// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Jacob Devaney? De-vaney good guy?
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jacob Patrick John Devaney | ||
| Date of birth | 11 June 2007 | ||
| Place of birth | Barnsley, England | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Manchester United | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Manchester United | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2025– | Manchester United | 0 | (1) |
| 2026 | → St Mirren (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024–2025 | Republic of Ireland U19 | 5 | (0) |
| 2025– | Republic of Ireland U21 | 9 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18 May 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:15, 9 June 2026 (UTC) | |||
Jacob Patrick John Devaney (born 11 June 2007) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Manchester United and Republic of Ireland U21.[1]
Club career
[edit]Devaney joined the Manchester United Academy after being scouted playing locally in Yorkshire and joined their centre of excellence from the age of six years-old. He made his Manchester United U-18 debut at the age of 15 years-old.[2][3]
Despite a stress fracture that ruled him out of action for over a year, he signed scholarship terms with Manchester United. He had his first experience of training with the Manchester United first team during the 2023-24 season.[3][4] In May 2025, he was named Manchester United Youth Scholar of the Year.[2] He trained with the first-team squad again under Ruben Amorim in the summer of 2025 pre-season.[5] In the 2025-26 season, he captained the Manchester United U21 side at the age of 18 years-old.[2] In November 2025, he scored a solo goal against Notts County in the EFL Trophy, after running 70 yards.[6]
On 2 February 2026, Devaney joined Scottish Premiership side St Mirren on loan until the end of the season.[7][8]
International career
[edit]After declaring for Ireland in 2024, was called up to the Republic of Ireland U19 squad in September 2024.[3][9] He made his Republic of Ireland U21 debut in June 2025 against Croatia U21.[10][11]
Style of play
[edit]Devaney has been described as a physical and press resistant defensive midfielder.[3][5] He has also shown the ability to play in central defence at youth level.[12]
Personal life
[edit]Born in Barnsley, England, Devaney is the son of football coach and former football player Martin Devaney. He has family in Foxrock, Shankill and Ballina.[3][2]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of match played 17 May 2026
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester United U21 | 2024–25[13] | — | — | — | 2[c] | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2025–26[14] | — | — | — | 3[c] | 1 | 3 | 1 | |||||
| Total | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | |||||
| St Mirren (loan) | 2025–26[14] | Scottish Premiership | 13 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 16 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 13 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 21 | 2 | ||
- ↑ Includes Scottish Cup
- ↑ Includes Scottish League Cup
- 1 2 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
References
[edit]- ↑ "Jacob Devaney". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 "'There have been top Irish players at Manchester United, so hopefully I can be one of the next' – Jacob Devaney on life as a Red Devil". independent.ie. 24 November 2025. Retrieved 23 December 2025. Cite error: Unknown parameter "¥" in
<ref>tag; supported parameters are dir, follow, group, name (see the help page). - 1 2 3 4 5 O'Donoghue, Conor (22 September 2024). "Interview: Martin Devaney opens up about son Jacob Devaney's Ireland call-up and Manchester United journey". The Irish Post. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- ↑ Price, Ryan (4 September 2024). "Highly rated Manchester United youngster declares for Ireland". Sportsjoe.ie. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- 1 2 Oleksii, Yani (11 August 2025). "Manchester United youngster spotted in first-team training - he's compared to Declan Rice. A new rising star?". Tribuna.com. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- ↑ "Man Utd U21s Jacob Devaney runs SEVENTY yards before brilliant finish!". Sky Sports. 5 November 2025. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
- ↑ "Jacob Devaney joins on loan from Manchester United". St Mirren. 2 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ↑ Stone, Simon (11 May 2026). "Jacob Devaney: Man Utd kid making a big impact with St Mirren". BBC Sport.
- ↑ "Manchester United teen Jacob Devaney declares for Ireland". Irish Examiner. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- ↑ "REPORT - Croatia U21 1-0 Ireland U21". fai.ie. 6 June 2025. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- ↑ McGoey, Sean (21 May 2025). "Two Manchester United Players Included In Crawford's Ireland U21 squad". Balls.ie. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- ↑ Stone, Simon (13 November 2025). "Who are Man Utd's most promising youth prospects?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
- ↑ "Games played by Jacob Devaney in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- 1 2 "Games played by Jacob Devaney in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 February 2026.