# Zach Clough
**Zach Clough** (Zach Paul John Clough, born 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Newcastle Jets in Australia's A-League Men. Born in Manchester and a product of the Bolton Wanderers Academy, he made his name with Bolton in the mid-2010s before moving to Nottingham Forest, then rebuilding his career in Australia with Adelaide United, where he won the club's Aurelio Vidmar Medal in 2023/24.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / born | Zach Paul John Clough, 1995, Manchester, England[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/zach-clough/profil/spieler/246351) |
| Position | Right winger, also left winger and attacking midfield; right-footed, 1.70 m[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/zach-clough/profil/spieler/246351) |
| First Bolton stint | 48 league starts (11 as substitute) and 21 league goals, 2014/15 to January 2017[2](https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=68941) |
| Nottingham Forest | Joined 31 January 2017 for an undisclosed fee; 13 league starts (14 as substitute), 4 league goals[3](https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2017/february/zach-clough-makes-nottingham-forest-switch) • [2](https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=68941) |
| Adelaide United | 93 appearances and 22 goals in all competitions (2022–2025); Aurelio Vidmar Medal 2023/24[4](https://adelaideunited.com.au/news/zach-clough-departs-adelaide-united-for-overseas-opportunity/) |
| Current club | Newcastle Jets, signed 14 January 2026 on a two-and-a-half-year deal, contract to 30 June 2028[5](https://newcastlejetsfc.com.au/news/newcastle-jets-sign-english-midfielder-zach-clough/) • [1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/zach-clough/profil/spieler/246351) |
| League career total | 155 league starts (62 as substitute) and 47 league goals through the 2025/26 season[2](https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=68941) |
## Bolton Wanderers
His first spell at Bolton was his most productive. Across the 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons he made 48 league starts with a further 11 substitute appearances and scored 21 league goals, adding goals in the [FA Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fa-cup) and League Cup.[2](https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=68941)
## Nottingham Forest and the English lower leagues
On 31 January 2017, Clough joined Championship club Nottingham Forest for an undisclosed fee.[3](https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2017/february/zach-clough-makes-nottingham-forest-switch) His league output there was modest: 13 starts, 14 substitute appearances, and 4 league goals over his time at the club.[2](https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=68941)
He spent much of the period on loan. On transfer deadline day, 31 January 2018, he returned to Bolton on loan until the end of the season, scoring once in 2 league starts and 7 substitute appearances.[2](https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=68941) Two loan spells at Rochdale followed, from 31 August 2018 to 1 January 2019 and from 31 January 2019 to 5 May 2019, without a league goal in either.[2](https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=68941) His Forest contract ended on 31 May 2019, and he then moved on free transfers to Wigan Athletic on 22 January 2021 and Carlisle United on 1 July 2021, scoring 1 league goal for Wigan and 2 for Carlisle.[6](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/zach-clough/339225) • [2](https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=68941)
## Adelaide United
Clough first came to the A-League in early 2022, joining Adelaide United, and spent three and a half seasons with the club.[7](https://newcastlejetsfc.com.au/player/zach-clough/) He became a fan favorite, making 93 appearances and scoring 22 goals across all competitions; in A-League competition specifically the Jets count 85 games and 19 goals for his Adelaide spell.[4](https://adelaideunited.com.au/news/zach-clough-departs-adelaide-united-for-overseas-opportunity/) • [5](https://newcastlejetsfc.com.au/news/newcastle-jets-sign-english-midfielder-zach-clough/) Soccerbase records 73 league starts with 6 substitute appearances and 18 league goals for Adelaide.[2](https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=68941)
His 2023/24 campaign was recognized with the Aurelio Vidmar Medal as Adelaide's best and fairest player.[4](https://adelaideunited.com.au/news/zach-clough-departs-adelaide-united-for-overseas-opportunity/) In July 2025 he requested to leave to pursue an opportunity for himself and his family, and the club facilitated the move.[4](https://adelaideunited.com.au/news/zach-clough-departs-adelaide-united-for-overseas-opportunity/)
## Selangor and Newcastle Jets
Clough departed Adelaide on 16 July 2025 for Malaysian Super League side Selangor F.C., where he played for half a season.[4](https://adelaideunited.com.au/news/zach-clough-departs-adelaide-united-for-overseas-opportunity/) • [7](https://newcastlejetsfc.com.au/player/zach-clough/) On 14 January 2026, the opening day of the 2025/26 mid-season transfer window, Newcastle Jets signed him on a two-and-a-half-year deal. Head coach Mark Milligan described him as a footballer who could play a number of roles and would bring leadership to a young group.[5](https://newcastlejetsfc.com.au/news/newcastle-jets-sign-english-midfielder-zach-clough/)
His first Jets season was disrupted: he missed several months through injury and made his debut in round 23 on 2 April 2026, coming off the bench in a 2-3 loss away to [Macarthur FC](https://www.edgepedia.org/macarthur-fc). He made six appearances for the club, all as a substitute, as Newcastle won the Premiers Plate for the first time before being eliminated on penalties in the semi-final.[7](https://newcastlejetsfc.com.au/player/zach-clough/)
## Playing style
He is right-footed and 1.70 m tall.[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/zach-clough/profil/spieler/246351) Across his English league career he averaged roughly a goal every five league starts, with 47 league goals in 155 starts.[2](https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=68941)
## References
1. [Zach Clough, player profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/zach-clough/profil/spieler/246351)
2. [Zach Clough, Football Stats, Soccerbase](https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=68941)
3. [Zach Clough makes Nottingham Forest switch, Bolton Wanderers FC](https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2017/february/zach-clough-makes-nottingham-forest-switch)
4. [Zach Clough Departs Adelaide United for Overseas Opportunity, Adelaide United](https://adelaideunited.com.au/news/zach-clough-departs-adelaide-united-for-overseas-opportunity/)
5. [Newcastle Jets sign English midfielder Zach Clough, Newcastle Jets](https://newcastlejetsfc.com.au/news/newcastle-jets-sign-english-midfielder-zach-clough/)
6. [Zach Clough stats and ratings, Sofascore](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/zach-clough/339225)
7. [Zach Clough, Newcastle Jets player profile](https://newcastlejetsfc.com.au/player/zach-clough/)
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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) › English footballers 2015–present › Wingers and attacking midfielders › English attacking midfielders*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 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