Thomas O'Connor (footballer)

Thomas O'Connor

Personal information
Full name	Thomas James O'Connor[1]
Date of birth	(1999-04-21) 21 April 1999 (age 25)[2]
Place of birth	Kilkenny, Ireland
Position(s)	Defender, midfielder
Team information
Current team	Wrexham
Number	6
Youth career
2015–2019	Southampton
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2021	Southampton	0	(0)
2019–2020	→ Gillingham (loan)	28	(1)
2020–2021	→ Gillingham (loan)	34	(0)
2021–2022	Burton Albion	18	(5)
2022–	Wrexham	88	(4)
International career
2017–2018	Republic of Ireland U19
2019–2020	Republic of Ireland U21
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:17, 29 January 2025 (UTC)

Thomas James O'Connor (born 21 April 1999) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender and midfielder for EFL League One club Wrexham.

Club career

Southampton

Born in Kilkenny,[3] O'Connor first joined the Southampton academy in 2015. He was contracted to the club until June 2021 having signed a two-year contract extension in January 2019.[4]

On 29 August 2019 O'Connor signed for League One side Gillingham on loan until January 2020.[5][6] He made his debut for the club two days later in a 5–0 league win over Bolton Wanderers.[7] His first league goal for the club was an 83rd-minute equaliser against Bristol Rovers on 17 September 2019.[8]

On 31 December 2019 his loan with the club was extended until the end of the 2019–20 season.[9] He returned to Southampton at the conclusion of the 2019–20 season, having made 32 appearances for the Kent side in all competitions.[10] On 29 September 2020 he re-signed for Gillingham on loan for the 2020–21 season.[11]

Burton Albion

On 23 June 2021 it was announced that he would sign a two-year deal for League One side Burton Albion following the expiry of his Southampton contract.[12]

Wrexham

He moved to Wrexham of the National League for an undisclosed fee in January 2022,[13][14] making his debut for the Welsh side in a 1–0 away league defeat to Torquay United.[15] On 9 July 2024 he signed a three-year extension until 2027.[16]

International career

O'Connor was called up to the Republic of Ireland U19 squad in February 2017.[17] He made his debut as a substitute in a 1–0 win over Portugal.[18]

He was called up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad in November 2019, making his debut in a 0–1 win over Armenia in a 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier.[19][20]

Career statistics

As of match played 28 January 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Southampton U21s	2016–17 EFL Trophy[21]		—		—		—		3[a]	0	3	0
	2017–18 EFL Trophy[22]		—		—		—		0	0	0	0
	2018–19 EFL Trophy[23]		—		—		—		3[a]	0	3	0
	2019–20 EFL Trophy[24]		—		—		—		0	0	0	0
	2020–21 EFL Trophy[25]		—		—		—		1[a]	0	1	0
	Total		—		—		—		7	0	7	0
Southampton	2019–20[24]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2020–21[25]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Gillingham (loan)	2019–20[24]	League One	28	1	3	0	0	0	1[a]	0	32	1
Gillingham (loan)	2020–21[25]	League One	34	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	35	0
Burton Albion	2021–22[26]	League One	18	5	1	0	1	0	1	0	21	5
Wrexham	2021–22	National League	7	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	9	0
	2022–23	National League	24	4	5	2	0	0	1	0	30	4
	2023–24[27]	League Two	34	0	3	1	1	0	1	0	39	1
	2024–25[28]	League One	23	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	25	0
	Total		88	4	9	3	1	0	5	0	103	5
Career total			168	10	14	3	2	0	14	0	198	13

1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Honours

Wrexham

• EFL League Two runner-up: 2023–24[29]
• National League: 2022–23[30]
• FA Trophy runner-up: 2021–22[31]

References

1. "2019/20 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
2. Thomas O'Connor at Soccerway. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
3. "Burton Albion to sign Tom O'Connor once Southampton contract expires". Burton Albion FC. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
4. "O'Connor extends contract until 2021". Southampton FC. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
5. "Gillingham sign Southampton's Thomas O'Connor and Hearts' Olly Lee on loan". BBC Sport. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
6. "Gills sign Thomas O'Connor on loan from Southampton". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
7. "Gillingham 5–0 Bolton: Reprieved Wanderers ship five again in first game since being saved". 31 August 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
8. "Bristol Rovers 1–1 Gillingham". 17 September 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
9. "O'Connor extends Gillingham loan". Southampton FC. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
10. "Games played by Thomas O'Connor in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
11. "Tommy O'Connor back at Gills". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
12. "Burton sign ex-Saints defender O'Connor" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
13. "Signed – Tom O'Connor signs from Burton Albion". www.wrexhamafc.co.uk.
14. "Tom O'Connor: Burton Albion midfielder joins Wrexham". BBC Sport. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
15. "REPORT | Torquay United 1-0 Wrexham". www.wrexhamafc.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
16. "Wrexham midfielder Tom O'Connor signs new three-year deal". BBC Sport. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
17. "Republic of Ireland call for O'Connor". Southampton FC. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
18. "Portugal 0 – 1 Republic of Ireland | 2017 – Under 19 Friendlies". www.fai.ie. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
19. "Gillingham's Southampton loanee defender Tom O'Connor earns first international call-up for Republic of Ireland under-21s". Kent Online. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
20. "Armenia 0 – 1 Republic of Ireland | 2021 – U21 Mens". www.fai.ie. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
21. "Games played by Thomas O'Connor in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
22. "Games played by Thomas O'Connor in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
23. "Games played by Thomas O'Connor in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
24. "Games played by Thomas O'Connor in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
25. "Games played by Thomas O'Connor in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
26. "Games played by Thomas O'Connor in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
27. "Games played by Thomas O'Connor in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
28. "Games played by Thomas O'Connor in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
29. "END-OF-SEASON GALLERY | Relive the Red Dragons' memorable season". www.wrexhamafc.co.uk.
30. "Mullin the hero as Wrexham win to earn promotion". BBC Sport. 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
31. Aled Williams (22 May 2022). "Bromley beat Wrexham to lift FA Trophy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 February 2023.