Jake O'Brien (footballer)
![]() O'Brien in 2024 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | (2001-05-15) 15 May 2001 (age 23) | ||
Place of birth | Youghal, County Cork, Ireland | ||
Height | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Everton | ||
Number | 15 | ||
Youth career | |||
2018–2019 | Cork City | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2019–2021 | Cork City | 9 | (0) |
2021 | → Crystal Palace (loan) | 0 | (0) |
2021–2023 | Crystal Palace | 0 | (0) |
2022 | → Swindon Town (loan) | 19 | (0) |
2022–2023 | → RWD Molenbeek (loan) | 30 | (3) |
2023–2024 | Lyon | 27 | (4) |
2024– | Everton | 0 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
2021–2022 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 11 | (0) |
2024– | Republic of Ireland | 3 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:42, 28 August 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:38, 7 September 2024 (UTC) |
Jake O'Brien (born 15 May 2001) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Everton and the Republic of Ireland national team.
O'Brien began his career at Cork City, moving on loan to English club Crystal Palace before the move was made permanent. He spent loan spells at Swindon Town and Belgian club RWD Molenbeek, before moving to French club Lyon in 2023. After one season he returned to England, signing for Everton.
He represented Ireland at under-21 level, before making his senior team debut in 2024.
Early life
Born in County Cork,[1] O'Brien grew up in Youghal,[2] and in his youth also boxed and played hurling, winning national championships in both at Under-14s level.[3]
Club career
O'Brien played for Cork City before moving on loan to English club Crystal Palace in February 2021,[4] with the move made permanent in August 2021.[5][6][3] He appeared for the Under-23 team at Palace, including in the EFL Trophy.[7] He moved on loan to Swindon Town in January 2022,[7] playing a total of 21 games.
In August 2022, O'Brien was loaned to Belgian club RWD Molenbeek, along with teammate Luke Plange, for the 2022–23 season.[8] RWD Molenbeek qualified for the 2022-23 Challenger Pro League promotion play-offs in his first season with the club, holding a one-point lead over Beveren with two games remaining.[9] O'Brien won the first trophy of his career as Molenbeek clinched the division.[10]
In August 2023 he signed for French club Lyon,[11] making his Ligue 1 debut on 1 October 2023.[12] In doing so he became the first Irishman since Tony Cascarino in 2000 to play in Ligue 1.[13] On 25 May 2024, he scored in the 2024 Coupe de France final as his side were defeated 2–1 by PSG.[14]
In July 2024, after one season in France, O'Brien returned to England, signing a four-year contract with Premier League club Everton.[15]
International career
O'Brien has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-21 level,[1] making 11 appearances between 2021 and 2022. His first call-up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad came in March 2024, ahead of their friendly games against Belgium and Switzerland.[16] On 4 June 2024, O'Brien debuted in a friendly match against Hungary.[17] On September 7th 2024, O’Brien made his Nations League debut vs England as a substitute.
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 27 August 2024
Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Cork City | 2019[18] | LOI Premier Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
2020[18] | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3[c] | 0 | 12 | 0 | |||
2021[18] | LOI First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Total | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
Crystal Palace (loan) | 2020–21[19] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
Crystal Palace U21 | 2021–22[20] | — | — | — | 1[d] | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
Crystal Palace | 2021–22[20] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
2022–23[21] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Swindon Town (loan) | 2021–22[20] | League Two | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[e] | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
RWD Molenbeek (loan) | 2022–23[1] | Challenger Pro League | 30 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 3 | ||
Lyon | 2023–24[1] | Ligue 1 | 27 | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 32 | 5 | ||
Everton | 2024–25[22] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
Career total | 85 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 99 | 8 |
- ^ Includes FAI Cup, FA Cup, Belgian Cup, Coupe de France
- ^ Includes League of Ireland Cup, EFL Cup
- ^ Appearances in Munster Senior Cup
- ^ Appearance in EFL Trophy
- ^ Appearances in League Two play-offs
International
- As of match played 7 September 2024
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Republic of Ireland | |||
2024 | 3 | 0 | |
Total | 3 | 0 |
Honours
RWD Molenbeek
Lyon
- Coupe de France runner-up: 2023–24[23]
References
- ^ a b c d e Jake O'Brien at Soccerway. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Jake O'Brien is flying high: Youghal native thrives with Crystal Palace". echo live. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- ^ a b Fallon, John (9 November 2021). "Jake O'Brien confident he can play part in Patrick Vieira's Crystal Palace revolution". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- ^ Dollery, Paul. "Crystal Palace move confirmed for 19-year-old Cork City defender". The42.
- ^ "Jake O'Brien joins Crystal Palace". 16 August 2021.
- ^ Barry, Stephen (16 August 2021). "Cork City defender Jake O'Brien signs for Crystal Palace on permanent deal". Irish Examiner.
- ^ a b "Swindon sign Palace centre-back O'Brien" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Luke Plange and Jake O'Brien join RWD Molenbeek on loan – News". Crystal Palace F.C. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
- ^ "RWDM cannot deal a blow in title fight with draw against Beveren". Archysport. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ a b Times, The Brussels. "RWD Molenbeek win promotion back to Jupiler Pro League". www.brusselstimes.com.
- ^ "Irish Under-21 defender Jake O'Brien signs long-term deal with French club Lyon". Independent.ie. 15 August 2023.
- ^ "Lyon debut for Jake O'Brien as Troy Parrott shows his class in local Dutch derby". Independent.ie. 1 October 2023.
- ^ "Jake O'Brien is first Irishman to play in Ligue 1 since 2000". The 42. 2 October 2023.
- ^ "Jake O'Brien goal in French Cup final not enough to prevent Lyon defeat to PSG". Irish Independent. 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Jake O'Brien: Everton sign Republic of Ireland defender from Lyon". BBC Sport. 30 July 2024.
- ^ "Sammie Szmodics, Finn Azaz and Jake O'Brien called into John O'Shea's first Ireland squad". Irish Independent. 14 March 2024.
- ^ Fennessy, Paul (4 June 2024). "'I love being under pressure' - The Irishman who marked Mbappe". The42.ie.
- ^ a b c Jake O'Brien Profile Cork City F.C.
- ^ "Games played by Jake O'Brien in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Jake O'Brien in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- ^ "Games played by Jake O'Brien in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ "Games played by Jake O'Brien in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ "PSG beat Lyon 2-1 to win French Cup final in Mbappe's farewell appearance". Reuters. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
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