Vinnie Leonard

Vinnie Leonard
Personal information
Full name Vincent Scott McGinley Leonard[1]
Date of birth (2008-03-21) 21 March 2008
Place of birth Navan, County Meath, Ireland
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 Dundalk
Number 15
Youth career
–2022 Torro United
2022–2024 Dundalk
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Dundalk 36 (3)
International career‡
2024 Republic of Ireland U16 3 (0)
2024–2025 Republic of Ireland U17 16 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:25, 16 February 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 16:50, 18 November 2025 (UTC)

Vincent Scott McGinley Leonard (born 21 March 2008) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for League of Ireland Premier Division club Dundalk. On 1 July 2026, he will join EFL Championship club Norwich City.

Club career

Youth career

A native of Kilberry in Navan, County Meath, Leonard began playing as a centre midfielder with local club Torro United. He moved to the academy of League of Ireland club Dundalk in 2022, where he was converted into a Centre back and went on to feature for the U14, U15, U17 and U20 sides, captaining the club's youth sides.[2][3]

Dundalk

Leonard made his senior debut for Dundalk on 6 February 2024 in a 0–0 draw with Bohemians in the Leinster Senior Cup, becoming the youngest ever player to play for the club at 15 years, 10 months and 16 days old.[4] On 27 October 2024, he made his League of Ireland Premier Division debut for the club in their final home game of the season in a 1–0 defeat at home to Shamrock Rovers, after his side had already been relegated to the League of Ireland First Division by finishing bottom of the table.[5] On 22 December 2024, Leonard signed his first professional contract with the club.[6][7] On 14 February 2025, in his first league start for the club, he scored the only goal of the game in a 1–0 victory over Athlone Town at Oriel Park in the first game of the season, making him the youngest ever league goalscorer at 16 years, 10 months and 24 days old.[8][9] During the summer of 2025, Leonard was subject to reported interest from several clubs including Scottish Premiership Champions Celtic.[10][11][12] On 10 October 2025, he scored in a 3–0 win over Finn Harps at Oriel Park to help his side secure the 2025 League of Ireland First Division title and promotion back to the Premier Division.[13] He was named the club's Young Player of the Year for 2025.[14] In November 2025, he was named in the PFAI First Division Team of the Year as voted by his fellow players in the league.[15] In December 2025, he reportedly drew interest from Celtic, Genoa, Olympique Lyonnais, Norwich City, Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion.[16][17]

Norwich City

On 16 February 2026, it was announced that an agreement had been reached between Dundalk and Norwich City for Leonard to join the EFL Championship club on 1 July 2026 when the transfer window re-opened, following his 18th birthday.[18][19]

International career

On 9 May 2024, Leonard made his international debut, coming off the bench for the Republic of Ireland U16s in a 3–2 defeat to Switzerland in Portugal.[20][2] He was a regular for the Republic of Ireland U17 side during their qualifying campaign for the 2025 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, in which they secured World Cup qualification.[21][22] Leonard was named in the squad for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar in November 2025.[23]

Career statistics

As of match played on 13 February 2026[24]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Division Season League National Cup[a] League Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Dundalk 2024 LOI Premier Division 1 0 0 0 – 2[b] 0 3 0
2025 LOI First Division 34 3 1 0 – 2[b] 0 37 3
2026 LOI Premier Division 1 0 0 0 – 0[b] 0 1 0
Total 36 3 1 0 – 4 0 41 3
Career total 36 3 1 0 0 0 4 0 41 3
  1. ^ Includes FAI Cup
  2. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in the Leinster Senior Cup

Honours

Dundalk
Individuals

References

  1. ^ a b "LISTE D'ÉQUIPE" (PDF). FIFA. 12 September 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b Agency, ZOMA Brand (21 May 2024). "ACADEMY: VINNIE MAKES IRISH MU16 DEBUT". Dundalk FC.
  3. ^ Fallon, John (20 January 2026). "Brighton agree deal for Dundalk teen star Vinnie Leonard". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  4. ^ Newberry, Niall (6 February 2024). "15-year-old sensation makes history as Dundalk FC advance in Leinster Cup". www.dundalkdemocrat.ie.
  5. ^ "Shamrock Rovers bring Premier Division title race to final game with victory at Dundalk". Irish Independent. 27 October 2024.
  6. ^ Agency, ZOMA Brand (22 December 2024). "LEONARD SIGNS FIRST PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT". Dundalk FC.
  7. ^ "Leonard signs first professional contract with Dundalk". Irish Independent. 22 December 2024.
  8. ^ Rogers, James (14 February 2025). "Teenager Leonard gets Dundalk promotion bid off to flying start". Irish Examiner.
  9. ^ "Leonard Gets Dundalk Off To A Flier". LMFM.
  10. ^ "Celtic amongst clubs circling Dundalk FC as interest in Vinnie Leonard grows". www.independent.ie. 19 August 2025.
  11. ^ Newberry, Niall (5 May 2025). "Leonard "enjoying his football" at Dundalk". www.dundalkdemocrat.ie.
  12. ^ Connaughton, Gary (26 August 2025). "Report: Celtic Facing Competition In Pursuit Of League Of Ireland Youngster". Balls.ie.
  13. ^ a b Seery, Paul. "Dundalk secure immediate return to Premier Division with title win". extratime.com.
  14. ^ a b "Aodh Dervin and Vinnie Leonard two special players honoured at Dundalk FC". www.independent.ie. 20 October 2025.
  15. ^ a b Bravender, Anthony (4 November 2025). "Dundalk FC quartet named on PFAI Men's First Division Team of the Year". www.dundalkdemocrat.ie.
  16. ^ "Celtic stepping up bid to land Dundalk teenage defender Leonard". LMFM.
  17. ^ "Dundalk FC's transfer business coming to a conclusion". www.independent.ie. 13 January 2026.
  18. ^ Murphy, Colm (16 February 2026). "Dundalk FC and Norwich City Reach Vinnie Leonard Agreement". Dundalk FC.
  19. ^ "Agreement reached for Vinnie Leonard". Norwich City.
  20. ^ "REPORT | Narrow Switzerland defeat for MU16 in Portugal". www.fai.ie.
  21. ^ Wallace, Keith (10 February 2025). "LEONARD & SPAIGHT IN IRELAND U17 SQUAD". Dundalk FC.
  22. ^ "Dundalk youngster Leonard part of history as Irish Under 17s Qatar bound". LMFM.
  23. ^ "Ireland squad named for FIFA Under-17 World Cup". www.fai.ie.
  24. ^ "Republic of Ireland - V. Leonard - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  25. ^ Team, Extratime. "Dundalk claim Leinster Senior Cup glory at expense of St Pat's". extratime.com.
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