Jake O'Brien (footballer) explained

Jake O'Brien
Full Name:Jake Patrick O'Brien[1]
Birth Date:15 May 2001[2]
Birth Place:County Cork, Ireland
Height:1.97 m
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Everton
Clubnumber:15
Youthyears1:2010–2013
Youthclubs1:Youghal United
Youthyears2:2013–2018
Youthclubs2:Lakewood Athletic
Youthyears3:2018–2019
Youthclubs3:Cork City
Years1:2019–2021
Clubs1:Cork City
Caps1:9
Goals1:0
Years2:2021
Clubs2:Crystal Palace (loan)
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2021–2023
Clubs3:Crystal Palace
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2022
Clubs4:Swindon Town (loan)
Caps4:19
Goals4:0
Years5:2022–2023
Clubs5:RWD Molenbeek (loan)
Caps5:30
Goals5:3
Years6:2023–2024
Clubs6:Lyon
Caps6:27
Goals6:4
Years7:2024–
Clubs7:Everton
Caps7:2
Goals7:0
Nationalyears1:2021–2022
Nationalteam1:Republic of Ireland U21
Nationalcaps1:11
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2024–
Nationalteam2:Republic of Ireland
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:18:43, 1 December 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:20:38, 7 September 2024 (UTC)

Jake Patrick 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, O'Brien grew up in Youghal,[3] and in his youth also boxed and played hurling, winning national championships in both at Under-14s level. O'Brien excelled in football as a youth, captaining Youghal United to underage honours, also captaining Cork to the 2013 SFAI Under-12 Inter-League Cup.[4] [5] [6]

Club career

O'Brien played for Cork City before moving on loan to English club Crystal Palace in February 2021,[7] with the move made permanent in August 2021.[8] [9] [10] He appeared for the Under-23 team at Palace, including in the EFL Trophy. He moved on loan to Swindon Town in January 2022,[11] 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.[12] 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.[13] O'Brien won the first trophy of his career as Molenbeek clinched the division.[14]

In August 2023 he signed for French club Lyon,[15] making his Ligue 1 debut on 1 October 2023.[16] In doing so he became the first Irishman since Tony Cascarino in 2000 to play in Ligue 1.[17] On 25 May 2024, he scored in the 2024 Coupe de France final as his side were defeated 2–1 by PSG.[18]

In July 2024, after one season in France, O'Brien returned to England, signing a four-year contract with Premier League club Everton.[19]

International career

O'Brien has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-21 level, 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.[20] On 4 June 2024, O'Brien debuted in a friendly match against Hungary.[21]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cork City2019[22] LOI Premier Division1000000010
2020801030120
2021LOI First Division00000000
Total90100030130
Crystal Palace (loan)2020–21Premier League00000000
Crystal Palace U212021–221010
Crystal Palace2021–22Premier League00000000
2022–2300000000
Total0000000000
Swindon Town (loan)2021–22League Two1900020210
RWD Molenbeek (loan)2022–23Challenger Pro League30310313
Lyon2023–24Ligue 127451325
Everton2024–25Premier League20002040
Career total8777120601028

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Republic of Ireland
202430
Total30

Honours

RWD Molenbeek

2022–23[14]

Lyon

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2024/25 Premier League squad lists . Premier League . 13 September 2024 . 13 September 2024.
  2. Web site: Jake O'Brien: Overview . Premier League . 13 September 2024.
  3. Web site: 17 June 2021. Jake O'Brien is flying high: Youghal native thrives with Crystal Palace. 5 January 2022. echo live. en.
  4. Web site: Youghal United AFC Facebook. . 25 May 2013. 12 October 2024.
  5. Web site: Jake O'Brien learned his trade with Youghal United but was just as good at hurling and boxing . 13 June 2024. 12 October 2024. The Echo (Cork). John O'Shea.
  6. Web site: Youghal's Jake O'Brien key to Lyon's revival in France . 21 May 2024. 12 October 2024. The Echo (Cork). Dylan O'Connell.
  7. Web site: Crystal Palace move confirmed for 19-year-old Cork City defender. Paul. Dollery. The42. 3 February 2021 .
  8. Web site: Jake O'Brien joins Crystal Palace. 16 August 2021. 12 October 2021. 16 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230516153414/https://www.corkcityfc.ie/home/2021/08/16/jake-obrien-joins-crystal-palace/. dead.
  9. Web site: Cork City defender Jake O'Brien signs for Crystal Palace on permanent deal. Stephen. Barry. 16 August 2021. Irish Examiner.
  10. Web site: Fallon. John. 9 November 2021. Jake O'Brien confident he can play part in Patrick Vieira's Crystal Palace revolution. 5 January 2022. Irish Examiner. en.
  11. News: Swindon sign Palace centre-back O'Brien. BBC Sport . 4 January 2022 .
  12. Web site: Luke Plange and Jake O'Brien join RWD Molenbeek on loan – News . 26 August 2022 . Crystal Palace F.C. . 26 August 2022 . en-GB.
  13. News: RWDM cannot deal a blow in title fight with draw against Beveren . 17 April 2023. 28 April 2023 . Archysport . en-GB.
  14. Web site: RWD Molenbeek win promotion back to Jupiler Pro League. The Brussels. Times. www.brusselstimes.com.
  15. Web site: Irish Under-21 defender Jake O'Brien signs long-term deal with French club Lyon. 15 August 2023. Independent.ie.
  16. Web site: Lyon debut for Jake O'Brien as Troy Parrott shows his class in local Dutch derby. 1 October 2023. Independent.ie.
  17. Web site: Jake O'Brien is first Irishman to play in Ligue 1 since 2000. 2 October 2023. The 42.
  18. Web site: Jake O'Brien goal in French Cup final not enough to prevent Lyon defeat to PSG. 25 May 2024. Irish Independent.
  19. Web site: Jake O'Brien: Everton sign Republic of Ireland defender from Lyon. 30 July 2024. BBC Sport.
  20. Web site: Sammie Szmodics, Finn Azaz and Jake O'Brien called into John O'Shea's first Ireland squad. 14 March 2024. Irish Independent.
  21. News: Paul. Fennessy. 'I love being under pressure' – The Irishman who marked Mbappe. The42.ie. 4 June 2024. subscription.
  22. https://www.corkcityfc.ie/home/player/jake-obrien/ Jake O'Brien Profile
  23. Web site: 25 May 2024 . PSG beat Lyon 2–1 to win French Cup final in Mbappe's farewell appearance . 25 May 2024 . Reuters.