Conor Grant (footballer, born 1995)

Conor James Grant (born 18 April 1995) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Port Vale.

Conor Grant

Personal information
Full name	Conor James Grant[1]
Date of birth	(1995-04-18) 18 April 1995 (age 29)[2]
Place of birth	Fazakerley, England[2]
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.84 m)[3]
Position(s)	Midfielder; wing-back[4]
Team information
Current team	Port Vale
Number	15
Youth career
2008–2013	Everton
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2013–2018	Everton	0	(0)
2015	→ Motherwell (loan)	12	(1)
2015–2016	→ Doncaster Rovers (loan)	19	(2)
2016	→ Ipswich Town (loan)	6	(0)
2017	→ Doncaster Rovers (loan)	21	(1)
2017–2018	→ Crewe Alexandra (loan)	17	(0)
2018–2023	Plymouth Argyle	112	(14)
2023–	Port Vale	32	(0)
International career
2012	England U18	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:14, 9 November 2024 (UTC)

A former England under-18 international, Grant turned professional at Everton in July 2013. He spent five years on the club's books without making a first-team appearance, instead spending time on loan at Motherwell, Doncaster Rovers, Ipswich Town and Crewe Alexandra. He helped Doncaster to win promotion out of League Two in the 2016–17 campaign. He joined Plymouth Argyle in June 2018, where he would remain for five seasons, helping the club to win promotion out of League Two in 2019–20 and out of League One in 2022–23. Having made 137 appearances for Plymouth, he joined Port Vale on a free transfer in June 2023.

Career

Everton

Grant joined the Academy at Everton at the age of 13.^[5] In July 2013, he signed his first professional contract at the club after featuring in pre-season friendlies.^[5] However, he missed much of the 2013–14 season due to a chronic back injury.^[6] His first involvement with the senior team in a competitive fixture came on 11 December 2014, when he was named as a non-playing substitute against FC Krasnodar in the Europa League.^[2]

On 2 February 2015, Grant signed for Motherwell of the Scottish Premiership on a six-month loan.^[7] Twelve days later he made a scoring debut, curling in a free kick in a 3–2 away defeat against Ross County.^[8] He made eleven further appearances under Ian Baraclough across the 2014–15 season, and then featured as a substitute in the relegation/promotion play-off final second leg win over Rangers at Fir Park.^[9] On 29 October 2015, he joined League One club Doncaster Rovers on a one-month loan deal.^[10] Two days later he made his debut against Colchester United at the Keepmoat Stadium, opening a 2–0 win with a 20 yards (18 m) strike.^[11] On 6 March, he scored a brace in the FA Cup as Doncaster recorded a 3–1 victory at Cambridge United.^[12] The loan was later extended till the end of the 2015–16 season, though was curtailed in mid-March after he sustained an Achilles injury.^[13] Relegated Doncaster expressed an interest in signing him permanently, but he instead signed a new two-year deal with Everton.^[14]

Grant signed for Championship club Ipswich Town on a season-long loan on 4 August 2016, making his debut at Portman Road two days later in a 4–2 win over Barnsley.^[15] However, he returned to Everton early on 18 November, having played seven games for Ipswich.^[16] Manager Mick McCarthy said that he couldn't give Grant playing time ahead of the likes of Tom Lawrence, Kundai Benyu and Andre Dozzell and that it would be better for the player's development to return to Finch Farm.^[17] On 2 January 2017, Grant once again signed for Doncaster Rovers for the remainder of the 2016–17 season. He was in the starting line-up against Stevenage on the same day,^[18] and opened up his goal account on 21 January by lashing a shot to the bottom corner from 18 yards (16 m) out, the first in a 3–1 victory over Crewe Alexandra.^[19] Rovers manager Darren Ferguson said Grant was "disappointing" in his second spell at the club, despite him starting twenty matches as Doncaster secured a League Two automatic promotion spot.^[14] Ferguson had initially talked of an agreement with Everton to sign Grant on a permanent deal in the summer, with reports indicating only personal terms had yet to be agreed.^[20]

On 30 August 2017, Grant signed for Crewe Alexandra on loan until 10 January 2018,^[21] and made his Crewe debut on 2 September against Grimsby Town but was stretchered off after 18 minutes following a head injury,^[22] and missed the next game as a result of the concussion suffered.^[23] Manager David Artell decided against extending his loan spell in January, having limited the midfielder to fourteen starts and four substitute appearances.^[24] He was released from Everton without having made a first-team appearance, having retained the #39 shirt throughout his five years as a professional at Goodison Park.^[14]

