Lewis Neilson should not be confused with Lewis Nielson.
| Lewis Neilson | |
| Birth Date: | 15 May 2003 |
| Birth Place: | Dundee, Scotland |
| Height: | 1.91m (06.27feet)[1] |
| Position: | Centre back, defensive midfielder |
| Currentclub: | St Johnstone (on loan from Heart of Midlothian) |
| Clubnumber: | 20 |
| Youthyears1: | 2013–2020 |
| Youthclubs1: | Dundee United |
| Years1: | 2020–2022 |
| Clubs1: | Dundee United |
| Caps1: | 15 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2021 |
| Clubs2: | → Falkirk (loan) |
| Caps2: | 8 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2022– |
| Clubs3: | Heart of Midlothian |
| Caps3: | 10 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs4: | → Partick Thistle (loan) |
| Caps4: | 36 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
| Club-Update: | 13:34, 22 May 2024 (UTC) |
| Nationalyears1: | 2018–2019 |
| Nationalteam1: | Scotland U16 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2020 |
| Nationalteam2: | Scotland U17 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2022– |
| Nationalteam3: | Scotland U21 |
| Nationalcaps3: | 8 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 0 |
| Ntupdate: | 22 November 2023 (UTC) |
| Years5: | 2024– |
| Clubs5: | → St Johnstone (loan) |
| Caps5: | 0 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
Lewis Neilson (born 15 May 2003) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays primarily as a centre back or defensive midfielder for club St Johnstone, on loan from side Heart of Midlothian.
Neilson has previously played for Dundee United, as well as on loan for Falkirk and Partick Thistle.
Neilson joined Dundee United at the age of 10 and signed his first professional contract with the club in the summer of 2019, before extending the contract until 2022 the following March.[2] After graduating from the club's academy,[2] he made his professional debut in a 1–1 draw against St Johnstone on the opening day of the 2020–21 Scottish Premiership season.[3] Neilson was loaned to Falkirk in March 2021.[4]
Following his return from loan, Neilson sustained an ankle injury, for which he required surgery. He did not appear in the United first team again until December 2021 when he started against Hibernian.[5] Neilson departed United in June 2022 after turning down a new contract offer.[6]
After leaving Dundee United, Neilson signed a three-year contract with Hearts.[7] [8] In his first season with Hearts, he made 16 first-team appearances. But he did not feature in the final months and spent time involved with the club's B team.[9]
On 3 August 2023, Neilson joined Scottish Championship club Partick Thistle on a season-long loan.[10]
Neilson scored the first goal of his professional career on 2 January 2024, scoring the winner for Thistle with a header from a corner, in a 3–2 home win over Queens Park.[11]
On 30 July 2024, Neilson joined club St Johnstone on loan for the 2024–25 season.[12]
Neilson has represented Scotland at under-16 and under-17 level.[13]
In September 2022, Neilson was called up to the Scotland under-21 for friendlies against Northern Ireland under-21.[14]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Dundee United | 2020–21 | Scottish Premiership | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2021–22 | Scottish Premiership | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| Total | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |||
| Dundee United U21 | 2021–22 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| Falkirk (loan) | 2020–21 | Scottish League One | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| Heart of Midlothian | 2022–23 | Scottish Premiership | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 0 | |||
| Partick Thistle (loan) | 2023–24 | Scottish Championship | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | |
| Career total | 52 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 65 | 0 | |||