Shayne Francis Lavery (born 8 December 1998) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Cambridge United. He has also represented the Northern Ireland national team. He has previously played for Everton, Falkirk and Linfield.

Early and personal life

Lavery attended St Michael's Grammar School in Lurgan. His older brother Conor played youth football for Manchester United.

Club career

Lavery played youth football for Oxford Sunnyside, Portadown and Glenavon. He was an unused substitute for Glenavon's first team in December 2014.

In March 2015, Lavery moved to Everton following a successful trial. On 6 December 2017, Lavery was named in Everton's first-team squad for the Europa League match away to Apollon Limassol but was an unused substitute.

Lavery moved on loan to Scottish Championship club Falkirk in January 2019. Following the end of his loan, Lavery departed Everton at the end of the 2018–19 season.

On 31 May 2019, it was announced that Lavery had joined Linfield on a one-year deal. His deal was then extended by another year in May 2020.

Lavery signed for Blackpool on 1 July 2021 on a two-year contract, with an option of a further 12 months. He scored, deep into injury time, on his debut as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 draw at Bristol City on 7 August.

On 7 May 2024, Blackpool announced the player would be leaving the club in the summer when his contract expired.

On 1 July 2024, Lavery joined League One side Cambridge United on a two-year deal. He scored his first goals for the club on 24 August, in a 4–4 draw with Blackpool in League One. On 6 May 2026, the club announced he was being released.

International career

Lavery played for Northern Ireland at under-17, under-19 and under-21 youth levels.

He received his first call up to the Northern Ireland senior team in March 2018, and made his senior debut against Panama in May 2018.

Lavery's first international goal came on 2 September 2021 against Lithuania in Vilnius, in a 2022 World Cup qualifier which Northern Ireland went on to win 4–1.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 25 August 2026

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Glenavon2014–15NIFL Premiership0000000000
Everton2015–16Premier League000000—00
2016–17Premier League000000—00
2017–18Premier League0000000000
2018–19Premier League000000—00
Total0000000000
Everton U232017–18———2020
2018–19———3131
Falkirk (loan)2018–19Scottish Championship6000000060
Linfield2019–20NIFL Premiership25102000843514
2020–21NIFL Premiership312347—303830
Total623367001658445
Blackpool2021–22EFL Championship3781022—4010
2022–23EFL Championship2722010—302
2023–24EFL League One315210030366
Total951551323010618
Cambridge United2024–25League One155101000175
2025–26League Two307101000327
2026–27League One2000200040
Total47122040005312
Career total204601387219524375

International

As of match played 8 September 2024

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Northern Ireland201810
201930
202010
202141
202282
202320
202410
Total203

Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Lavery goal.

List of international goals scored by Shayne Lavery
No.DateVenueOpponentCapScoreResultCompetition
12 September 2021LFF Stadium, Vilnius, LithuaniaLithuania83–14–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification
29 June 2022Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, KosovoKosovo141–22–32022–23 UEFA Nations League C
327 September 2022Georgios Kamaras Stadium, Athens, GreeceGreece171-11-32022-23 UEFA Nations League C

Honours

Linfield

Individual

External links

  • at WorldFootball.net
  • at National-Football-Teams.com