Nicky Devlin

Not to be confused with Nicholas Devlin.

Nicky Devlin (born 17 October 1993) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen and the Scotland national team.

Nicky Devlin

Personal information
Date of birth	(1993-10-17) 17 October 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth	Bishopbriggs, Scotland
Position(s)	Right-back
Team information
Current team	Aberdeen
Number	2
Youth career
	West Park United
	Hamilton Academical
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009–2011	Dumbarton	23	(0)
2011–2013	Motherwell	0	(0)
2012	→ Stenhousemuir (loan)	6	(0)
2012–2013	→ Dumbarton (loan)	16	(0)
2013	→ Stenhousemuir (loan)	8	(0)
2013–2014	Stenhousemuir	30	(0)
2014–2017	Ayr United	104	(3)
2017–2019	Walsall	76	(2)
2019–2023	Livingston	122	(6)
2023–	Aberdeen	37	(2)
International career‡
2011	Scotland U19	2	(0)
2024–	Scotland	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:45, 19 May 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:57, 15 October 2024 (UTC)

He has previously played for Dumbarton, Motherwell, Stenhousemuir, Ayr United, Walsall and Livingston.

Devlin made his Scotland debut in 2024.

Career

Motherwell

Devlin signed for Dumbarton in the summer of 2009, and broke into the first team during the 2010–11 season. Devlin signed a pre-contract agreement with SPL side Motherwell in March 2011. As part of the deal, Jordan Halsman's loan deal at Dumbarton was extended until the end of the season,^[1] and Motherwell played a pre-season friendly against Dumbarton. Devlin officially joined Motherwell on 1 July 2011. Devlin was injured for most of the 2011–12 season, but came back at the start of 2012 and turned in some excellent performances for the Motherwell under-19 team. On 29 March 2012, Devlin joined Stenhousemuir on loan until the end of the season where he was awarded the Young Player of the Month award for April, his first full month at the club.^[2]

On 17 August 2012, Devlin re-joined Dumbarton on loan until January 2013,^[3] which was subsequently extended for a further twenty-eight days.^[4] On 15 March 2013, Devlin was again farmed out on loan, re-joining Stenhousemuir till the end of the season.^[5] On 20 May 2013, after not making a single first-team appearance for Motherwell, Devlin was released by the club.^[6]

Stenhousemuir

Upon being released by Motherwell, he was quickly signed on a permanent contract by Stenhousemuir, who he had two previous loan spells with, for the 2013–14 season.^[7] At the end of the season, he was one of a number of players released by the club.^[8]

Ayr United

In July 2014, Devlin signed for Ayr United.^[9] He was made club captain on 19 May 2015.^[10] However, after the club's relegation from the Scottish Championship, Devlin announced he would be leaving Ayr in May 2017 at the end of his contract.^[11][12]

Walsall

Devlin signed for League One club Walsall in June 2017 on a two-year contract.^[13] He was offered a new contract by Walsall at the end of the 2018–19 season, however he opted to move back to Scotland.^[14]

Livingston

In June 2019, Devlin signed for Scottish Premiership side Livingston.^[15] Devlin played four seasons at Livingston, the latter two as team captain.

Aberdeen

Devlin confirmed on 22 May 2023 that he had agreed a deal to join fellow Premiership side Aberdeen.^[16][17]

Devlin won Premiership Player of the Month for October 2024, after the club went on an unbeaten run.^[18][19]

International career

On 1 October 2024, he was called-up by Scotland for the first time for UEFA Nations League matches against Croatia and Portugal.^[20][21] He made his debut as a substitute against Portugal at Hampden, making a crucial block late on in the game to deny Rafael Leão.^[22]

Coaching career

In June 2020, Devlin agreed to join the under-20 coaching staff of West of Scotland Football League side Rossvale.^[23] David Gormley also brought him in to assist in first-team training sessions.

