Stuart McKinstry
Scottish footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stuart Adamson McKinstry (born 18 September 2002) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Scottish League One club Hamilton Academical.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Stuart Adamson McKinstry[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 18 September 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Wishaw, Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.79 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Hamilton Academical | ||
| Number | 27 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2019 | Motherwell | ||
| 2019–2021 | Leeds United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2023 | Leeds United | 1 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | → Motherwell (loan) | 21 | (4) |
| 2023–2024 | Queen's Park | 20 | (1) |
| 2024– | Hamilton Academical | 54 | (5) |
| International career | |||
| 2019 | Scotland U17 | 4 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 4 May 2026 | |||
Born in Wishaw, McKinstry is a product of Motherwell's academy. He moved to Leeds United in the summer of 2019, making his senior debut in 2021. In 2022 he returned to his boyhood club Motherwell on a one-year loan.
Club career
Motherwell
Born in Wishaw,[2] McKinstry supported Motherwell as a child, with both of his parents being Motherwell fans.[3] He joined Motherwell's academy aged 10, and progressed to the first-team, appearing in the matchday squad as an unused substitute for a 1–0 defeat to Kilmarnock on 26 December 2018.[3][2]
Leeds United
McKinstry joined Leeds United's academy in summer 2019, and signed a professional contract with the club in September 2019, with the contract valid until 2022.[4] In August 2020, he signed a new contract with the club, valid until summer of 2023.[5] He made his first-team debut as a substitute in a 0–0 EFL Cup draw with Fulham on 21 September 2021, with McKinstry scoring the winning penalty as Leeds won the penalty shoot-out 6–5.[6] McKinstry made his Premier League debut for Leeds on 21 November 2021 as a second-half substitute in the 2–1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.[7] On 13 June 2023, Leeds United announced that McKinstry's contract would not be extended at the end of the 2022–23 season.[8]
Motherwell loan
On 17 August 2022, Motherwell announced the return of McKinstry to the club, on a season-long loan deal from Leeds United. McKinstry scored goals in consecutive games against Rangers and Aberdeen respectively. McKinstry scored his third goal for the club coming off the bench against Hibs and also scored a fourth Motherwell goal against Ross County.[9]
Queen's Park
On 3 October 2023, McKinstry joined Scottish Championship club Queen's Park on a contract until the end of the season.[10]
Hamilton Academical
On 28 October 2024, McKinstry joined Scottish Championship side Hamilton Academical.[11]
International career
Style of play
Career statistics
- As of match played 22 November 2025
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Leeds United U21 | 2020–21[14] | — | — | — | 2[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2021–22[15] | — | — | — | 2[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| Total | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||
| Leeds United | 2021–22[15] | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
| 2022–23[16] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Motherwell (loan) | 2022–23[16] | Scottish Premiership | 21 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 25 | 4 | |
| Queen's Park | 2023–24[17] | Scottish Championship | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 21 | 1 | |
| Hamilton Academical | 2024–25[18] | Scottish Championship | 19 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 3 | ||
| 2025–26[19] | Scottish League One | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5[a] | 2 | 24 | 3 | |
| Total | 34 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 46 | 6 | ||
| Career total | 76 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 98 | 11 | ||
- Appearance(s) in Scottish Challenge Cup
