Alan Browne (footballer)

Alan James Browne (born 15 April 1995) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for EFL Championship side Sunderland and the Republic of Ireland national team.

Cork City
Browne joined the Cork City U19 squad prior to the start of the 2012–13 season, graduating to the senior squad the following season. He was named on the substitutes' bench twice in the 2013 season for games against Sligo Rovers and Drogheda United, but he failed to make a first-team appearance for the club before leaving.

Preston North End
Browne signed an 18-month contract with Preston North End in League One, joining them on 1 January 2014. He made his first-team debut on 25 March 2014, coming on as a substitute in a 3–1 victory against Peterborough United with the score at 1–1, with a contribution and work ethic that drew praise from manager Simon Grayson.

In 2015, Browne was involved in the play-off final win, which saw Preston promoted to the Championship.

Browne became a major part of the Preston squad throughout the 2017–18 season, scoring eight goals. This led to him earning the clubs Player of the Year award.

From the 2020–21 season Browne was appointed club captain following the departure of Tom Clarke. On 13 January 2021, Browne signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal with the club, seeing him under contract until the end of the 2023–24 season.

On 27 January 2024, Browne made his 400th appearance for Preston North End against Millwall.

On 1 July 2024, Preston North End announced that Browne had departed the club having rejected the offer of a new three-year deal.

Sunderland
Browne signed for fellow EFL Championship side Sunderland on a three-year deal in July 2024.

International career
On 24 March 2021, Browne scored his first competitive goal for Ireland, a header to give them the lead in a 3–2 defeat away to Serbia in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

International

 * As of match played 7 September 2023. Ireland score listed first, score column indicates score after each Browne goal.

Honours
Preston North End
 * Football League One play-offs: 2015

Individual
 * FAI Young Player of the Year 2019