Here we have it then, the fantastical footballing journey of the one and only Declan John. Born in Wales on the delightfully predictable 30th of June, 1995. Currently laying his boots in St Mirren as a left-back where he hopes to become less of a fixture and more of an icon, sporting jersey number 24. Standing at about 5ft 10in (1.78m), tipping the scales at 11st 11lb (75kg), he's no defensive Goliath but then, isn't football all about finesse these days?
John's market value flirts with the neighbourhood of £221k, according to the data boffins at Transfermarkt. His contract with St Mirren runs out like an expired pint of milk on the 31st of May, 2027.
John joined the ranks of Cardiff City all the way back in 2011 when he was still a fresh-faced trainee. He made his mark with varying degrees of success throughout his tenure; in the unforgettable 2013-2014 season, he put on his boots for a total of 20 league matches. The following seasons proved a bit of a buzzkill, with only 6 appearances in 2014-2015, a paltry 1 in 2015-2016, and a mild resurgence with 15 games in 2016-2017. And who could forget his brief escapades to Barnsley and Chesterfield on loan? Not I, dear reader, not I.
Then came Rangers in the cold north, where he spent a reasonably productive season in 2017-2018, playing in 26 league matches and even knocking in a trio of goals. Sadly, his field time dwindled when he moved to Swansea City for an eyebrow-raising fee of £800k.
Declan John seemed to have developed a penchant for loans, trotting over to clubs such as Sunderland (where he seemed to miss the goalposts as much as his home), Bolton Wanderers, and Salford City.
And then came November, 2024. It may not have been a November to remember for most, but Declan John certainly will. He trotted up north to St Mirren, the Scottish Premiership now his playground. In the 2024-2025 season, he graced the pitch 18 times and scored two goals, starting the current season with a single appearance already under his belt.
So far, he has also flirted with cup matches, with a handful of starts in both the Scottish Cup and the League Cup. Dare we dream of more goals?
