Cathal Heffernan

Cathal Heffernan
Personal information
Full name Cathal Séan Heffernan Andrews [1]
Date of birth (2005-04-27) 27 April 2005
Place of birth Cork, Ireland
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Cambridge United
Number 15
Youth career
–2019 Ringmahon Rangers
2019–2021 Cork City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Cork City 1 (0)
2022 → AC Milan (loan) 0 (0)
2022–2023 AC Milan 0 (0)
2023–2026 Newcastle United 0 (0)
2026 Harrogate Town 24 (2)
2026– Cambridge United 0 (0)
International career‡
Republic of Ireland U15
Republic of Ireland U16
Republic of Ireland U17
Republic of Ireland U18
Republic of Ireland U19
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15:48, 27 August 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 14:49, 16 October 2025 (UTC)

Cathal Séan Heffernan Andrews (born 27 April 2005) is an Irish footballer who plays as a centre-back for Cambridge United.

Early and personal life

Heffernan was born in Cork.[2] His father Rob and mother Marian are both Olympians, in race walking and 400m relay respectively.[3]

Club career

Heffernan began his career with Ringmahon Rangers, signing for Cork City in 2019.[4] He made his senior debut for Cork City in the 2021 season.[3] In March 2021 he trained with Italian clubs Juventus, AC Milan, Roma and Atalanta,[5][6] and turned professional with Cork in June 2021.[4]

He moved on loan to AC Milan in January 2022.[3][7][8][9][10][11] He made his debut for Milan's under-18 team a few days later.[12] In May 2022 he made his debut for the under-19 team.[13]

His transfer to Milan was made permanent in June 2022.[14][15] He joined English club Newcastle United in August 2023.[16]

On 14 January 2026, Heffernan signed an 18 month contract with EFL League Two side Harrogate Town.[17][18][19]

In August 2026 he signed for Cambridge United.[20][21]

International career

Heffernan has played for the Republic of Ireland at under-15, under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-19 level.[3][22]

Career statistics

As of 27 August 2026[23]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cork City 2021 LOI First Division 1000——10
Newcastle United U21 2023–24 — ———1[b]010
2024–25 ———3[b]020
2025–26 ———3[b]131
Total ———6161
Harrogate Town 2025–26[24] League Two 211000000211
2026–27[25] National League 3100—0031
Total 242000000242
Cambridge United 2026–27[25] League Two 0000000000
Career total 1000006171
  1. ↑ Includes FAI Cup
  2. 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy

References

  1. ↑ "Biografia". AC Milan.
  2. ↑ Fennessy, Paul. "'For us, it was never about him making it as a soccer player'". The42.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Heffernan, 16, confirms AC Milan move". BBC Sport.
  4. 1 2 Claffey, Martin (16 June 2021). "Cork City sign Ireland U16 international Cathal Heffernan, son of world champion Rob, to pro deal". Irish Examiner.
  5. ↑ "15-year-old son of Olympians Rob and Marian Heffernan set to train with Juventus and AC Milan". independent.
  6. ↑ "Cathal Heffernan to train with four Serie A giants". 9 March 2021 – via www.rte.ie.
  7. ↑ "Cathal Heffernan: Cork City teenager and Republic of Ireland U17 captain heads to AC Milan in dream move". Sky Sports.
  8. ↑ O'Donoghue, Conor. "Ireland's U17 captain Cathal Heffernan seals loan move to Italian giants AC Milan". The Irish Post.
  9. ↑ McCadden, Mark (31 January 2022). "The inside story of Cathal Heffernan's transfer to AC Milan". Buzz.ie.
  10. ↑ McCadden, Mark (31 January 2022). "Cork City kid Cathal Heffernan to join Italian giants AC Milan". Cork Beo.
  11. ↑ McCadden, Mark (1 February 2022). "Cathal Heffernan opens up on dream AC Milan move as he thanks Stephen Ireland". Irish Mirror.
  12. ↑ Rountree, Sara; Donovan, Shane (6 February 2022). "Cork's Cathal Heffernan celebrates first win with teammates after Milan signing". Cork Beo.
  13. ↑ Fallon, John (15 May 2022). "Cathal Heffernan takes another step on path to Milan first-team". Irish Examiner.
  14. ↑ "Irish teenager Heffernan joins AC Milan". BBC Sport.
  15. ↑ "Cork native Cathal Heffernan completes permanent transfer to AC Milan". 20 June 2022.
  16. ↑ "Irish defender Cathal Heffernan joins Newcastle United". 16 August 2023.
  17. ↑ "Harrogate Town sign defenders Chanse Headman and Cathal Heffernan". BBC Sport. 15 January 2026.
  18. ↑ "Cathal Heffernan signs for Harrogate Town - Newcastle United". www.newcastleunited.com. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  19. ↑ https://www.harrogatetownafc.com/news/2026/january/15/centre-back-cathal-heffernan-signs-from-newcastle/
  20. ↑ "Cathal Heffernan joins the U's | Cambridge United F.C." www.cambridgeunited.com.
  21. ↑ "Cathal Heffernan: Cambridge United sign Harrogate Town defender". BBC Sport. 27 August 2026.
  22. ↑ Cathal Heffernan at WorldFootball.net
  23. ↑ "Cathal Heffernan Stats | Soccerway". www.soccerway.com.
  24. ↑ "Games played by Cathal Heffernan in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  25. 1 2 "Games played by Cathal Heffernan in 2026/2027". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
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