{{Short description|English footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Cole McGhee | image = | image_size = | caption = | fullname = Cole James McGhee<ref>{{cite web |url=https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/gc-media-assets.gc.eflservices.co.uk/04fb4a30-48a0-11f0-ae65-e36a68f94bdb.pdf|title=EFL Professional Retain List 2024-25|publisher=English Football League |page=30 |accessdate=13 August 2025}}</ref> | birth_place = Coventry, England | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2006|1|28|df=y}}<ref name="SW">{{Cite news |title=C. McGhee |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/cole-mcghee/885670/|publisher=Soccerway |accessdate=26 August 2025}}</ref> | height = {{convert|1.83|m|order=flip}} | position = Centre back | currentclub = Sheffield Wednesday | clubnumber = 28 | youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2022 | youthclubs1 = Coventry City | youthyears2 = 2022–2024 | youthclubs2 = Preston North End | clubs1 = Preston North End | years1 = 2024–2025 | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0 | clubs2 = → Chorley (loan) | years2 = 2025 | caps2 = 3 | goals2 = 0 | clubs3 = Sheffield Wednesday | years3 = 2025– | caps3 = 10 | goals3 = 0 | club-update = 13:45, 11 April 2026 (UTC) }} '''Cole James McGhee''' (born 28 January 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for {{English football updater|SheffieW}} side Sheffield Wednesday.

==Club career== ===Early career=== McGhee joined Preston North End from Coventry City to start his scholarship in May 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ten New Scholars Sign Up Ahead Of 2022/23 |url=https://www.pnefc.net/news/2022/may/ten-new-scholars-sign-up-ahead-of-202223ten-new-scholars-sign-up-ahead-of-202223/ |publisher=Preston North End FC |access-date=26 August 2025}}</ref> In the final year of his scholarship he joined National League North club Chorley on a work experience loan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cole McGhee signs in on loan |url=https://www.chorleyfc.com/blogs/news/cole-mcghee-signs-in-on-loan |publisher=Chorley FC |access-date=26 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Preston North End defender secures local loan transfer |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/preston-north-end/preston-north-end-transfer-coventry-city-chorley-fc-cole-mcghee-5007304 |publisher=Lancashire Evening Post |access-date=26 August 2025}}</ref> He was released by Preston North End at the end of his contract in June 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=2025 Retained List |url=https://www.pnefc.net/news/2025/may/09/2025-retained-list/ |publisher=Preston North End FC |access-date=26 August 2025}}</ref>

===Sheffield Wednesday=== On 2 July 2025 he joined Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Professional deals for six young Owls |url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2025/july/02/professional-deals-for-six-young-owls/ |publisher=Sheffield Wednesday FC |access-date=26 August 2025}}</ref> He made his senior debut in the second round of the EFL Cup, starting against Leeds United where they went onto win on penalties.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cd9jwzz74z5o |publisher=BBC |access-date=26 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Remarkable run continues after Dominic Calvert-Lewin misses |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/sheffield-wednesday-1-leeds-united-1-owls-win-3-0-on-penalties-remarkable-run-continues-after-dominic-calvert-lewin-misses-5289392 |publisher=Yorkshire Post |access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Horvath's heroics stun Leeds as Sheffield Wednesday pull off Carabao Cup shock |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/26/sheffield-wednesday-leeds-carabao-cup-match-report |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref> On 29 December 2025, McGhee was originally named on the bench against Blackburn Rovers, before Liam Cooper pulled out during the warm-up, meaning McGhee would step into the starting lineup to make his Championship debut.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sheff Wed & Blackburn playout goalless draw |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/sheffield-wednesday |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=29 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=McGhee makes his mark |url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2025/december/30/mcghee-makes-his-mark/ |publisher=Sheffield Wednesday FC |access-date=30 December 2025}}</ref> Following the end of the 2025–26 season, the new ownership at Sheffield Wednesday exercised their one year option to keep him at the club until 2027.<ref>{{cite news |title=Owls confirm retained list |url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2026/may/16/owls-confirm-retained-list/|access-date=16 May 2026 |publisher=Sheffield Wednesday FC |date=16 May 2026}}</ref>

==Career statistics== {{updated|end of 2025–26 season}}

{| 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" |FA Cup ! colspan="2" |EFL Cup ! colspan="2" |Other ! colspan="2" |Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Preston North End |2024–25<ref name = "2024-25">{{soccerbase season| 203476 |2024|accessdate=13 August 2025}}</ref> |Championship |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |Chorley (loan) |2024–25<ref name="2024-25"/> |National League North |3||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||3||0 |- |Sheffield Wednesday |2025–26<ref name = "2025-26">{{soccerbase season| 203476 |2025|accessdate=13 August 2025}}</ref> |Championship |10||0||1||0||2||0||0||0||13||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !13!!0!!1!!0!!2!!0!!0!!0!!16!!0 |}

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

== References == {{reflist}}

{{Sheffield Wednesday F.C. squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McGhee, Cole}} Category:2006 births Category:Living people Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Preston North End F.C. players Category:Chorley F.C. players Category:Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players Category:National League (English football) players Category:Footballers from Coventry Category:21st-century English sportsmen