Career statistics

As of matches played 3 December 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Dumbarton	2010–11[24][25]	Scottish Second Division	23	0	1	0	0	0	–		–		24	0
Motherwell	2011–12[26]	Scottish Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	–		–		0	0
	2012–13[27]		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	–		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Stenhousemuir (loan)	2011–12[26]	Scottish Second Division	6	0	0	0	0	0	–		–		6	0
Dumbarton (loan)	2012–13[27][25]	Scottish First Division	16	0	2	0	1	0	–		–		18	0
Stenhousemuir (loan)	2012–13[27]	Scottish Second Division	8	0	0	0	0	0	–		–		8	0
Stenhousemuir	2013–14[28][25]	Scottish League One	30	0	4	0	1	0	–		3[c]	0	38	0
Ayr United	2014–15[29]	Scottish League One	36	2	2	0	2	0	–		1[c]	0	41	2
	2015–16[30]		34	1	0	0	2	0	–		6[d]	2	42	3
	2016–17[31]	Scottish Championship	34	0	6	0	5	0	–		3[c]	0	48	0
	Total		104	3	8	0	9	0	0	0	10	2	131	5
Walsall	2017–18[32]	League One	33	0	0	0	1	0	–		2[e]	0	36	0
	2018–19[33]		43	2	4	1	0	0	–		2[e]	0	49	3
	Total		76	2	4	1	1	0	0	0	4	0	85	3
Livingston	2019–20[34]	Scottish Premiership	11	0	0	0	5	0	–		–		16	0
	2020–21[35]		36	2	2	0	8	0	–		–		46	2
	2021–22[36]		37	2	2	0	2	0	–		–		41	2
	2022–23[37]		38	2	2	0	5	1	–		–		45	3
	Total		122	6	6	0	20	1	0	0	0	0	148	7
Aberdeen	2023–24[38]	Scottish Premiership	37	2	3	1	4	0	8[f]	1	–		53	4
	2024–25[39]		15	4	0	0	7	2	–		–		22	5
	Total		44	4	3	1	10	1	8	1	0	0	75	9
Career total			438	17	29	2	44	2	8	1	17	2	534	24

1. Includes Scottish Cup, FA Cup
2. Includes Scottish League Cup, EFL Cup
3. Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
4. Two appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup, four in Scottish League One play-offs
5. Appearances in EFL Trophy
6. Two appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League, six appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

References

1. "Motherwell agree deal for Dumbarton's Nicky Devlin". BBC Sport. 3 March 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
2. "Nicky Devlin to join Stenny". Motherwell F.C. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
3. "Nicky returns to the rock". Dumbarton F.C. 17 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
4. "Nicky Extends Stay". Dumbarton F.C. 3 January 2013. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
5. "Devlin goes on loan to Stenhousemuir". Scottish Football League. 19 March 2013. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
6. "Forthcoming squad changes". Motherwell FC. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
7. "Stenhousemuir take first steps toward new season". The Falkirk Herald. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 21 June 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
8. McMenemy, Iain (12 May 2014). "Club announcement on signed and released players". Stenhousemuir FC. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
9. "New signings". Ayr United F.C. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
10. "Nicky signs as Club Captain". Ayr United F.C. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
11. "Nicky Devlin to leave Ayr United". Planet Radio. Bauer Radio Limited. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
12. "Nicky Devlin". Ayr United F.C. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
13. "Nicky Devlin: Walsall sign Scottish right-back following Ayr United exit". BBC Sport. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
14. "Walsall: New Saddlers boss releases 11 players following relegation to League Two". BBC Sport. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
15. "Nicky Devlin: Livingston sign right-back after he rejects new Walsall deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
16. "Devlin confirms move from Livingston to Aberdeen". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
17. "Aberdeen confirm signing of Livingston defender Nicky Devlin on two-year deal". press and journal. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
18. "Aberdeen FC - Nicky Devlin named William Hill Premiership Player of the Month". Aberdeen FC. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
19. Wallace, Sean (8 November 2024). "Double joy for Aberdeen as Jimmy Thelin and Nicky Devlin land monthly awards". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
20. "Steve Clarke names squad for Croatia and Portugal double header in the UEFA Nations League". scottishfa.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
21. "NICKY DEVLIN CALLED UP TO THE SCOTLAND SQUAD". AFC. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
22. Wilson, Fraser (17 October 2024). "Nicky Devlin delighted at special Scotland shirt presentation from Steve Clarke". Daily Record.
23. Unofficial - Lowland Development Football [@RossvaleFCU20s] (28 June 2020). "We are pleased to announce that Professional football player with @LiviFCOfficial, Nicky Devlin @NickyDevlin6 has agreed to join our coaching staff at Rossvale Under 20s. Full details on our Facebook page
    @RossvaleJFC
    @RossvaleFCWomen
    @Rossvaleno1
    @RossvaleGirlsFC" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
24. "Games played by Nicky Devlin in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
25. Nicky Devlin at Soccerway. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
26. "Games played by Nicky Devlin in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
27. "Games played by Nicky Devlin in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
28. "Games played by Nicky Devlin in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
29. "Games played by Nicky Devlin in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
30. "Games played by Nicky Devlin in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
31. "Games played by Nicky Devlin in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
32. "Games played by Nicky Devlin in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
33. "Games played by Nicky Devlin in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
34. "Games played by Nicky Devlin in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
35. "Games played by Nicky Devlin in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
36. "Games played by Nicky Devlin in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
37. "Games played by Nicky Devlin in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
38. "Games played by Nicky Devlin in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
39. "Games played by Nicky Devlin in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 October 2024.

External links

• Nicky Devlin at Soccerbase
• Nicky Devlin at Soccerway