Plymouth Argyle

On 7 June 2018, Grant signed for League One side Plymouth Argyle after his contract with Everton had expired.^[25] Manager Derek Adams had attempted to sign him six months earlier, but the deal was thwarted by a FIFA rule that prevented players from appearing for more than two teams in a single season.^[13][26] The 2018–19 season was poor both on an individual and a club level as injuries kept him sidelined for long spells and Argyle were relegated on goal difference.^[27] On 28 September 2019, he scored his first goal for the club with a "blockbuster 30 yards (27 m) finish" in a 1–0 away win at Mansfield Town in League Two.^[28] The goal, which later finished second in the club's Goal of the Season poll, was credited with starting Plymouth's promotion charge following an indifferent start to the campaign.^[29][30] He signed a new contract of undisclosed length in June 2020.^[31]

He was voted as Argyle's Player of the Month for September 2020 by Plymouth Live readers, having formed an effective triumvirate with Danny Mayor and Lewis Macleod in the centre of the pitch.^[32] The following month he won the club's Player of the Month award and was nominated for League One's PFA Fans' Player of the Month award after scoring three goals in consecutive home matches against Burton Albion, Bolton Wanderers and Ipswich Town and also picking up an assist.^[33][34][35] He spent most of the 2020–21 season playing at wing-back, where he scored four goals and provided twelve assists in 46 games.^[4] His goal at Milton Keynes Dons on 16 March earned him the League One Goal of the Month award, whilst his strike at AFC Wimbledon on 19 September was voted as the club's Goal of the Season, and a free kick against Swindon Town was shortlisted for the League One Goal of the Month award.^[36] He signed a two-year contract extension in the summer to become the longest-serving senior player at Home Park, as well as the only one to have not been signed by manager Ryan Lowe.^[37]

Grant underwent surgery on his groin in summer 2022, returning to fitness in September.^[38] He played nine games before tearing a thigh muscle two months later, which required surgery and kept him out of action for five months; he marked his return to fitness with a goal in a 2–0 win at Accrington Stanley on 21 March.^[39] He was released by the club at the end of the 2022–23 season,^[40] following Argyle's promotion to the Championship as League One champions.^[41] Manager Steven Schumacher said that "my head had to sort of rule my heart" as injuries had limited Grant to just three starts during the campaign.^[42]

Port Vale

On 27 June 2023, Grant agreed a two-year deal with League One side Port Vale to start on 1 July; manager Andy Crosby praised his technical ability, footballing experience and personal drive.^[43] On 7 October, Grant sustained a calf injury in a 2–0 defeat at Portsmouth that would keep him out of action for around eight weeks.^[44] Injuries restricted him to 20 league starts in the 2023–24 relegation season.^[45] He also missed the start of the 2024–25 season due to injury.^[46] He made his first start of the season on 22 October, in a 1–0 win at Harrogate Town.^[47]

Style of play

Grant is a left-footed midfielder well regarded for his level of professionalism.^[6][48] He is also able to play as a left-sided wing-back.^[4] He is excellent at set pieces and long-range shooting.^[49]

Personal life

His uncle is former Everton and Burnley midfielder Tony Grant.^[50]

Career statistics

As of match played 9 November 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Everton	2014–15[51]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2015–16[52]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2016–17[53]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2017–18[54]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Motherwell (loan)	2014–15[51]	Scottish Premiership	12	1	0	0	0	0	1[a]	0	13	1
Doncaster Rovers (loan)	2015–16[52]	League One	19	2	3	2	0	0	0	0	22	4
Ipswich Town (loan)	2016–17[53]	Championship	6	0	0	0	1	0	—		7	0
Doncaster Rovers (loan)	2016–17[53]	League Two	21	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	21	1
Everton U23	2017–18[54]	—	—		—		—		1[b]	0	1	0
Crewe Alexandra (loan)	2017–18[54]	League Two	17	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	18	0
Plymouth Argyle	2018–19[55]	League One	10	0	1	0	2	0	2[b]	0	15	0
	2019–20[56]	League Two	17	2	2	0	2	0	1[b]	0	22	2
	2020–21[57]	League One	38	4	4	0	2	0	2[b]	0	46	4
	2021–22[58]	League One	38	7	4	0	1	0	0	0	43	7
	2022–23[59]	League One	9	1	1	0	0	0	1[b]	0	11	1
	Total		112	14	12	0	7	0	6	0	137	14
Port Vale	2023–24[60]	League One	30	0	2	0	3	0	2[b]	0	37	0
	2024–25[61]	League Two	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
	Total		32	0	3	0	3	0	2	0	40	0
Career total			219	18	19	2	11	0	10	0	259	20

