# Jacob Devaney
**Jacob Devaney** (born 2007) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder, currently on loan at Hibernian in the [Scottish Premiership](https://www.edgepedia.org/scottish-premiership) from Manchester United[1](https://www.manutd.com/en/teams/under-21s-team/jacob-devaney) • [2](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2026/0823/1588920-ireland-u21-international-devaney-joins-hibs-on-loan/). Born in Barnsley, England, he qualifies for the [Republic of Ireland](https://www.edgepedia.org/republic-of-ireland) through his family and has represented Ireland at under-19 and under-21 level[3](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/jacob-devaney-scout-report).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2007, Barnsley, England; Irish citizenship[4](https://www.transfermarkt.com/jacob-devaney/profil/spieler/1112908) |
| Position | Defensive midfielder; other listed positions are right-back and central midfield; right-footed, 1.78 m[4](https://www.transfermarkt.com/jacob-devaney/profil/spieler/1112908) |
| Youth career | Joined the Manchester United Academy at age six; signed his first professional contract with United in 2023[3](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/jacob-devaney-scout-report) • [2](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2026/0823/1588920-ireland-u21-international-devaney-joins-hibs-on-loan/) |
| Senior loans | St Mirren, January to June 2026, 18 appearances; Hibernian, season-long loan for 2026/27 with an option to make the move permanent[2](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2026/0823/1588920-ireland-u21-international-devaney-joins-hibs-on-loan/) |
| International | Republic of Ireland U19 from September 2024; Ireland U21 international with 7 caps[1](https://www.manutd.com/en/teams/under-21s-team/jacob-devaney) • [4](https://www.transfermarkt.com/jacob-devaney/profil/spieler/1112908) |
| Family | Son of Martin Devaney, a former Birmingham City and Coventry City youth player who was playing for Barnsley in 2007[3](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/jacob-devaney-scout-report) |
## Early life and academy career
Devaney was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, because his father, Martin Devaney, was playing for Barnsley at the time; Martin had come through the youth systems of Birmingham City and Coventry City[3](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/jacob-devaney-scout-report). Jacob joined the Manchester United Academy at the age of six, even though his father was serving as assistant coach at Barnsley[3](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/jacob-devaney-scout-report) • [5](https://www.manunited.uk/players/jacob-devaney/).
**Breakthrough in youth football.** In the 2023/24 season, Devaney made five appearances for United's Under-21s and played 29 games for the Under-18s in their successful campaign; none of his teammates made more outings for Adam Lawrence's side, which won the Under-18s title that season[1](https://www.manutd.com/en/teams/under-21s-team/jacob-devaney) • [5](https://www.manunited.uk/players/jacob-devaney/). He went on to captain the Under-21s and represented the club on several formal occasions, including the Munich Memorial service at [Old Trafford](https://www.edgepedia.org/old-trafford) in February 2025[1](https://www.manutd.com/en/teams/under-21s-team/jacob-devaney). He was ever-present in Premier League 2 up until January 2026, playing all 90 minutes of his 11 games for United in the competition that season[1](https://www.manutd.com/en/teams/under-21s-team/jacob-devaney) • [3](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/jacob-devaney-scout-report).
## International career
Although born in England, Devaney qualifies for the Republic of Ireland through his family and received his first call-up to the Ireland Under-19 squad in September 2024[1](https://www.manutd.com/en/teams/under-21s-team/jacob-devaney) • [5](https://www.manunited.uk/players/jacob-devaney/). He progressed to the Under-21 side, for whom he had 7 caps as of mid-2026[4](https://www.transfermarkt.com/jacob-devaney/profil/spieler/1112908). He was named in an Ireland U21 squad for a qualifier against Andorra at Tallaght Stadium in September 2025[6](https://d2w4iw8gs9jo14.cloudfront.net/6717/5742/1206/Ireland_U21_v_Andorra_U21_Match_programme_.pdf).
## Loans in Scotland
**St Mirren, 2026.** After conversations with United's youth staff, including head of academy Stephen Torpey, Devaney agreed a loan move to Scottish Premiership club St Mirren in January 2026[7](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce9pvkdzmero). It was his first taste of senior football: he made 18 appearances for St Mirren during the second half of the 2025-26 season and helped the club retain its top-flight status[2](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2026/0823/1588920-ireland-u21-international-devaney-joins-hibs-on-loan/) • [8](https://www.manutd.com.es/en/news/loan-news-devaney-joins-hibernian). In his second game for the club he was their outstanding player in an extra-time [Scottish Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/scottish-cup) win, scoring the Buddies' first goal at Airdrieonians with a strike from outside the box[3](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/jacob-devaney-scout-report). In league play he recorded 13 appearances, 989 minutes, and one assist[9](https://theanalyst.com/players/20907/jacob-devaney/career).
**Hibernian, 2026/27.** In August 2026, Hibernian announced the signing of Devaney from Manchester United on a season-long loan, with an option to make the move permanent[2](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2026/0823/1588920-ireland-u21-international-devaney-joins-hibs-on-loan/). Before the move, he had taken part in United's senior pre-season, coming off the bench and scoring against Rosenborg in July 2026[2](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2026/0823/1588920-ireland-u21-international-devaney-joins-hibs-on-loan/). Hibernian head coach David Gray said the club was pleased to bring in a player who already knew the demands of the [Premiership](https://www.edgepedia.org/premiership), and Devaney joined three other Irish players at the Edinburgh club: Jamie McGrath, Owen Elding, and Warren O'Hora[2](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2026/0823/1588920-ireland-u21-international-devaney-joins-hibs-on-loan/).
## Playing style
Devaney typically plays as a defensive midfielder[5](https://www.manunited.uk/players/jacob-devaney/). A February 2026 scout report in FourFourTwo highlighted his quality on the ball, mobility, and maturity as captain of one of England's foremost under-21 teams, while listing physical strength, aerial duels, and consistent direct output as areas for development[3](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/jacob-devaney-scout-report).
## References
1. [Jacob Devaney - Men U21s, Manchester United FC](https://www.manutd.com/en/teams/under-21s-team/jacob-devaney)
2. [Ireland U21 international Jacob Devaney joins Hibs on loan from Man United, RTÉ Sport (23 August 2026)](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2026/0823/1588920-ireland-u21-international-devaney-joins-hibs-on-loan/)
3. [Who exactly is Jacob Devaney? FourFourTwo's two-minute scout report (17 February 2026)](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/jacob-devaney-scout-report)
4. [Jacob Devaney - Player profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.com/jacob-devaney/profil/spieler/1112908)
5. [Jacob Devaney - Midfielder Man United](https://www.manunited.uk/players/jacob-devaney/)
6. [Ireland U21 v Andorra U21 match programme, Football Association of Ireland](https://d2w4iw8gs9jo14.cloudfront.net/6717/5742/1206/Ireland_U21_v_Andorra_U21_Match_programme_.pdf)
7. [Jacob Devaney: Man Utd kid making a big impact with St Mirren, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce9pvkdzmero)
8. [Loan news: Devaney joins Hibernian, Manchester United FC](https://www.manutd.com.es/en/news/loan-news-devaney-joins-hibernian)
9. [Jacob Devaney Career History, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/20907/jacob-devaney/career)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of the British Isles (modern era) › English footballers 2015–present › Central and defensive midfielders*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license