James Clarke (footballer, born 2001)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 8 January 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Ballivor, County Meath, Ireland | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Derry City | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2016 | Belvedere | ||
| 2016–2018 | Cherry Orchard | ||
| 2018–2019 | Shamrock Rovers | ||
| 2019–2020 | Drogheda United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2022 | Drogheda United | 49 | (2) |
| 2022–2025 | Bohemians | 108 | (18) |
| 2026– | Derry City | 0 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11:35, 16 October 2025 (UTC) | |||
James Clarke (born 21 January 2001) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League of Ireland Premier Division club Derry City.[1]
Career
Early career
A native of Ballivor, County Meath, Clarke began his schoolboy playing career with Belvedere and Cherry Orchard before moving up to play at Under 19 level for Shamrock Rovers and Drogheda United.[2]
Drogheda United
On 1 July 2019, Clarke signed his first professional contract with Drogheda United, graduating from the Under 19 set up. The midfielder would nail down a starting place under boss Tim Clancy and later Kevin Doherty.
Bohemians
In July 2022, Clarke joined Bohemians for an undisclosed fee.[3] He made his full league debut against Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds. Clarke would net his first goal for Bohs in September against UCD.
Derry City
On 18 December 2025, Derry City announced that Clarke had joined the club on a free transfer ahead of the 2026 season, signing a three-year contract.[4]
Personal life
Clarke holds a degree in law from Maynooth University.
Career statistics
- As of match played on 1 November 2025[5]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Drogheda United | 2020 | LOI First Division | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 | 1 | |
| 2021 | LOI Premier Division | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | 25 | 1 | ||
| 2022 | 23 | 1 | – | – | 23 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 62 | 3 | 1 | 0 | – | 63 | 3 | |||
| Bohemians | 2022 | LOI Premier Division | 13 | 3 | 3 | 0 | – | 13 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 32 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2[b] | 0 | 39 | 7 | ||
| 2024 | 34 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0[b] | 0 | 38 | 5 | ||
| 2025 | 33 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 34 | 8 | ||
| Total | 112 | 20 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 127 | 23 | ||
| Derry City | 2026 | LOI Premier Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | 174 | 23 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 190 | 26 | ||
Honours
Club
Drogheda United
Individual
- League of Ireland Player of the Month: August 2023[7]
- PFAI Team of the Year: 2023
References
- ^ "James Clarke official player profile". bohemianfc.com.
- ^ "James Clarke reflects on journey". irishmirror.ie. 15 September 2023.
- ^ "James Clarke signs for Bohemians". irishmirror.ie. 27 July 2022.
- ^ "Derry sign Bohs midfielder James Clarke on three-year deal". rte.ie. RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
- ^ "James Clarke Stats | Soccerway".
- ^ "Cabinteely 0 Drogheda United 2: Drogs win First Division title after second half goals from Brown and Heeney". thesun.ie. 27 October 2020.
- ^ "Bohs' Clarke wins August Player of the Month Award". RTE.ie. 14 September 2023.