Born on 12th November 1990, 34-year-old Scottish footballer James McCarthy is a midfielder who currently applies his craft at Celtic, in the role of a central defensive midfielder. McCarthy, standing at 5ft 10in (1.8m) and weighing in at 11st 4lb (72kg), sports the number 16 jersey for the Glasgow-based side.
In July 2006, McCarthy took his first steps in professional football by joining Championship side Hamilton Academical in Scotland. In his debut season, he made an impression by clocking up 23 first-team appearances and scoring one goal. Over the next two seasons, the Scot positioned himself as a noteworthy force in the league, playing 35 games and netting six goals in the 2007/08 season, and making 37 appearances and again scoring six goals in the 2008/09 season.
McCarthy's consistent performance caught the eyes of English scouters, leading to a transfer to League One side Wigan Athletic in July 2009. The move, costing around £1.2m, saw McCarthy gradually gain a foothold in the team, making 20 appearances and scoring once in his debut season. Through the following four seasons, McCarthy became increasingly integral to the Wigan line-up, reaching a career high of 38 appearances in the 2012/13 season.
In September 2013, McCarthy's career took another upturn when he shifted to Everton in the Premier League. The deal, costing approximately £13m, saw him become a key player for the Merseyside club. During his time at Everton, McCarthy featured regularly in the starting eleven, with appearances ranging from a high of 34 in the 2013/14 season to a career-low of 1 in the 2018/19 season.
After a six-year spell at Everton, McCarthy made a £3m move to Crystal Palace, another Premier League side, in August 2019. He made a significant contribution to the team in his debut season, participating in 33 matches. His second season saw limited pitch time, playing only 16 matches.
Returning to his homeland, McCarthy joined Celtic in Scotland's Premiership in August 2021. Currently in the 2024/25 season, McCarthy has made a limited number of first-team appearances, primarily playing a supporting role from the bench.
