16

James McCarthy

Player Stats

Appearances
133
Goals
6
Assists
8
Yellow cards
25

Everton secured the signing of midfielder James McCarthy in a deadline-beating swoop in September 2013.

McCarthy had already racked up more than 100 Premier League appearances when he made the £13million move from Wigan Athletic to Goodison Park.

He had also helped the Latics win the 2013 FA Cup when they recorded a shock 1-0 win over Manchester City in the Wembley final.

McCarthy quickly became a Goodison favourite following his arrival, his energetic performances in the centre of midfield key in helping the Blues achieve their record Premier League points haul of 72 in 2013-14.

He hit his maiden goal for the Club in a 2-0 victory over Hull City on the last day of his debut campaign.

The Irishman made the first Europa League appearance of his career the following season against Wolfsburg at Goodison, one of 37 appearances in all competitions in 2014-15.

McCarthy pledged his long-term future to Everton when he agreed a new five-year contract in August 2015.

He was a regular in Everton’s midfield in 2015-16, scoring against Watford at Vicarage Road and in a home victory over Norwich City.

Persistent hamstring problems restricted McCarthy's playing time during 2016-17. The played managed 13 games in the campaign, scoring one goal in the pulsating 6-3 triumph over Bournemouth at the Grand Old Lady in the second half of the season.

Injuries also severely restricted McCarthy's efforts the following term. The Republic of Ireland international had missed a lot of football with knee and hamstring injuries when he sustained a double leg break in a match with West Bromwich Albion in January 2018.

The 2018-19 season saw McCarthy continue his rehabilitation. In April 2019 he made his first Everton appearance since that clash with the Baggies, coming on as 76th-minute substitute in Everton's thumping 4-0 win over Manchester United at Goodison.

McCarthy was a teenage prodigy at Hamilton Academical in Scotland, making his debut aged 15. He quickly became a regular for the Accies and helped them win promotion to the Scottish Premier League in 2008.

Such were his efforts the following season, he won the Scottish PFA Young-Player-of-the-Year award - with teams south of the border taking note.

McCarthy had already been on trial at Reading and Liverpool before Roberto Martinez made the then-18-year-old one of his first signings at the DW Stadium.

His comfort on the ball meant McCarthy quickly found a synergy with his manager's desired style of play and in his first season in England he also won his first senior Ireland cap.

Despite being born in Scotland, McCarthy had already pledged his allegiance to the Republic because of his Irish grandparents.

More than 40 senior caps have followed, including an appearance at the European Championship in 2016, when Republic of Ireland reached the competition's knockout stage.

Contracted until: June 2020.