Paul McGinn (born 22 October 1990) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a right-back for club Motherwell, whom he captains, and for the Scotland national team.

Starting his career at Queen's Park in the youth team, McGinn has spent the majority of his career playing in Scotland. After leaving Queen's Park in 2012, he played for St Mirren, Dumbarton, Dundee, Partick Thistle and Hibernian, as well as a stint at English club Chesterfield, before joining Motherwell in 2022. He made his Scotland debut in 2021.

Career

Queen's Park Raised in Clydebank, McGinn started his career as a youth player at Queen's Park. He made his debut on 2 May 2009, in Queen's Park's 1–0 defeat to Raith Rovers. Having come on as a substitute, he was sent off in the 90th minute.

St Mirren On 18 September 2012, McGinn signed for Scottish Premier League side St Mirren until the end of the season, despite interest from Aberdeen and Dundee United. On 24 November 2012, he went out on loan to former his club Queen's Park. The loan was necessary to give him game time, as he was registered as an amateur and unable to play in the SPL until January. He then finished the season on loan to Dumbarton. Despite being offered a new contract, McGinn opted to leave St Mirren at the end of the season.

Dumbarton After his successful loan spell, on 4 June 2013, McGinn agreed a one-year deal with Dumbarton. In all he made 42 appearances in all competitions that season as the side finished fifth in the Scottish Championship. McGinn was also named as part of the 2013–14 PFA Scotland Scottish Championship Team of the Year.

Dundee On 20 June 2014, McGinn was persuaded by Dundee manager Paul Hartley to sign a two-year contract alongside former St Mirren teammate Paul McGowan. He made his debut on 2 August 2014, as Dundee beat Peterhead 4–0 in the Scottish League Cup.

Chesterfield On 22 June 2016, McGinn signed a two-year contract with English club Chesterfield after his Dundee contract expired. He scored his first goal for Chesterfield in a 3–1 EFL Cup loss against Rochdale on 9 August 2016. On 25 August 2017 he left the club, with his contract being cancelled by mutual consent.

Partick Thistle McGinn returned to Scottish football on 31 August 2017, signing a one-year contract with Partick Thistle. Thistle were relegated from the Scottish Premiership, via the playoffs, in his only season with the club.

St Mirren (second spell) McGinn returned to St Mirren in May 2018, signing a two-year contract. He agreed a deal with the club while the manager position was vacant; Alan Stubbs took over in June 2018.

Hibernian McGinn signed an 18-month contract with Hibernian on 31 January 2020, moving from St Mirren for an undisclosed transfer fee. He was added to the Scotland international squad in October 2020, after six players dropped out of the initial selection due to injuries and COVID-19. On the same day as his international selection, McGinn agreed an extended contract with Hibernian. McGinn scored his first goals for Hibs, and his first since April 2019, when he scored twice in a 2–2 draw with St Johnstone on 24 November.

On 18 September 2021, McGinn scored against his former club St Mirren during a 2–2 draw. His appearances for Hibs during the 2021–22 season triggered a one-year extension to his contract, but he was allowed to leave by mutual consent soon afterwards.

Motherwell After leaving Hibs, McGinn signed a one-year contract with Motherwell.

On 24 May 2024, McGinn extended his contract with Motherwell until the summer of 2025. On 9 May 2025, Motherwell announced that McGinn had extended his contract until the end of the 2025/26 season. On 1 January 2026, McGinn again extended his contract with Motherwell, this time until the summer of 2027.

International career

In October 2020, McGinn received his first national team call-up from Scotland, but he failed to make an appearance.

On 6 September 2021, McGinn was called up for Scotland for a second time following three players' withdrawal from the squad. On 7 September, McGinn came off the bench to make his international debut against Austria in Vienna, where Scotland won 1–0. His brother John was already on the field, and they became only the third siblings to play together for the national team since the end of World War II. It was also the first occasion that he and Scotland captain Andy Robertson had played together since their time in the fourth tier of Scottish football with Queen's Park eight years earlier.

Personal life Paul's older brother Stephen and younger brother John are also footballers. Stephen is a coach with St Mirren while John plays for Aston Villa. All three brothers have played for St Mirren and Hibernian during their careers. Their grandfather Jack McGinn was a Celtic chairman and Scottish Football Association president.

Career statistics

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other TotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsQueen's Park2008–09Scottish Second Division10000000102009–10Scottish Third Division60000000602010–11Scottish Third Division26110002Appearances in the Second Division play-offs02912011–12Scottish Third Division34040103One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and two in the Second Division play-offs0420Total671501050781St Mirren2012–13Scottish Premier League0000000000Queen's Park (loan)2012–13Scottish Third Division8100000081Dumbarton (loan)2012–13Scottish Championship142000000142Dumbarton 2013–14Scottish Championship35040201Appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup0420Dundee2014–15Scottish Premiership3412031003922015–16Scottish Premiership340411000391Total681614100783Chesterfield2016–17League One181001100192Partick Thistle2017–18Scottish Premiership26020102Two appearances in the Scottish Premiership play-offs0310St Mirren2018–19Scottish Premiership35320502Two appearances in the Scottish Premiership play-offs04432019–20Scottish Premiership220004000260Total573209000703Hibernian2019–20One appearance in the 2019–20 Scottish Cup was in a match delayed until October 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Scottish Premiership703000001002020–21Scottish Premiership3835040004732021–22Scottish Premiership 253104040343Total706908040916Motherwell2022–23Scottish Premiership3602020204202023–24Scottish Premiership3112050003812024–25Scottish Premiership1010020001212025–26Scottish Premiership330104000380Total110250130201142Career total4731733139216057120

International +Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsScotland202110Total10

Notes

References