{{short description|Northern Irish footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Brad Lyons |image = |image_size = |caption = |full_name = Brad Joseph Lyons<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/efl-professional-retain-list--free-transfers---2018-19.pdf |title=Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2019 |publisher=English Football League |accessdate=23 June 2019}}</ref> |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|5|26|df=y}} |birth_place = |height = 1.83m<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irishfa.com/ifa-international/squads/northern-ireland-senior-men/brad-lyons|title=Brad Lyons|website=IFA}}</ref> |position = Midfielder |currentclub = Kilmarnock |clubnumber = 8 |youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = |years1 = 2014–2019 |clubs1 = Coleraine |caps1 = 94 |goals1 = 17 |years2 = 2018–2019 |clubs2 = → Blackburn Rovers (loan) |caps2 = 0 |goals2 = 0 |years3 = 2019–2021 |clubs3 = Blackburn Rovers |caps3 = 0 |goals3 = 0 |years4 = 2019 |clubs4 = → St Mirren (loan) |caps4 = 15 |goals4 = 1 |years5 = 2021 |clubs5 = → Morecambe (loan) |caps5 = 14 |goals5 = 1 |years6 = 2021– |clubs6 = Kilmarnock |caps6 = 122 |goals6 = 5 |nationalyears1 = 2023– |nationalteam1 = Northern Ireland |nationalcaps1 = 3 |nationalgoals1 = 0 |club-update = 20 May 2026 |ntupdate = 17:46, 6 March 2025 (UTC) }} '''Brad Joseph Lyons''' (born 26 May 1997) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for and captains {{Scottish football updater|Kilmarno}} club Kilmarnock and the Northern Ireland national team. He will join {{Scottish football updater|Aberdeen}} club Aberdeen on 1 July 2026.
==Club career== Lyons began his career in the Irish Premiership with Coleraine. After helping Coleraine win the Irish Cup, in September 2018 he moved on loan to English club Blackburn Rovers, with the deal to become permanent in January 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45406445|title=Brad Lyons: Coleraine midfielder completes Blackburn Rovers move|date=4 September 2018|accessdate=5 September 2018|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> In January 2019 he signed a permanent 18-month contract,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/brad-lyons-signs-permanent-deal-15662677|title=Brad Lyons signs permanent deal with Blackburn Rovers|date=11 January 2019|accessdate=11 January 2019|author=Gareth Fullerton|publisher=Belfast Live}}</ref> his first ever professional contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/irish-league/coleraine/i-will-always-love-coleraine-brad-lyons-blackburn-move-made-permanent-37701901.html|title=I will always love Coleraine: Brad Lyons' Blackburn move made permanent|date=11 January 2019|accessdate=11 January 2019|publisher=Belfast Telegraph}}</ref> He stated that he wanted to break into the Blackburn first-team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/brad-lyons-reveals-first-team-15663250|title=Brad Lyons reveals first-team ambition after signing professional contract with Blackburn Rovers|date=11 January 2019|accessdate=11 January 2019|author=Gareth Fullerton|publisher=Belfast Live}}</ref> Later that month he moved on loan to St Mirren.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46880782|title=St Mirren: Blackburn Rovers' Brad Lyons reunited with Oran Kearney after loan|date=15 January 2019|accessdate=15 January 2019|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> He was sent off 28 minutes into his debut, in the Scottish Cup, on 19 January 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46847911|title=St Mirren 3–2 Alloa: Premiership strugglers hit back with late salvo to deny Athletic|work=BBC Sport |date=19 January 2019}}</ref> He was offered a new contract by Blackburn at the end of the 2019–20 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2020/june/rovers-confirm-retain-list/|title=Rovers confirm Retain List|website=www.rovers.co.uk|date=24 June 2020 }}</ref>
In December 2020 he appeared in a Blackburn Rovers' first-team match day squad for the first time since he signed for the club.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/blackburn-rovers-lyons-butterworth-mowbray-19474650|title=Mowbray explains Lyons decision as Butterworth enters first-team fray|first=Jaquob|last=Crooke|date=17 December 2020|website=LancsLive}}</ref> He moved on loan to Morecambe in January 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18991679.rovers-youngster-lyons-signs-league-two-side-loan/|title=Debut at Chelsea awaits as Rovers youngster makes loan switch|website=Lancashire Telegraph|date=6 January 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55565723|title=Morecambe sign Rovers midfielder Lyons|work=BBC Sport |date=6 January 2021 }}</ref>
On 14 May 2021 it was announced that he would leave Blackburn at the end of the season, following the expiry of his contract.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Rovers confirm Retain List |url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2021/may/rovers-confirm-retain-list/ |publisher=Blackburn Rovers F.C.|date=14 May 2021}}</ref>
On 17 June 2021, it was announced that Lyons would join Scottish Championship side Kilmarnock on a two-year deal following the expiry of his Blackburn contract.<ref>{{Cite web|date=17 June 2021|title=Brad Lyons joins Tommy Wright's Killie rebuild|url=https://kilmarnockfc.co.uk/news/brad-lyons-joins-tommy-wrights-killie-rebuild/|url-status=live|access-date=17 June 2021|website=kilmarnockfc.co.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617205911/https://kilmarnockfc.co.uk/news/brad-lyons-joins-tommy-wrights-killie-rebuild/ |archive-date=17 June 2021 }}</ref> On 7 June 2023, he signed a new two-year contract,<ref>{{cite web| url=https://kilmarnockfc.co.uk/news/brad-will-be-back/| title=Brad will be back!| work=Kilmarnock FC| date=7 June 2023| access-date=21 February 2025}}</ref> and on 5 April 2024 signed a further new contract to keep him at the club until 2026.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://kilmarnockfc.co.uk/news/brad-lyons-extends-contract-with-new-deal/| title=Brad Lyons extends contract with new deal| work=Kilmarnock FC| date=5 April 2024| access-date=21 February 2025}}</ref>
