Stephen McMullan

Stephen Desmond Soraghan McMullan (born 31 December 2004) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Waterford, on loan from EFL League Two club Fleetwood Town. He has represented both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland at underage level.

Stephen McMullan

Personal information
Full name	Stephen Desmond Soraghan McMullan[1]
Date of birth	(2004-12-31) 31 December 2004 (age 20)[2]
Place of birth	Northern Ireland
Height	1.91[2]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Waterford (on loan from Fleetwood Town)
Number	1
Youth career
	Woodview Celtic
–2019	Dundalk
2019–2022	Warrenpoint Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2022	Warrenpoint Town	10	(0)
2022–	Fleetwood Town	3	(0)
2024	→ Caernarfon Town (loan)	13	(0)
2025–	→ Waterford (loan)	1	(0)
International career‡
2021	Republic of Ireland U18	1	(0)
2022	Northern Ireland U18	2	(0)
2022	Northern Ireland U19	1	(0)
2023–	Northern Ireland U21	4	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:23, 18 February 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10:42, 6 August 2023 (UTC)

McMullan made his debut for Warrenpoint Town in the NIFL Premiership in January 2022 and was signed by English Football League club Fleetwood Town four months later.

Club career

Early career

McMullan was raised in Dundalk, County Louth and began playing his youth football with local club Woodview Celtic, before playing for three Academy of League of Ireland club Dundalk in 2019.^[3]

Warrenpoint Town

McMullan joined Warrenpoint Town at the age of 14.^[4] He made his debut in the NIFL Premiership at the age of 17 on 15 January 2022, in a 1–0 defeat to Crusaders at Milltown.^[5]

Fleetwood Town

On 5 May 2022, he signed a two-year contract with EFL League One club Fleetwood Town.^[6] He signed a new long-term contract in January 2023 after impressing in under-18 and development squad games.^[7][8] He made his first-team debut for Fleetwood on 23 April 2023, in a 1–0 win over Milton Keynes Dons at Highbury Stadium.^[9][10] He cited regular goalkeeper Jay Lynch as an inspiration and said he was "over the moon with the opportunity".^[11] He was linked with Premier League clubs Chelsea, Newcastle United and Aston Villa over the summer.^[12]

On 6 July 2024, McMullan joined Cymru Premier club Caernarfon Town on a season-long loan deal.^[13]

On 7 January 2025, McMullan joined League of Ireland Premier Division club Waterford on a season-long loan.^[14] He saved a penalty on 15 February 2025 in a 3–2 win away to Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds in the opening league game of the season.^[15]

International career

He was called up to the Northern Ireland under-19 squad in September 2022.^[16][17] He received his first call up to the senior Northern Ireland national football team in November 2023.^[18]

Career statistics

As of match played 15 February 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup[a]		League Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Warrenpoint Town	2020–21[2]	NIFL Premiership	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	2021–22[2]	NIFL Premiership	10	0	0	0	0	0	—		—		10	0
	Total		10	0	0	0	0	0	—		—		10	0
Fleetwood Town	2022–23[19]	EFL League One	1	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0	1	0
	2023–24[20]	EFL League One	2	0	1	0	0	0	—		2[b]	0	5	0
	2024–25[21]	EFL League Two	0	0	—		—		—		—		0	0
	Total		3	0	1	0	0	0	—		2	0	6	0
Caernarfon Town (loan)	2024–25[2]	Cymru Premier	13	0	0	0	0	0	4[c]	0	—		17	0
Waterford (loan)	2025[2]	League of Ireland Premier Division	1	0	0	0	—		—		1[d]	0	2	0
Career total			27	0	1	0	0	0	4	0	3	0	35	0

1. Includes FA Cup
2. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
3. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League
4. Appearance(s) in the Munster Senior Cup

References

1. "SQUAD LIST 2023/24 & U21 REGISTERED CONTRACT PLAYERS" (PDF). English Football League. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
2. Stephen McMullan at Soccerway. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
3. "Dundalk goalkeeper Stephen McMullan signs new contract at English League 1 club". Irish Independent. January 6, 2023.
4. Fullerton, Gareth (6 May 2022). "Warrenpoint Town goalkeeper signs deal with Fleetwood Town". BelfastLive. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
5. "Warrenpoint Town vs. Crusaders - 15 January 2022 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
6. McPolin, Darren (5 May 2022). "McMullan Signs for Fleetwood Town". Warrenpoint Town FC. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
7. "Goalkeeper Stephen McMullan signs a long-term deal with Town". www.fleetwoodtownfc.com. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
8. Reilly, Caoimhín (6 January 2023). "Dundalk goalkeeper Stephen McMullan signs new contract at English League 1 club". Independent.ie. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
9. "Fleetwood Town 1-0 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 22 April 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
10. Rogers, James (27 April 2023). "Proud moment as Dundalk-native Stephen McMullan makes Fleetwood Town debut". Independent.ie. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
11. "McMullan: It was a brilliant feeling and I'm still buzzing". www.fleetwoodtownfc.com. 22 April 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
12. Luney, Graham (2 May 2023). "Premier League trio eye former Point keeper Stephen McMullan". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
13. "Welcome to the Oval Stephen McMullan". www.caernarfontownfc.co.uk. 6 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
14. FC, Waterford (January 7, 2025). "Keeper Stephen McMullan Joins The Blues!".
15. Maloney, Liam (February 15, 2025). "Waterford edge chaotic five-goal thriller in Sligo". Irish Examiner.
16. "Young duo McMullan and Glenfield named in Northern Ireland Under-19s squad". leetwoodtownfc.com. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
17. "International roundup: McMullan and Glenfield secure elite round spot in U19 Euro Qualifiers". www.fleetwoodtownfc.com. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
18. "McMullan makes the step up to the Northern Ireland Senior squad". Fleetwood Town FC. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
19. "Games played by Stephen McMullan in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
20. "Games played by Stephen McMullan in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
21. "Games played by Stephen McMullan in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 January 2025.