# Nathan Collins
**Nathan Michael Collins** (born 2001) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a center-back and captains Premier League club [Brentford](https://www.edgepedia.org/brentford), for whom he signed in July 2023 in a club-record transfer, and represents the [Republic of Ireland](https://www.edgepedia.org/republic-of-ireland) internationally.[1](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/mens/nathan-collins?tab=bio) • [2](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/first-team-nathan-collins-wolverhampton-wanderers-brentford-transfer) Born in Leixlip, County Kildare, he stands 195 cm tall and came through a family with several generations of footballers.[1](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/mens/nathan-collins?tab=bio)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2001, Leixlip, Republic of Ireland; 195 cm tall[1](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/mens/nathan-collins?tab=bio) |
| Clubs | Stoke City (2019–2021), Burnley (2021–2022), Wolverhampton Wanderers (2022–2023), Brentford (2023–)[3](https://www.11v11.com/players/nathan-collins-267873/) |
| Record transfers | £20.5m from Burnley to Wolves in July 2022, then the most expensive Irish player; £23m from Wolves to Brentford in July 2023, a Brentford club record[4](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/player-analysis/nathan-collins-at-wolverhampton-wanderers-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics) • [5](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/brentford-fc-nathan-collins-scouting-transfers-b1101664.html) |
| 2024/25 season | The only outfield player in the Premier League to play every single minute of the season, making 38 appearances at center-back[1](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/mens/nathan-collins?tab=bio) |
| Captaincy | Stoke's youngest-ever captain at 18 years 105 days (2019); Brentford club captain from August 2025[1](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/mens/nathan-collins?tab=bio) |
| Ireland | Senior debut October 2021 in a 4-0 friendly win over Qatar; 28 senior caps with 2 goals and 2 assists per Opta records (2022–2026)[1](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/mens/nathan-collins?tab=bio) • [6](https://theanalyst.com/players/3856/nathan-collins/national/career) |
| Honors | FAI men's Player of the Year, named shortly before his Brentford transfer[2](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/first-team-nathan-collins-wolverhampton-wanderers-brentford-transfer) |
## Early life and footballing family
Collins was born and raised in Leixlip and spent ten years coming through the system at Dublin-based Cherry Orchard FC, where his father and uncle began their careers.[7](https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20220712-collins-journey-to-wolves/?isNative=true) Football runs through the family: his father David was on the books at Liverpool and played alongside Roy Keane for Ireland Under-21s before injury cut his career short, and later played for Oxford United; his uncle Eamonn Collins was an Ireland youth captain; his cousin Mikey represented Ireland up to Under-21 level; and his grandfather Michael captained the [Transport](https://www.edgepedia.org/transport) side that won the 1950 FAI Cup.[1](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/mens/nathan-collins?tab=bio) • [8](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2022/0926/1325659-collins-reflects-on-path-from-cherry-orchard-to-wolves/) Collins recalled that the family had "every cap up to the U21s, but we were always missing the one senior cap for our family name" until his own debut.[1](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/mens/nathan-collins?tab=bio)
## Stoke City
Collins joined Stoke City aged 15 and spent two years in the academy before his senior debut in a 3-0 Championship defeat to Swansea City in April 2019, aged 17; ten days later he made his first start away at [Middlesbrough](https://www.edgepedia.org/middlesbrough) in a 0-0 draw.[1](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/mens/nathan-collins?tab=bio) The following season, manager [Nathan Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/nathan-jones-welsh-footballer) handed him the captain's armband for a Carabao Cup tie against Wigan Athletic, making him Stoke's youngest-ever captain at 18 years 105 days.[1](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/mens/nathan-collins?tab=bio) He also captained the Republic of Ireland at the 2018 UEFA European Under-17 Championships, which ended at the quarter-final stage.[7](https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20220712-collins-journey-to-wolves/?isNative=true) His first senior goals came in December 2020 against Norwich City and Middlesbrough, and a foot injury sustained at Carrow Road in February 2021 ended his Stoke career.[7](https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20220712-collins-journey-to-wolves/?isNative=true) While still a Stoke player, the CIES Football Observatory's Monthly Report 60 ranked him among the standout players born in the 2000s for rigour, noting that "the Irish centre back seems destined for a great career".[9](https://football-observatory.com/IMG/pdf/mr60en.pdf)
## Burnley and Wolves
Burnley signed Collins in June 2021 on a four-year contract, and he made his Premier League debut against Norwich City that October.[1](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/mens/nathan-collins?tab=bio) • [3](https://www.11v11.com/players/nathan-collins-267873/) He turned out 19 times for the Clarets in the Premier League, keeping five clean sheets, and scored two goals in victories over Everton and [Southampton](https://www.edgepedia.org/southampton) in April 2022; despite his form, Burnley were relegated at the end of the season.[10](https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20220712-wolves-complete-collins-signing/)
Wolverhampton Wanderers made him their first signing of the summer 2022 window, agreeing a five-year deal with the option of a further 12 months for a reported £20.5 million, which made him the most expensive Irish footballer of all time at that point.[10](https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20220712-wolves-complete-collins-signing/) • [4](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/player-analysis/nathan-collins-at-wolverhampton-wanderers-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics) He played 26 Premier League games for Wolves in 2022/23 before moving on the following summer.[1](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/mens/nathan-collins?tab=bio)