On 28 May 2026, Lyons agreed to join Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen on a two-year deal from 1 July.<ref> {{cite web|url=https://www.afc.co.uk/en/news/lyons-agrees-move-to-pittodrie|title=Lyons Agrees Move to Pittodrie|website=www.afc.co.uk|date=28 May 2026|accessdate=28 May 2026}}</ref>
==International career== In August 2023, Lyons received his first call-up to the Northern Ireland senior national team by head coach Michael O'Neill, for two UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Slovenia and Kazakhstan.<ref>{{cite news |date=29 August 2023 |title=Michael O'Neill reveals Northern Ireland squad for Euro qualifiers |url=https://www.irishfa.com/news/2023/august/michael-o-neill-reveals-squad-for-euro-qualifiers |accessdate=29 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 August 2023 |title=Lyons earns first Northern Ireland call-up |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66631382 |access-date=29 August 2023 |website=BBC Sport }}</ref> He made his debut on 17 October 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/brad-lyons-playing-for-northern-ireland-is-the-pinnacle-now-ive-got-a-taste-of-it-i-want-more/a58653445.html|title=Brad Lyons: Playing for Northern Ireland is the pinnacle… now I've got a taste of it, I want more|date=18 October 2023|via=www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67143692|title='I'm trying to pinch myself' – Lyons on NI debut|work=BBC Sport |date=18 October 2023 }}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{Updated|match played 17 May 2026}}<ref>{{Soccerway|357001|access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Irish Cup, FA Cup, Scottish Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes NIFL Cup, EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="6"|Coleraine |2014–15 |NIFL Premiership |11||2||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||11||2 |- |2015–16 |NIFL Premiership |30||4||1||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||34||4 |- |2016–17 |NIFL Premiership |24||5||4||1||3||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||31||7 |- |2017–18 |NIFL Premiership |26||4||3||0||0||0||2{{efn|name="UEL"|Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League}}||0||1{{efn|name="NIFLCS"|Appearance(s) in NIFL Charity Shield}}||0||32||4 |- |2018–19 |NIFL Premiership |3||2||0||0||0||0||2{{efn|name="UEL"}}||0||0||0||5||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !94!!17!!8!!1!!6!!1!!4!!0!!1!!0!!113!!19 |- |Blackburn Rovers (loan) |2018–19 |Championship |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |rowspan="4"|Blackburn Rovers |2018–19 |Championship |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |2019–20 |Championship |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |2020–21 |Championship |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0 |- |St Mirren (loan) |2018–19 |Scottish Premiership |15||1||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||17||1 |- |Morecambe (loan) |2020–21 |League Two |14||1||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|Appearance(s) in EFL League Two play-offs}}||0||18||1 |- |rowspan="6"|Kilmarnock |2021–22 |Scottish Championship |19||0||1||0||5||0||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|name="SCC"|Appearance(s) in Scottish Challenge Cup}}||0||28||0 |- |2022–23 |Scottish Premiership |19||1||1||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||24||1 |- |2023–24 |Scottish Premiership |23||2||0||0||6||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||29||3 |- |2024–25 |Scottish Premiership |30||1||1||0||1||0||6{{efn|Two appearances in UEFA Europa League, Four appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}}||0||colspan="2"|—||39||1 |- |2025–26 |Scottish Premiership |31||1||1||0||4||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||36||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !122!!5!!4!!0!!20!!2!!6!!0!!3!!0!!156!!7 |- |Kilmarnock B |2022–23 |colspan="3"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name="SCC"}}||0||2||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !246!!24!!15!!1!!26!!3!!10!!0!!9!!0!!306!!28 |} {{notelist}}
===International=== {{Updated|match played 31 March 2026}}<ref>{{NFT player|92698|access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4"|Northern Ireland |2023||1||0 |- |2024||2||0 |- |2025||4||0 |- |2026||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !8!!0 |}
==Honours== ;Morecambe *EFL League Two play-offs: 2021<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57224523 |title=League Two play-off final: Morecambe 1–0 Newport County - Shrimps Win Promotion |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 May 2021 |access-date=28 May 2025}}</ref> ;Kilmarnock *Scottish Championship: 2021–22<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.eurosport.com/football/scottish-championship/2021-2022/standing.shtml | title=Standings Scottish Championship 2021-2022 | accessdate=1 August 2022 | work=Eurosport| date=1 August 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Kilmarnock F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyons, Brad}} Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:Men's association footballers from Northern Ireland Category:Coleraine F.C. players Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. players Category:St Mirren F.C. players Category:Morecambe F.C. players Category:Kilmarnock F.C. players Category:NIFL Premiership players Category:Scottish Professional Football League players Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:English Football League players Category:Northern Ireland men's international footballers Category:21st-century sportsmen from Northern Ireland