |||
| 2013–2016 | Ipswich Town | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2019 | Ipswich Town | 1 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | → Bromley (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2018 | → Bromley (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2019–2021 | AFC Wimbledon | 71 | (3) |
| 2021–2023 | Morecambe | 43 | (1) |
| 2023 | Salford City | 10 | (0) |
| 2023–2025 | Newport County | 70 | (6) |
| 2025– | Cambridge United | 24 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2012–2013 | Republic of Ireland U16 | 3 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Republic of Ireland U18 | 3 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:35, 22 August 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 13:11, 27 April 2019 (UTC) | |||
Early life
McLoughlin was born in New York City, where his family lived in the Bronx. He moved to County Kerry, Ireland, when he was five years old.[3]
Club career
Ipswich Town
McLoughlin joined Ipswich Town from Kerry-based club St. Brendan's Park in July 2013, signing a two-year scholarship with the side.[4] In April 2015, the scholarship was extended for the 2015–16 season.[4]
McLoughlin signed a one-year professional contract in July 2016 with the option of a further 12-month stay at Portman Road.[5]
He made his Ipswich Town debut in a 2–1 EFL Cup Second Round defeat away at Crystal Palace on 22 August 2017. He started the match and was substituted for Monty Patterson in the 81st minute.[6][7]
Loans to Bromley
In March 2017, McLoughlin joined National League club Bromley on loan for the rest of the season.[8] He made seven league appearances for Bromley during this spell.[9] McLoughlin had another brief spell on loan with Bromley the following season as he made two league appearances.[10]
AFC Wimbledon
On 31 January 2019, McLoughlin joined AFC Wimbledon in a free transfer on an 18-month deal.[11] He made his debut for the club 12 days later in a 1–0 win away at Walsall.[12] He scored his first senior career goal on 9 March 2019 in a 2–0 home victory over Doncaster Rovers.[13][14]
In June 2020, Wimbledon exercised the option on the midfielder's contract to keep him at the club for at least a further year. Manager Glyn Hodges praised McLoughlin upon his signing: "Shane can play in a number of positions, and he's getting better and better. He's still young and hungry to keep on improving, so we are delighted we've got him."[15]
McLoughlin departed the club in May 2021.[16]
Morecambe
On 13 July 2021 Morecambe confirmed that McLoughlin had joined for the 2021–22 season on a one-year contract.[17]
Salford City
In January 2023, McLoughlin signed for EFL League Two team Salford City on a reported 18-month contract.[18] However, in May 2023 Salford confirmed that McLoughlin would be released at the end of the 2022–23 season.[19]
Newport County
On 10 July 2023 McLoughlin joined Newport County on a two-year contract.[20] He made his debut for Newport on 5 August 2023 in the starting line-up against Accrington Stanley.[21] McLoughlin scored his first goal for Newport on 16 September 2023 in the 1–1 EFL League Two draw against Barrow.[22] He was offered a contract extension by Newport at the end of the 2024–25 season but he chose to move on.[23]
Cambridge United
On 29 July 2025, McLoughlin joined League Two side Cambridge United on a one-year deal.[24]On 6 May 2026 the club announced he was being released.[25]
International career
McLoughlin has won caps for the Republic of Ireland at under-16 and under-18 levels. He remains eligible for Ireland and the United States[26]
Career statistics
- As of match played 22 August 2026
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Ipswich Town | 2016–17[9] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017–18[10] | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19[28] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Bromley (loan) | 2016–17[9] | National League | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| 2017–18[10] | National League | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| AFC Wimbledon | 2018–19[28] | League One | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| 2019–20[29] | League One | 23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 26 | 1 | |
| 2020–21[30] | League One | 38 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 44 | 1 | |
| Total | 71 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 81 | 3 | ||
| Morecambe | 2021–22[31] | League One | 36 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 1 | 42 | 2 |
| 2022–23[32] | League One | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| Total | 43 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 54 | 2 | ||
| Salford City | 2022–23[32] | League Two | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Newport County | 2023–24[33] | League Two | 34 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 6 |
| 2024–25[34] | League Two | 36 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 3 | |
| Total | 70 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 82 | 9 | ||
| Cambridge United | 2025–26[35] | League Two | 22 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 2 |
| 2026–27[36] | League One | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 228 | 12 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 267 | 16 | ||
- Appearance in EFL Trophy