Michael Forbes (footballer)

Michael Forbes
Personal information
Full name Michael Forbes[1]
Date of birth (2004-04-29) 29 April 2004
Place of birth Ardboe, Northern Ireland[2]
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[3]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Northampton Town
(on loan from West Ham United)
Number 18
Youth career
2008–2009 Ardboe
2009–2017 Cookstown Youth
2017–2020 Dungannon Swifts
2020– West Ham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– West Ham United 0 (0)
2024–2025 → Bristol Rovers (loan) 7 (0)
2025 → Colchester United (loan) 0 (0)
2025– → Northampton Town (loan) 2 (1)
International career‡
2019 Northern Ireland U16 4 (1)
2022 Northern Ireland U18 2 (1)
2021–2022 Northern Ireland U19 6 (0)
2023– Northern Ireland U21 8 (0)
2023– Northern Ireland 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:00, 9 August 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 09:59, 29 July 2025 (UTC)

Michael Forbes (born 29 April 2004) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a centre-back for Northampton Town on loan from Premier League club West Ham United, and the Northern Ireland national team.

Club career

Forbes is a youth product of Ardboe, Cookstown Youth, and Dungannon Swifts.[4] He joined the youth academy of West Ham United on 24 July 2020 when he signed a scholarship contract with the club.[5] The following season, he captained the U18s and debuted with the U23s in December 2021.[6] He signed his first professional contract with the club on 31 May 2022.[7] He made his first appearance on the senior West Ham squad for a UEFA Conference League match against FCSB on 3 November 2022.[8]

On 5 July 2024, Forbes joined League One club Bristol Rovers on a season-long loan deal.[9][10] He was recalled on 3 January 2025 to continue rehabilitation from a hamstring injury suffered two weeks prior.[11] On 30 January 2025, he joined League Two side Colchester United on loan for the remainder of the season.[12] During an in-house training match, he once again suffered a hamstring injury requiring surgery, returning to West Ham United in March 2025.[13]

On 25 July 2025, Forbes joined League One side Northampton Town on a season-long loan deal.[14] He made his Northampton debut on 2 August scoring in a 3–1 away defeat to Wigan Athletic.[15]

International career

Forbes is a youth international for Northern Ireland, having played up to the Northern Ireland U21s.[16] After injuries to the senior squad in November 2021, he was called up to train with the senior national team.[17] He debuted with the senior Northern Ireland national team as a late substitute in a 4–0 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying loss to Finland on 17 November 2023.[18]

Career statistics

As of 12 August 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
West Ham United U21 2020–21[19] — — — 1[a] 0 1 0
2021–22 — — — 0 0 0 0
2022–23[20] — — — 3[a] 0 3 0
2023–24[21] — — — 3[a] 0 3 0
2024–25 — — — 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 6 0
Bristol Rovers (loan) 2024–25[22] League One 7 0 2 0 1 0 2[a] 0 12 0
Colchester United (loan) 2024–25[22] League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Northampton Town (loan) 2025–26[23] League One 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 1
Career total 9 1 2 0 2 0 8 0 21 1
  1. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

International

As of matches played 17 November 2023[24]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Northern Ireland 2023 1 0
Total 1 0

References

  1. ^ "2024/25 Updated Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 7 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  2. ^ "Michael Forbes | Laufbahn | Spielerprofil". kicker.
  3. ^ https://www.whoscored.com/players/458316/show/michael-forbes
  4. ^ "Dungannon star Forbes tipped for top career after Premier League move". 29 April 2020 – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  5. ^ "Dungannon Swifts starlet joins West Ham".
  6. ^ "M. Forbes | West Ham United F.C." www.whufc.com.
  7. ^ Fullerton, Darren (1 June 2022). "NI teen awarded pro contract after impressing at West Ham United". Belfast Live.
  8. ^ Colman, Jonty (3 November 2022). "West Ham team news as Oliver Scarles and Divin Mubama make debuts vs FCSB". Football London.
  9. ^ "Michael Forbes joins Bristol Rovers on loan". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Michael Forbes: West Ham defender joins Bristol Rovers on loan". BBC Sport. 5 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Garrett & Forbes return to Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 3 January 2025. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  12. ^ "U'S TAKE WEST HAM'S FORBES". www.cu-fc.com. 30 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  13. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (3 March 2025). "Michael Forbes has returned to West Ham due to injury". Essex County Standard. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  14. ^ "MICHAEL FORBES SIGNS FOR NORTHAMPTON TOWN". www.ntfc.co.uk. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  15. ^ "Forbes on target in Northampton debut". West Ham United F.C. 4 August 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  16. ^ "Michael Forbes vows to seize next chance with West Ham and Northern Ireland". 23 October 2023 – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  17. ^ "West Ham: Michael Forbes handed int'l chance after Tuesday development". West Ham Zone. 14 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Injury-hit NI suffer further misery in Finland" – via www.bbc.com.
  19. ^ "Games played by Michael Forbes in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  20. ^ "Games played by Michael Forbes in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  21. ^ "Games played by Michael Forbes in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  22. ^ a b "Games played by Michael Forbes in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  23. ^ "Games played by Michael Forbes in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  24. ^ "Games played by Michael Forbes in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
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