Michael James Devlin (born 3 October 1993) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Ayr United. He has previously played for Hamilton Academical, Stenhousemuir, Aberdeen, Fleetwood Town, Hibernian and Livingston. He was selected for Scotland three times in 2019.
Club career Early career Born in Motherwell, Devlin grew up in a street near to fellow footballer Mark Reynolds and attended the same school, where the older pupil was held up as an example to follow. As a teenager Devlin spent time in the youth systems of Heart of Midlothian, Aberdeen and Celtic, making the squad for a Glasgow Cup final with the latter in May 2010.
Hamilton Academical He was picked up by Hamilton Academical, with assurances that hard work would result in a swift path to first team football. He made his senior debut for Hamilton in the Scottish Premier League on 15 January 2011, aged 16, in a 0–4 defeat away at Rangers; the performance of Devlin and other young players in that match, including Lee Kilday who also made his debut, was praised by manager Billy Reid.
He signed on loan for Stenhousemuir on 16 March 2011, and re-joined the Warriors on an emergency loan in February 2012, at the same time signing a two-year contract extension with Hamilton.
He scored his first goal for the Accies in the Scottish Cup in December 2012. In February 2014, he signed a contract extension until the end of the 2014–15 season.
In August 2016 he was appointed the club's new captain. In May 2017, he was involved in an altercation with a fan following a 1–0 home Lanarkshire derby defeat to relegation rivals Motherwell. In the last regular game of the 2016–17 season, Devlin suffered a serious knee injury, meaning he missed the club's two relegation play-off matches.
Aberdeen Devlin moved to Aberdeen in January 2018 for an undisclosed fee, despite having not yet fully recovered from the knee injury suffered in May 2017. He eventually made his competitive debut for Aberdeen on 26 July 2018, in the first leg of a Europa League tie against Burnley at Pittodrie Stadium.
In August 2020 he was one of eight Aberdeen players who received a suspended three-match ban from the Scottish FA after they breached coronavirus-related restrictions by visiting a bar earlier in the month. He missed most of the 2020–21 season due to hamstring and ankle ligament injuries, and agreed new short-term contracts during 2021–22 with it being anticipated that he would eventually return to full fitness, but by April 2022 he had yet to be named in a matchday squad, and it was initially announced that he would leave Aberdeen at the end of the season but soon clarified that this would be immediate.
Fleetwood Town Devlin trained with English club Fleetwood Town, managed by his former Aberdeen teammate Scott Brown, in June 2022. He signed a short-term contract with Fleetwood in August 2022. He departed the club in January following the expiration of his short-term deal.
Hibernian After leaving Fleetwood before the end of the January transfer window, Devlin trained with Hibernian. He signed a short-term contract with the club on 13 February 2023.
Livingston Devlin left Hibs at the end of the 2022–23 season and signed for Livingston. He was appointed club captain.
Ayr United After leaving Livingston at the end of the 2023–24 season, he signed for Ayr United in July 2024.
International career Devlin was included in the Scotland squad for the first time in October 2018. He was recalled in May 2019, one of five uncapped players to feature. He made his international debut on 10 October 2019 in a Euro 2020 qualifier against Russia, playing the whole match as Scotland lost 0–4.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueScottish CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsHamilton Academical2010–11Scottish Premier League100000—102011–12Scottish First Division30000000302012–13Scottish First Division22121201Appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup02722013–14Scottish Championship2711030103212014–15Scottish Premiership2800040—3202015–16Scottish Premiership1601000—1702016–17Scottish Premiership2824040003622017–18Scottish Premiership000000—00Total125481130201485Stenhousemuir (loan)2010–11Scottish Second Division1030000001032011–12Scottish Second Division130000000130Total233000000233Aberdeen2017–18Scottish Premiership00000000002018–19Scottish Premiership22130302Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League03012019–20Scottish Premiership1403010101902020–21Scottish Premiership10001000202021–22Scottish Premiership0000000000Total371605030511Fleetwood Town2022–23EFL League One2000002040Hibernian2022–23Scottish Premiership1000000010Livingston2023–24Scottish Premiership290105000350Career total2178151230702629
References