Dwight James Matthew McNeil (born 22 November 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Everton. Born in England, McNeil is eligible to play for Jamaica through family heritage.
![]() McNeil playing for Burnley in 2018 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Dwight James Matthew McNeil[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1999-11-22) 22 November 1999 (age 22)[2] | ||
Place of birth | Rochdale, England | ||
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[3] | ||
Position(s) | Winger | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Everton | ||
Number | 7 | ||
Youth career | |||
0000–2014 | Manchester United | ||
2014–2018 | Burnley | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2018–2022 | Burnley | 134 | (7) |
2022– | Everton | 15 | (2) |
National team | |||
2019 | England U20 | 6 | (1) |
2019–2021 | England U21 | 10 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:21, 12 November 2022 (UTC) |
McNeil was born in Rochdale, Greater Manchester to parents Tracy and Matty McNeil, who was a professional footballer in the English Football League for Macclesfield Town and Stockport County.[4] He has two younger siblings, Baillie and Chiara, and he attended the Oasis Academy in Oldham.[5] He regularly watched his father play in non-league for Hyde United and first started playing football at the JJB Sports centre in Trafford.[6] It was there that scouts from Bolton Wanderers pursued him for a trial, but after initial rejections from his parents, Bolton eventually got their way and he started training with them.[6] At age five, he was offered the chance to join the academy at Manchester United, the club he supported as a child.[6] He stayed in the United academy until the age of 14 when he started struggling for game time and was subsequently released.[6]
Within a week of his release, McNeil went on trial at the Burnley Academy.[7] In July 2016, he was rewarded with a two-year scholarship and was a regular member of the under-18 squad and occasionally played for the Development Squad.[7] In February 2018, he travelled with the first team squad for the Premier League game against Swansea City but failed to make the match-day squad.[8] On 10 April 2018, following the end of his scholarship, he signed a professional two-year contract with the option of a third year in the club's favour.[9] On 13 May 2018, he made his first team debut in the final match of the 2017–18 season when he replaced Aaron Lennon as a late substitute in the 2–1 home defeat to AFC Bournemouth.[10] McNeil scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 home win against West Ham United on 30 December 2018.[11] On 16 October 2020, McNeil signed a new long-term contract at Burnley, keeping him at the club until 2024.[12]
On 28 July 2022, McNeil signed for Premier League club Everton on a five-year contract.[13] Burnley and Everton came to an agreement for a transfer fee reportedly in the region of £20 million, including potential add-ons.[14] On 6 August, McNeil made his debut for the club in a 1–0 loss against Chelsea in the Premier League.[15] On 1 October 2022, McNeil scored his first goal for Everton in a 2–1 away win over Southampton.[16]
In March 2019, McNeil received his first call-up for the England U20s ahead of U20 Euro Elite League fixtures against Poland and Portugal.[17] McNeil made his debut as a starter in a 3–1 defeat to Poland at St. George's Park.[18] In May 2019, he was included in the U20 squad for the 2019 Toulon Tournament[19] and scored his first international goal during the 4–0 victory over Guatemala on 11 June 2019.[20]
On 30 August 2019, McNeil was included in the England U21 squad for the first time.[21] He eventually made his U21 debut during a 2–2 draw against Slovenia in Maribor on 11 October 2019.[22]
As well as England, McNeil is eligible to play for Jamaica as one of his father's parents was born in Jamaica.[23]
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Burnley | 2017–18[10] | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
2018–19[24] | Premier League | 21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 26 | 3 | |
2019–20[25] | Premier League | 38 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 40 | 2 | ||
2020–21[26] | Premier League | 36 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 40 | 2 | ||
2021–22[27] | Premier League | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 40 | 0 | ||
Total | 134 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 147 | 7 | ||
Everton | 2022–23 | Premier League | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 17 | 2 | |
Career total | 149 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 164 | 9 |
Everton F.C. – current squad | |
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