Ryan Doherty (footballer)

Ryan Doherty
Personal information
Full name Ryan Sean Doherty[1]
Date of birth (2008-08-26) 26 August 2008[2]
Position Central midfielder[3]
Team information
Current team
Ipswich Town
Youth career
2015–2024 Stevenage
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024–2026 Stevenage 3 (0)
2025 → Potters Bar Town (loan) 5 (0)
2026– Ipswich Town 0 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:11, 30 January 2026 (UTC)

Ryan Sean Doherty (born 26 August 2008) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club Ipswich Town.

Career

Stevenage

Doherty joined Stevenage's academy at under-8 level and progressed through the club's youth system.[4] He signed a scholarship agreement in July 2024 and made his senior debut as a first-year scholar,[5] appearing as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 EFL Trophy defeat to Peterborough United on 8 October 2024.[6][7] At 16 years and 43 days old, he became Stevenage's youngest ever starter and youngest outfield player.[6][8][9]

Doherty joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Potters Bar Town on loan on 4 January 2025,[8][10] making five appearances before being recalled by Stevenage on 1 February 2025.[11][12] He signed his first professional contract with the club on 27 August 2025.[13]

Ipswich Town

Having made 11 first-team appearances for Stevenage,[2] Doherty signed for EFL Championship club Ipswich Town on 2 February 2026.[14][15] The transfer involved a "significant six-figure fee" plus add-ons.[15]

Career statistics

As of match played 20 December 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stevenage 2024–25[7] League One 0000003[a]030
2025–26[16] League One 3000104[a]080
Total 30001070110
Potters Bar Town 2024–25[11] Isthmian League Premier Division 50——0050
Career total 80001070160
  1. 1 2 Appearances in EFL Trophy

References

  1. ↑ "Squad list 2025/26 & U21 registered contract players" (PDF). English Football League. p. 91. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Soccerbase – Ryan Doherty". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "Ryan Doherty Player Profile". Stevenage Football Archive. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "Ryan Doherty on his Academy journey, pro deal & First Team experience – EFL Youth Development Week". YouTube. Stevenage F.C. 19 September 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  5. ↑ Metcalfe, Neil (17 July 2024). "Stevenage announce 2024 intake of first-year scholars". The Comet. Newsquest Media Group Ltd. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Ryan Doherty, born in 2008, became our youngest outfield player ever at just 16 years and 43 days old". Facebook. Stevenage F.C. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  7. 1 2 "Games played by Ryan Doherty in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  8. 1 2 Barnard, Owen (3 January 2025). "Ryan Doherty signs!". Potters Bar Town F.C. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  9. ↑ Metcalfe, Neil (23 July 2025). "Stevenage: What do Boro do with wonderkid Ryan Doherty?". The Comet. Newsquest Media Group Ltd. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  10. ↑ "Ryan Doherty & Louie Henry join Potters Bar Town on loan". Stevenage F.C. 4 January 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  11. 1 2 "Potters Bar Town – Appearances – Ryan Doherty – 2024–2025". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  12. ↑ "Doherty recalled". Potters Bar Town F.C. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  13. ↑ "Ryan Doherty signs professional contract". Stevenage F.C. 27 August 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  14. ↑ Carter, Samuel (2 February 2026). "Town sign Ryan Doherty". Ipswich Town F.C. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  15. 1 2 "Ryan Doherty completes Ipswich Town move". Stevenage F.C. 2 February 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  16. ↑ "Games played by Ryan Doherty in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 October 2025.