1. Appearance in Scottish Premiership play-offs
2. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Honours

Doncaster Rovers

• EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2016–17^[2]

Plymouth Argyle

• EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2019–20^[29]
• EFL League One: 2022–23^[62]

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Plymouth Argyle" (PDF). English Football League. p. 54. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
2. "Conor Grant player profile". Everton F.C. Archived from the original on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
3. "Conor Grant - Midfielder - First Team | Port Vale". Port Vale F.C. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
4. Hodgson, George (17 January 2022). "7 players who PNE could target at left-wing back to help Ryan Lowe". LancsLive. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
5. O'Keeffe, Greg (25 July 2013). "Everton FC Academy teenager Conor Grant signs two-year deal". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
6. James, Stuart (7 June 2018). "Conor Grant: The Everton starlet that Argyle refused to give up on". CornwallLive. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
7. "Toffee's Grant joins on loan". Motherwell F.C. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
8. Dowden, Martin (14 February 2015). "Ross County 3-2 Motherwell". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
9. Lindsay, Clive (31 May 2015). "Motherwell v Rangers as it happened". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
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11. "Doncaster 2–0 Colchester". BBC Sport. 31 October 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
12. "Cambridge United 1-3 Doncaster Rovers". BBC Sport. 6 December 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
13. "GoS-DB Players". www.greensonscreen.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
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17. "Loanee Grant Returns to Everton - Ipswich Town News". TWTD.co.uk. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
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19. "Rovers 3 Crewe 1". Doncaster Rovers. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
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22. "Grimsby Town 1-0 Crewe Alexandra". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
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28. "Mansfield Town 0-1 Plymouth Argyle". BBC Sport. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
29. Creamer, Matthew (25 June 2020). "Scott Wootton and Conor Grant Sign New Deals at Plymouth Argyle". Last Word on Football. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
30. "Grant Re-signs | Plymouth Argyle - PAFC". www.pafc.co.uk. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
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32. Errington, Chris (1 October 2020). "Conor Grant voted Argyle's player of the month for September". PlymouthLive. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
33. "Grant Scoops October Award | Plymouth Argyle - PAFC". www.pafc.co.uk. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
34. "Conor's nomination | Plymouth Argyle - PAFC". www.pafc.co.uk. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
35. "Conor brings up his century | Plymouth Argyle - PAFC". www.pafc.co.uk. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
36. "Conor Signs On | Plymouth Argyle - PAFC". www.pafc.co.uk. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
37. Errington, Chris (22 October 2021). "Ryan Lowe on what makes Conor Grant so important to Argyle". PlymouthLive. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
38. "Plymouth Argyle suffer Grant injury blow". BBC Sport. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
39. Killen, Stephen (22 March 2023). "Former Everton youngster bounces back with goal after injury nightmare". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
40. "Retained List". www.pafc.co.uk. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
41. "Port Vale 1-3 Plymouth: Argyle comeback victory secures League One title". Sky Sports. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
42. Errington, Chris (12 May 2023). "Schumacher admits Grant contract decision was especially tough". PlymouthLive. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
43. "Port Vale sign Plymouth midfielder Grant". BBC Sport. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
44. Baggaley, Mike (19 October 2023). "Injury blows as Port Vale weigh up move for midfielder". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
45. Baggaley, Mike (29 April 2024). "Rating the squad, the retained list and looking ahead". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
46. Baggaley, Mike (5 September 2024). "Options and injury news". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
47. Baggaley, Mike (23 October 2024). "Vale make it four in a row". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
48. Errington, Chris (10 May 2023). "Steven Schumacher on Argyle exits of Danny Mayor and Conor Grant". PlymouthLive. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
49. Henshaw, Liam (1 February 2022). "Conor Grant: Who could sign Plymouth and Sky Bet League One star?". www.sportinglife.com. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
50. Brammer, Chris (8 August 2016). "Ipswich Town's Conor Grant wants to put Doncaster and Motherwell experience to good use". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
51. "Games played by Conor Grant in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
52. "Games played by Conor Grant in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
53. "Games played by Conor Grant in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
54. "Games played by Conor Grant in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
55. "Games played by Conor Grant in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
56. "Games played by Conor Grant in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
57. "Games played by Conor Grant in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
58. "Games played by Conor Grant in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
59. "Games played by Conor Grant in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
60. "Games played by Conor Grant in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
61. "Games played by Conor Grant in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
62. "Plymouth beat Port Vale to win League One title". BBC Sport. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.