Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh

Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh
Personal information
Date of birth	11 May 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth	Cork, Ireland
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Accrington Stanley; (on loan from Southampton)
Youth career
–2019	Fermoy
2019–2023	Cork City
Senior career*
Years	Team
2021–2023	Cork City
2024–	Southampton
2025–	→ Accrington Stanley (loan)
International career‡
2024	Republic of Ireland U19
2024–	Republic of Ireland U21
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 06:14, 9 February 2025 (UTC); ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:10, 17 November 2024 (UTC)

Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh (born 11 May 2005) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Accrington Stanley, on loan from Premier League club Southampton.^[1]

Club career

Cork City

He started his career at Fermoy F.C. before joining Cork City academy in 2019. He signed a professional contract with Cork in 2021.^[2] He made his senior debut for Cork City in March 2023.^[3]

Southampton

He joined Premier League side Southampton in January 2024 from Cork City for an undisclosed fee.^[4] He was included in Southampton's match-day squad for the EFL Cup tie against Cardiff City on 28 August 2024, making his debut as a second half substitute.^[5]^[6]

Accrington Stanley (loan)

On 3 February 2025, O'Brien-Whitmarsh joined League Two side Accrington Stanley on loan for the remainder of the 2024–25 season.^[7] He made his debut for the club on 8 February 2025 in a 0–0 draw with AFC Wimbledon.^[8]^[9]

International career

He has been capped by the Republic of Ireland at under-19 level.^[10] In November 2024, he received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for their two friendlies against Sweden U21 in Marbella, Spain.^[11] He made his debut in a 2–0 defeat to Sweden on 14 November 2024.^[12]

Personal life

He is the son of former Cobh Ramblers striker Paul Whitmarsh.^[13]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 8 February 2025^[14]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Cork City	2021	League of Ireland First Division	0	0	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
	2022	League of Ireland First Division	0	0	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
	2023	League of Ireland Premier Division	23	4	1	0	—		1^[a]	0	25	4
	Total		23	4	1	0	—		1	0	25	4
Southampton	2024–25^[15]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
Accrington Stanley (loan)	2024–25^[15]	League Two	1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
Career total			24	4	1	0	1	0	1	0	27	4

^ Appearance in League of Ireland Premier Division play-off

References

^ "Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
^ O'Connell, Dylan (13 January 2024). "Cork City's Joe O'Brien Whitmarsh makes move to Southampton". echolive.ie. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
^ House, Alfie (12 January 2024). "New Southampton signing sets out '30,000' St Mary's ambition". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
^ "'Dream' move for Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh as he signs for Southampton from Cork City". Irish Examiner. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
^ "Cardiff City vs. Southampton". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
^ "Report: Rotated Saints see off Cardiff in chaotic cup tie". Southampton FC. 28 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
^ "Joe joins on loan". Accrington Stanley FC. 3 February 2025. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
^ "Report:Stanley 0–0 AFC Wimbledon". Accrington Stanley FC. 8 February 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
^ "Accrington Stanley 0–0 AFC Wimbledon". BBC Sport. 8 February 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
^ "Transfers: Cork City's Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh joins Southampton". rte. 12 Jan 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
^ https://www.fai.ie/latest/jim-crawford-names-under-21-squad-sweden-friendlies/
^ https://www.fai.ie/latest/report-sweden-u21-2-0-ireland-u21/
^ Fitzmaurice, Aidan (12 January 2024). "'It's always been a dream to get a contract in England' – Cork teen Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh's delight at Southampton move". Imdependent.ie. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
^ Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh at Soccerway. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Games played by Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 August 2024.

[15] Appearance in League of Ireland Premier Division play-off

[1] "Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 August 2024.

[2] O'Connell, Dylan (13 January 2024). "Cork City's Joe O'Brien Whitmarsh makes move to Southampton". echolive.ie. Retrieved 28 August 2024.

[3] House, Alfie (12 January 2024). "New Southampton signing sets out '30,000' St Mary's ambition". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 28 August 2024.

[4] "'Dream' move for Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh as he signs for Southampton from Cork City". Irish Examiner. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.

[5] "Cardiff City vs. Southampton". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 August 2024.

[6] "Report: Rotated Saints see off Cardiff in chaotic cup tie". Southampton FC. 28 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.

[7] "Joe joins on loan". Accrington Stanley FC. 3 February 2025. Retrieved 3 February 2025.

[8] "Report:Stanley 0–0 AFC Wimbledon". Accrington Stanley FC. 8 February 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2025.

[9] "Accrington Stanley 0–0 AFC Wimbledon". BBC Sport. 8 February 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2025.

[10] "Transfers: Cork City's Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh joins Southampton". rte. 12 Jan 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.

[11] ttps://www.fai.ie/latest/jim-crawford-names-under-21-squad-sweden-friendlies/

[12] ttps://www.fai.ie/latest/report-sweden-u21-2-0-ireland-u21/

[13] Fitzmaurice, Aidan (12 January 2024). "'It's always been a dream to get a contract in England' – Cork teen Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh's delight at Southampton move". Imdependent.ie. Retrieved 28 August 2024.

[14] Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh at Soccerway. Retrieved 29 August 2024.

[sb2425-16] "Games played by Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 August 2024.

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