Andrew Moran

Andrew Moran (born 15 October 2003) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the academy of Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion, and the Republic of Ireland national team.

Bray Wanderers
Raised in the Dublin suburb of Knocklyon, Moran started out at his local club Knocklyon United. He later moved to schoolboy club St Joseph's Boys, before moving onto the academy of League of Ireland club Bray Wanderers, for whom St Joseph's are a feeder club. He made his first team debut for the club in a victory over Drogheda United in August 2019 aged just 15 years 307 days old, making him the youngest player in the club's history.

On 28 February 2020, he became the club's youngest ever goalscorer at 16 years 135 days old when he scored in a 2–0 win over Wexford at the Carlisle Grounds. Moran made a total of three senior appearances during his time with the club.

Brighton & Hove Albion
In July 2020, Moran signed for the academy of Premier League outfit Brighton & Hove Albion, alongside Bray Wanderers teammate Leigh Kavanagh. April 2021 saw Moran linked with a move to fellow Premier League sides Manchester United and Chelsea. After a year at the club, he signed his first professional contract with Brighton in July 2021. On 24 August 2021, Moran made his first team debut for the club, coming off the bench in the 67th minute of a 2–0 win away over Championship side Cardiff City in the EFL Cup second round.

Moran signed a three-year contract extension with the club in August 2022. On 6 September, Moran scored his first professional goal in England whilst playing for the Brighton under-21s, scoring the opener in the 2–1 loss at League Two side Colchester United in Albion's first group stage match of the 2022–23 EFL Trophy. He made his Premier League debut on 3 January 2023, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute replacing Solly March in a 4–1 away win over Everton.

On 22 August 2023, Moran scored a brace with the under-21s in a 3–2 away win over League Two side Walsall in the opening group stage match of the 2023–24 EFL Trophy.

Blackburn Rovers (loan)
Moran signed for EFL Championship side Blackburn Rovers on a season-long loan on 26 August 2023. He made his debut a day later, coming on as a 57th-minute substitute in a 1–0 away win over Watford. Moran started in the next match on 30 August, where he assisted John Buckley's goal, in Blackburn's 8–0 away win over League Two side Harrogate Town in the EFL Cup second round.

International career
Moran has captained the Republic of Ireland under-15s and has also represented his country at under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-21 level. On 27 August 2021, he was called up alongside Brighton & Hove Albion team-mate Evan Ferguson to the Republic of Ireland U21s for the first time, for their 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Luxembourg. He made his Ireland under-21 debut in a 1–1 draw with Luxembourg at the Stade Jos Nosbaum in Dudelange on 7 September 2021.

Moran's first international goal came on 29 March 2022 in the Republic of Ireland U19s 4–0 win over Armenia U19s in the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifying Elite round. Moran scored his first goal for the Republic of Ireland U21s on 16 June 2023 in a 2–2 draw with Ukraine U21s in a friendly played in Austria.

On 21 November 2023, Moran made his senior debut for the Republic of Ireland, replacing Mikey Johnston from the bench in a 1–1 draw with New Zealand in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium.