Vinnie Leonard
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Vincent Scott McGinley Leonard[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 21 March 2008 | ||
| Place of birth | Navan, County Meath, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Norwich City | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2022 | Torro United | ||
| 2022–2024 | Dundalk | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024–2026 | Dundalk | 38 | (3) |
| 2026– | Norwich City | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024 | Republic of Ireland U16 | 3 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | Republic of Ireland U17 | 16 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11:04, 5 April 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 16:50, 18 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Vincent Scott McGinley Leonard (born 21 March 2008) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL Championship club Norwich City.
Club career
[edit]Youth career
[edit]A native of Kilberry in Navan, County Meath, Leonard began playing as a centre midfielder with local club Torro United. He moved to the academy of League of Ireland club Dundalk in 2022, where he was converted into a Centre back and went on to feature for the U14, U15, U17 and U20 sides, captaining the club's youth sides.[2][3]
Dundalk
[edit]Leonard made his senior debut for Dundalk on 6 February 2024 in a 0–0 draw with Bohemians in the Leinster Senior Cup, becoming the youngest ever player to play for the club at 15 years, 10 months and 16 days old.[4] On 27 October 2024, he made his League of Ireland Premier Division debut for the club in their final home game of the season in a 1–0 defeat at home to Shamrock Rovers, after his side had already been relegated to the League of Ireland First Division by finishing bottom of the table.[5] On 22 December 2024, Leonard signed his first professional contract with the club.[6][7] On 14 February 2025, in his first league start for the club, he scored the only goal of the game in a 1–0 victory over Athlone Town at Oriel Park in the first game of the season, making him the youngest ever league goalscorer at 16 years, 10 months and 24 days old.[8][9] During the summer of 2025, Leonard was subject to reported interest from several clubs including Scottish Premiership Champions Celtic.[10][11][12] On 10 October 2025, he scored in a 3–0 win over Finn Harps at Oriel Park to help his side secure the 2025 League of Ireland First Division title and promotion back to the Premier Division.[13] He was named the club's Young Player of the Year for 2025.[14] In November 2025, he was named in the PFAI First Division Team of the Year as voted by his fellow players in the league.[15] In December 2025, he reportedly drew interest from Celtic, Genoa, Olympique Lyonnais, Norwich City, Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion.[16][17]
Norwich City
[edit]On 16 February 2026, it was announced that an agreement had been reached between Dundalk and Norwich City for Leonard to join the EFL Championship club on 1 July 2026 when the transfer window re-opened, following his 18th birthday.[18][19]
International career
[edit]On 9 May 2024, Leonard made his international debut, coming off the bench for the Republic of Ireland U16s in a 3–2 defeat to Switzerland in Portugal.[20][2] He was a regular for the Republic of Ireland U17 side during their qualifying campaign for the 2025 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, in which they secured World Cup qualification.[21][22] Leonard was named in the squad for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar in November 2025.[23]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played on 23 February 2026[24]
| Club | Division | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Dundalk | 2024 | LOI Premier Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2025 | LOI First Division | 34 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 37 | 3 | ||
| 2026 | LOI Premier Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Total | 38 | 3 | 1 | 0 | – | 4 | 0 | 43 | 3 | |||
| Norwich City | 2026–27 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| Career total | 38 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 43 | 3 | ||
Honours
[edit]- Dundalk
- Individuals
References
[edit]- 1 2 "LISTE D'ÉQUIPE" (PDF). FIFA. 12 September 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
- 1 2 Agency, ZOMA Brand (21 May 2024). "ACADEMY: VINNIE MAKES IRISH MU16 DEBUT". Dundalk FC.
- ↑ Fallon, John (20 January 2026). "Brighton agree deal for Dundalk teen star Vinnie Leonard". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ↑ Newberry, Niall (6 February 2024). "15-year-old sensation makes history as Dundalk FC advance in Leinster Cup". www.dundalkdemocrat.ie.
- ↑ "Shamrock Rovers bring Premier Division title race to final game with victory at Dundalk". Irish Independent. 27 October 2024.
- ↑ Agency, ZOMA Brand (22 December 2024). "LEONARD SIGNS FIRST PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT". Dundalk FC.
- ↑ "Leonard signs first professional contract with Dundalk". Irish Independent. 22 December 2024.
- ↑ Rogers, James (14 February 2025). "Teenager Leonard gets Dundalk promotion bid off to flying start". Irish Examiner.
- ↑ "Leonard Gets Dundalk Off To A Flier". LMFM.
- ↑ "Celtic amongst clubs circling Dundalk FC as interest in Vinnie Leonard grows". www.independent.ie. 19 August 2025.
- ↑ Newberry, Niall (5 May 2025). "Leonard "enjoying his football" at Dundalk". www.dundalkdemocrat.ie.
- ↑ Connaughton, Gary (26 August 2025). "Report: Celtic Facing Competition In Pursuit Of League Of Ireland Youngster". Balls.ie.
- 1 2 Seery, Paul. "Dundalk secure immediate return to Premier Division with title win". extratime.com.
- 1 2 "Aodh Dervin and Vinnie Leonard two special players honoured at Dundalk FC". www.independent.ie. 20 October 2025.
- 1 2 Bravender, Anthony (4 November 2025). "Dundalk FC quartet named on PFAI Men's First Division Team of the Year". www.dundalkdemocrat.ie.
- ↑ "Celtic stepping up bid to land Dundalk teenage defender Leonard". LMFM.
- ↑ "Dundalk FC's transfer business coming to a conclusion". www.independent.ie. 13 January 2026.
- ↑ Murphy, Colm (16 February 2026). "Dundalk FC and Norwich City Reach Vinnie Leonard Agreement". Dundalk FC.
- ↑ "Agreement reached for Vinnie Leonard". Norwich City.
- ↑ "REPORT | Narrow Switzerland defeat for MU16 in Portugal". www.fai.ie.
- ↑ Wallace, Keith (10 February 2025). "LEONARD & SPAIGHT IN IRELAND U17 SQUAD". Dundalk FC.
- ↑ "Dundalk youngster Leonard part of history as Irish Under 17s Qatar bound". LMFM.
- ↑ "Ireland squad named for FIFA Under-17 World Cup". www.fai.ie.
- ↑ "Republic of Ireland - V. Leonard - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
- ↑ Team, Extratime. "Dundalk claim Leinster Senior Cup glory at expense of St Pat's". extratime.com.