## Brentford
Brentford signed Collins from Wolves in July 2023 for a club-record undisclosed fee, reported at £23 million.[2](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/first-team-nathan-collins-wolverhampton-wanderers-brentford-transfer) • [5](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/brentford-fc-nathan-collins-scouting-transfers-b1101664.html) At the time of the transfer he had 14 Ireland caps and had just been named the FAI's men's Player of the Year.[2](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/first-team-nathan-collins-wolverhampton-wanderers-brentford-transfer) Collins said he was "in disbelief" at the detail of Brentford's scouting system, saying the club "knew more about me than I know about myself", and cited manager Thomas Frank's record of progressing players as a reason for joining.[5](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/brentford-fc-nathan-collins-scouting-transfers-b1101664.html)
In his first season he made 35 appearances in all competitions and scored his first Brentford league goal in a 3-2 win over West Ham United at Gtech Community Stadium.[1](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/mens/nathan-collins?tab=bio) In 2024/25 he became the only outfield player in the Premier League to play every single minute of the season, making 38 appearances at center-back.[1](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/mens/nathan-collins?tab=bio) Following Christian Nørgaard's departure to Arsenal, Collins was named Brentford's club captain in August 2025 at age 24.[1](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/mens/nathan-collins?tab=bio) • [11](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/interviews-brentford-captain-nathan-collins-stoke-city-republic-of-ireland)
## International career
Collins progressed through Ireland's youth teams, captaining the Under-17 side at the 2018 European Championship and playing at Under-19 and Under-21 level.[6](https://theanalyst.com/players/3856/nathan-collins/national/career) He received his first senior call-up in 2021 and debuted as a substitute in a 4-0 friendly win over Qatar at the [Aviva Stadium](https://www.edgepedia.org/aviva-stadium) in Dublin, a moment he described as emotional for his family.[1](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/mens/nathan-collins?tab=bio) In June 2022 he scored a solo goal in a [UEFA Nations League](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-nations-league) draw against Ukraine.[7](https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20220712-collins-journey-to-wolves/?isNative=true) Opta's career record lists 28 senior appearances with 2 goals and 2 assists between 2022 and 2026, spanning Nations League, European Championship qualifying, and World Cup qualifying campaigns.[6](https://theanalyst.com/players/3856/nathan-collins/national/career)
## Style of play
Analyses of Collins at Burnley and Wolves describe a ball-playing center-back who thrives in aerial duels thanks to his 6-foot-3 frame, reads danger well in and around the box, and carries the ball up the pitch over long distances with his long stride; Total Football Analysis compared his profile to [Harry Maguire](https://www.edgepedia.org/harry-maguire)'s and judged him suited to teams that defend in a low or mid block and build from the back.[4](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/player-analysis/nathan-collins-at-wolverhampton-wanderers-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics) The same analysis identified decision-making on the ball and defending on the front foot against agile attackers in wide areas as areas for development at that stage of his career.[4](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/player-analysis/nathan-collins-at-wolverhampton-wanderers-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics) Wolves' technical director Scott Sellars, at the time of the 2022 signing, described him as physically strong, comfortable stepping in and taking the ball forward, good in both boxes, and a leader with a humble character.[10](https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20220712-wolves-complete-collins-signing/)
## References
1. [Nathan Collins – Player Profile, Brentford FC](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/mens/nathan-collins?tab=bio)
2. [Brentford complete Collins signing, Brentford FC](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/first-team-nathan-collins-wolverhampton-wanderers-brentford-transfer)
3. [Nathan Collins Football Player Statistics, 11v11.com](https://www.11v11.com/players/nathan-collins-267873/)
4. [Nathan Collins Scout Report At Wolverhampton Wanderers 2022/2023, Total Football Analysis](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/player-analysis/nathan-collins-at-wolverhampton-wanderers-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics)
5. [Brentford's Nathan Collins 'in disbelief' over detailed scouting system, The Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/brentford-fc-nathan-collins-scouting-transfers-b1101664.html)
6. [Nathan Collins International Career History, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/3856/nathan-collins/national/career)
7. [Collins' journey to Wolves, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC](https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20220712-collins-journey-to-wolves/?isNative=true)
8. [Collins reflects on path from Cherry Orchard to Wolves, RTÉ](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2022/0926/1325659-collins-reflects-on-path-from-cherry-orchard-to-wolves/)
9. [Monthly Report 60 – Technical analysis of performances and player scouting, CIES Football Observatory](https://football-observatory.com/IMG/pdf/mr60en.pdf)
10. [Wolves complete Collins signing, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC](https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20220712-wolves-complete-collins-signing/)
11. [Team-mates past and present: Why Nathan Collins is the 'perfect choice' for Brentford captaincy, Brentford FC](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/interviews-brentford-captain-nathan-collins-stoke-city-republic-of-ireland)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of the British Isles (modern era) › Republic of Ireland footballers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: 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