James McCarthy, a midfielder originally from Scotland, currently plays for Celtic as a central defensive presence. At 5ft 10in and 11st 4lb, this sturdy build is amplified by his position on the field, donning the number 16 jersey.
McCarthy's professional football journey began in 2006 when he joined Hamilton Academical in Scotland's Championship. Here, he made a notable impact with 23 appearances and a single goal in his debut season. For the following two seasons, he maintained a commendable presence, racking up 35 and 37 appearances respectively, with a total of twelve goals to his name during his time there. This led to a considerable move to Wigan Athletic in England's League One for a fee that totted up to £1.2m.
His tenure at Wigan Athletic included seasons marked by 20, 24, 33, 38, and five first team appearances from 2009 - 2013. His goal count also increased, adding another seven to his career tally. This caught the attention of Everton, leading to another down-the-line transfer, this time for a whopping £13m.
Everton offered McCarthy a career in the big leagues, the Premier League, from 2013 to 2019. During his time there, he scored six goals and had a rather steady presence on the field with seasons filled with 34, 28, 29, 12 and a surprising low of four and one appearances respectively. Everton then sold him off to Crystal Palace for a fee of £3m in August 2019.
In his two-season run at Crystal Palace, McCarthy chalked up a tally of 49 appearances in total. His time is perhaps less memorable for Palace supporters, with no goals to reminisce over. The one notable aspect is his £3m transfer fee, a stark contrast from the eye-watering £13m paid by Everton.
August 2021 saw the Scottish native return home, this time sporting the green and white hoops of Celtic. Prior to the start of the 2024 season, he achieved only twelve appearances, and looks to have moved on as of 7 August 2024.
