James Furlong

James Furlong
Furlong in 2025.
Personal information
Full name Walter James Byrne Furlong
Date of birth (2002-06-07) 7 June 2002 (age 24)
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Positions
Team information
Current team
 Walsall
Number 29
Youth career
–2017 St. Joseph's Boys
2017 Bray Wanderers
2017–2019 Shamrock Rovers
2019–2023 Brighton & Hove Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019 Shamrock Rovers 1 (0)
2022–2023 Brighton & Hove Albion 0 (0)
2023 → Motherwell (loan) 16 (0)
2023–2026 Hull City 0 (0)
2024–2025 → AFC Wimbledon (loan) 22 (0)
2026 Maribor 0 (0)
2026– Walsall 0 (0)
International career‡
2018 Republic of Ireland U16 2 (0)
2018–2019 Republic of Ireland U17 9 (0)
2019 Republic of Ireland U18 2 (0)
2023 Republic of Ireland U21 4 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:37, 25 August 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 01:12, 16 October 2024 (UTC)

Walter James Byrne Furlong (born 7 June 2002) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a left-back or left wing-back for EFL League Two club Walsall.

Club career

Shamrock Rovers

Furlong started his youth career at St. Joseph's Boys based in Dublin, before joining Bray Wanderers and then Shamrock Rovers in 2017, where he made his senior debut in April 2019, aged 16.

Brighton & Hove Albion

In July 2019, Furlong joined academy of Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion. In May 2022, Furlong signed a one-year contract extension until June 2023. He made his professional debut for the first team on 24 August 2022, appearing as a 85th-minute substitute in the 3–0 away win at League One side Forest Green Rovers in the second round of the EFL Cup.

Motherwell loan

On 31 January 2023 on transfer deadline day, Furlong signed for Scottish Premiership side Motherwell on loan until the end of the season.

Hull City

Furlong signed for EFL Championship side Hull City for an undisclosed fee on 1 September 2023.

AFC Wimbledon loan

On 29 July 2024, Furlong joined League Two side AFC Wimbledon on a season-long loan.

Maribor

Furlong signed for Slovenian PrvaLiga side NK Maribor on the 9 February 2026. However he failed to make a single appearance for the club, being an unused substitute 7 times and was released at the end of the 2025–26 season.

Walsall

On 24 August 2026 Furlong signed for League Two side Walsall on a one year contract

Career statistics

As of match played on 25 August 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Shamrock Rovers 2019 LOI Premier Division 1000000010
Brighton & Hove Albion 2022–23 Premier League 000010—10
Brighton & Hove Albion U21 2022–23 ———3030
Motherwell (loan) 2022–23 Scottish Premiership 16000——160
Hull City 2023–24 EFL Championship 001000—10
2024–25 00———00
2025–26 000000—00
Total 001000—10
AFC Wimbledon (loan) 2024–25 EFL League Two 220103040300
NK Maribor 2025–26 Slovenian PrvaLiga 00———00
Walsall 2026–27 EFL League Two 0000102131
Career total 390205091551
  1. ↑ Includes FAI Cup, FA Cup & Scottish Cup
  2. ↑ Includes League of Ireland Cup & EFL Cup
  3. ↑ Appearances in EFL Trophy
  4. ↑ 3 appearances in EFL Trophy; 1 appearance in EFL League Two Playoffs

References

  1. ↑ "2021/22 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  2. ↑ "'James will have a decision to make... Whatever he decides will be right for him'". The42. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Furlong and Bull sign new contracts". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  4. ↑ "BBC Match report". BBC Sport. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  5. ↑ "James Furlong makes loan move to Motherwell". Brighton & Hove Albion FC. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "Hull City sign Furlong, Philogene and Morton". BBC Sport. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  7. ↑ "Irish incoming! James joins". AFC Wimbledon. 29 July 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  8. ↑ "Furlong joins Maribor". Hull City A.F.C. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  9. ↑ "JAMES FURLONG JOINS THE SADDLERS". Walsall F.C. 24 August 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Republic of Ireland – J. Furlong – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". ie.soccerway.com. Retrieved 30 July 2024.