James McCarthy, born on 12 November 1990 in Scotland, is a determined central defensive midfielder, currently plying his trade at Celtic. Standing at 5ft 10in (1.8m) and weighing 11st 4lb (72kg), he brings not just physical presence, but also superior technical skills and grit to every game. He proudly dons the number 16 jersey on the pitch.
McCarthy initiated his football journey in July 2006 with Hamilton Academical, a club in the Championship in Scotland. During his tenure (2006-07 to 2008-09), McCarthy marked his arrival with thrilling performances, making 95 first-team appearances over three seasons and netting 13 times.
In July 2009, McCarthy made his first leap into English football by transferring to Wigan Athletic. Reportedly, the move cost the League One outfit around £1.2m. Over the next four years, McCarthy became a leading light for Wigan, making a total of 120 appearances and scoring seven goals.
An impressive stint at Wigan resulted in a significant move for McCarthy as he signed for Premier League side Everton for around £13m in September 2013. At Everton, McCarthy graced the pitch 106 times, providing the Toffees fans with five goals to cheer about from the midfield during his stay.
In August 2019, McCarthy transferred to Crystal Palace still within the Premier League, in a deal worth around £3m. Over two seasons, he made 49 appearances for the Eagles.
McCarthy's homecoming was witnessed in August 2021 when he signed for the grand old Scottish club, Celtic. In this current stint with the club, he has made 12 first team appearances in league matches so far. However, the current season (2024-25) has started slowly for McCarthy at Celtic, with no league appearances to his name to date.
While his spell at Celtic has not been the most successful based on appearances, he has given the club his all. It remains to be seen how his Celtic career will progress, but at 33, McCarthy still possesses the determination and the grit to leave a lasting mark.
