Shaun Donnellan Explained

Shaun Donnellan
Fullname:Shaun Donnellan[1]
Birth Date:16 October 1996[2]
Birth Place:Barnet, England
Height:[3]
Position:Midfielder, Defender
Currentclub:Livingston
Clubnumber:2
Youthyears1:2013–2015
Youthclubs1:West Bromwich Albion
Years1:2015–2018
Clubs1:West Bromwich Albion
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2015–2016
Clubs2:Worcester City (loan)
Caps2:16
Goals2:4
Years4:2017
Clubs4:→ Dagenham & Redbridge (loan)
Caps4:21
Goals4:0
Years5:2017–2018
Clubs5:Walsall (loan)
Caps5:10
Goals5:0
Years6:2018–2019
Clubs6:Yeovil Town
Caps6:22
Goals6:0
Years7:2019
Clubs7:Maidstone United
Caps7:10
Goals7:0
Years8:2019–2020
Clubs8:Woking
Caps8:30
Goals8:2
Years9:2020–2022
Clubs9:Maidenhead United
Caps9:41
Goals9:3
Years10:2022–2024
Clubs10:Torquay United
Caps10:57
Goals10:2
Years11:2024–
Clubs11:Livingston
Caps11:3
Goals11:0
Nationalyears1:2014
Nationalteam1:Republic of Ireland U19
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2017–2018
Nationalteam2:Republic of Ireland U21
Nationalcaps2:8
Nationalgoals2:1
Club-Update:10:47, 27 February 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:19:32, 16 October 2018 (UTC)

Shaun Donnellan (born 16 October 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for side Livingston. Born in England, he has represented Ireland at youth level.

Personal life

Donnellan was born in Barnet, Greater London, England, and attended St James' Catholic High School in Colindale.[4] He is the son of former Chelsea, Fulham and Republic of Ireland U21 international Leo Donnellan.[5] His uncle, Gary Donnellan, was also a professional footballer for Watford and his younger brother, Leo Jr., played in the National League for Dagenham & Redbridge.[5]

Career

He started his career in the youth team at West Bromwich Albion where he started a two-year scholarship in June 2013.[2] After two seasons playing for the under-21 side he signed his first professional contract in July 2015, signing a one-year deal.[6] In December 2015, he was sent out on loan to National League North side Worcester City on a one-month loan deal.[7] In January 2016, after four appearances and one goal against Corby Town, his loan was extended for a further month.[8] In February 2016, his loan was later extended until the end of the season and Donnellan went on to make a total of sixteen appearances for Worcester, also playing alongside his brother Leo, scoring four goals as the club narrowly avoided relegation.[9]

After his loan return he penned a new one-year contract in July 2016, with the option of a further year in the club's favour.[10] Later in the month he joined EFL League Two side Stevenage on a loan deal until January 2017.[11] At the end of August his loan was cancelled by Stevenage and he return to West Brom having not made a single first team appearance.[12] In January 2017, he was sent out on loan again, joining National League side Dagenham & Redbridge on a three-month loan deal.[13] He was a first team regular for Dagenham as they narrowly missed out on promotion in the play-offs to Forest Green Rovers, making a total of twenty-one appearances.

In June 2017, West Brom chose to take up the option of a further one-year contract extension after the successful loan spell at Dagenham.[14] In August 2017, he was sent on a six-month loan to EFL League One side Walsall after he had impressed in a pre-season friendly against the Saddlers.[15] He made his league debut in a 2–1 win over Oldham Athletic.

After making eleven appearances while on loan at Walsall he returned to his parent club West Brom, Donnellan then joined Yeovil Town on 27 January 2018 on a free transfer, signing an eighteen-month deal.[16] On 8 January 2019, Donnellan left the Glovers after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.[17]

On 31 January 2019, Donnellan signed for National League side Maidstone United.[18]

On 13 July 2019, after impressing manager Alan Dowson in pre-season, Donnellan signed a deal with newly-promoted Woking.[19] He played 32 times in the 2019-20 season, scoring two goals.

On 25 July 2020, Donnellan signed for Maidenhead United.[20] He left the Magpies at the end of the 2021-22 season, after three goals in 43 games.[21]

On 15 July 2022, Donnellan joined Torquay United.[22] He stayed for one and a half seasons, making 68 appearances across all competitions, scoring 3 goals, before agreeing a move to Livingston.

