// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Jonny Russell a soccer star? Does he have a ball?
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jonathan Russell | ||
| Date of birth | 19 September 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Larne, Northern Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Crawley Town | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2023 | Glentoran | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2026 | Glentoran | 59 | (1) |
| 2023 | → Dundela (loan) | ||
| 2026– | Crawley Town | 4 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024– | Northern Ireland U21 | 7 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:21, 28 January 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 12:15, 3 January 2026 (UTC) | |||
Jonathan Russell (born 19 September 2004) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League Two club Crawley Town, and the Northern Ireland national under-21 team.
Club career
[edit]Glentoran
[edit]Russell was born in Larne on 19 September 2004 as the son of former Glentoran footballer Jeff Russell.[1][2] He progressed through the youth ranks at Glentoran, having joined the club's youth set-up aged 10.[3][2]
He spent the second half of the 2022–23 season on loan at Dundela,[3][4] having made his first-team debut for Glentoran in the Northern Ireland Football League Cup earlier that season.[2]
He signed his first professional contract with Glentoran in November 2023, valid until 2026, after five NIFL Premiership appearances in the early stages of the 2023–24 season,[2] leaving his apprenticeship with Northern Ireland Electricity in the process.[4] The 2023–24 season was a "breakthrough campaign" for Russell, as he made 26 Premiership appearances in total for Glentoran,[4] and won the club's Player of the Year award at the end of the season.[5] He was the youngest winner of the award in the club's history.[6]
He played less regularly in the first half of the 2024–25 season due to "injury and illness and the form of Danny Amos at left-back", though he did also play at right-back during this period.[7] He ended the 2024–25 season having made 20 Premiership appearances, and made 13 league appearances in the first half of the 2025–26 season.[8]
Crawley Town
[edit]On 3 January 2026, Russell signed for EFL League Two club Crawley Town for an undisclosed fee, on a contract of undisclosed length.[9] It had been reported three days prior by Belfast Telegraph that the fee was to be £100,000.[10]
International career
[edit]He has represented Northern Ireland internationally at under-21 level.[1] He was given his first call-up to the under-21 team in March 2024, for a 2025 U21 Euro qualifier against Serbia.[11] He made his debut coming on as a substitute for the final 15 minutes as Northern Ireland won 2–1.[12]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Jonathan Russell » Profile". www.worldfootball.net. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Morton, Johnny (6 November 2023). "'Now really all I want to do is focus on being a success and a trophy winner with Glentoran.'". Belfast News Letter. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- 1 2 Fullerton, Gareth (28 August 2023). "Warren Feeney hails teen as 'future Glentoran captain'". Belfast Live. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- 1 2 3 Morton, Johnny (30 August 2024). "'I'm a Glenman through and through...we want to bring trophies back to the club - that would be so special.'". Belfast News Letter. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ↑ "Jonny gets his POTY Award". Glentoran F.C. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ↑ Van Dort, Patrick (3 January 2026). "'His progression is a real reflection of the hard work being done within our Academy'". Belfast News Letter. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ↑ Crawford, Steven (13 January 2025). "Jonny Russell chasing Glentoran dream as he leaves challenging period behind". Belfast Live. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ↑ "Johnny Russell Stats | Soccerway". www.soccerway.com. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ↑ "Jonny Russell: Crawley sign defender from Glentoran". BBC Sport. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ↑ Luney, Graham (31 December 2025). "Northern Ireland U21 and Glentoran star set for move across water after securing £100k deal". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ↑ Morton, Johnny (22 March 2024). "Glentoran youngster receives call-up for Northern Ireland U21 Euro qualifier against Serbia". Belfast News Letter. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ↑ Luney, Graham (28 August 2024). "Irish League stars proving worth with NI U21s: Glentoran's Johnny Russell". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
External links
[edit]- Jonny Russell at Soccerway
- 2004 births
- Living people
- Association footballers from Larne
- Men's association footballers from Northern Ireland
- Men's association football defenders
- Glentoran F.C. players
- Dundela F.C. players
- Crawley Town F.C. players
- NIFL Premiership players
- NIFL Championship players
- English Football League players
- Northern Ireland men's under-21 international footballers
- 21st-century sportsmen from Northern Ireland