Donnellan signed a pre-contract agreement with Livingston in December 2023, joining the club on 1 January 2024 after an agreement was made between Livi and Torquay to release him from his contract early.[23] [24]

International career

Donnellan is eligible for England and also the Republic of Ireland through his father's family.[25] He received his first call-up for the Republic of Ireland under-19 side in September 2014 for a friendly match against the Netherlands.[25] He replaced Fiacre Kelleher as a second-half substitute in the 1–0 win.[25] A month later he made his second appearance in a 1–0 victory over Sweden.[25] In March 2017 he received his first call-up to the under-21 side for a 2019 UEFA under-21 Championship qualifier against Kosovo, making his debut in a 1–0 victory.[25]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
West Bromwich Albion2015–16[26] Premier League00000000
2016–17Premier League000000
2017–18Premier League000000
Total00000000
West Bromwich Albion U232016–173030
Worcester City (loan)2015–16National League North164164
Stevenage (loan)2016–17League Two000000
Dagenham & Redbridge (loan)2016–17National League19020210
Walsall (loan)2017–18League One10010110
Yeovil Town2017–18League Two11000110
2018–19League Two110100021141
Total220100021251
Maidstone United2018–19National League10040140
Woking2019–20National League3022000322
Maidenhead United2020–21National League1321010152
2021–22National League2810000281
Total4131010433
Torquay United2022–23National League4004131472
2023–24National League South1723010212
Total5727141683
Livingston2023–24Scottish Premiership302050
Career total208111410016223814

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Squads for 2016/17 Premier League confirmed . Premier League . 1 September 2016. 20 August 2017.
  2. Web site: Shaun Donnellan profile . West Bromwich Albion F.C. . 20 August 2017.
  3. Web site: Shaun Donnellan . 11v11.com . AFS Enterprises . 20 August 2017.
  4. Web site: St James' schoolboy Shaun Donnellan hopes to score top goals and grades this summer . 2 July 2013. 20 August 2017 . Times Series. O'Neill, Natalie.
  5. Web site: Shaun Donnellan hopes to keep playing alongside his younger brother Leo at Worcester City . 25 March 2016 . 20 August 2017 . Worcester News.
  6. Web site: West Brom youngster's new contract is a 'dream' . 7 July 2015 . 20 August 2017 . Birmingham Mail. Howell, Bill.
  7. Web site: West Bromwich Albion duo Shaun Donnellan and George Cleet praised after "outstanding" debuts for Worcester City . 28 December 2015 . 20 August 2017 . Worcester News. Berkeley, Geoff.
  8. Web site: West Bromwich Albion's Shaun Donnellan extends Worcester City loan deal but George Cleet returns . 28 January 2016 . 20 August 2017 . Worcester News. Berkeley, Geoff.
  9. Web site: Worcester City extend loans of West Bromwich Albion starlet Shaun Donnellan and Walsall's Amadou Bakayoko. 19 February 2016 . 20 August 2017 . Worcester News.
  10. Web site: Eight more professional deals handed out to youngsters. 1 July 2016 . 20 August 2017 . West Bromwich Albion F.C..
  11. Web site: Shaun Donnellan: Stevenage sign West Bromwich Albion defender. 8 July 2016 . 20 August 2017 . BBC Football.
  12. Web site: Kerr makes Stevenage debut while Schumacher returns. 31 August 2016 . 20 August 2017 . The Comet.
  13. Web site: On-loan Dagenham & Redbridge defender Shaun Donnellan learning fast after arriving from West Bromwich Albion. 18 January 2017 . 20 August 2017 . Barking & Dagenham Post.
  14. Web site: West Brom announce academy retained list. 6 June 2017 . 20 August 2017 . Express & Star. Wilson, Matt.
  15. Web site: Shaun Donnellan: Walsall sign West Brom player on six-month loan. 11 August 2017 . 20 August 2017 . BBC Sport.
  16. News: Shaun Donnellan: Yeovil Town sign West Bromwich Albion defender on free transfer. 27 January 2018. BBC Sport.
  17. Web site: News Defender Donnellan departs . Yeovil Town F.C. . 8 January 2019 . 8 January 2019 .
  18. Web site: Maidstone United make signings from Crystal Palace and Fulham . Tucker . Craig . Kent Online . KM Media Group . 31 January 2019 . 31 January 2019 .
  19. News: Shaun Donnellan signs . . 13 July 2019 . 13 July 2019.
  20. https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/maidenheadunited/news/new-signings--treble-capture-for-dev-2552878.html New Signings | Treble Capture for Dev
  21. https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/maidenheadunited/news/magpies-retained-list-confirmed-2705814.html Magpies Retained List Confirmed
  22. Web site: Donnellan Joins United. torquayunited.com. 15 July 2022. 15 July 2022.
  23. Web site: Livingston announce signing of former Republic of Ireland youth international. 19 December 2023. Daily Record.
  24. Web site: Donnellan To Depart. 19 December 2023. Torquay United.
  25. Web site: FAI Profile. 6 June 2017 . 20 August 2017 . FAI.
  26. Web site: S. Donnellan . Soccerway . Perform Group . 5 May 2018.