Dara O'Shea was born on 4th of March, 1999 in the Republic of Ireland. Now aged 25, he is a defender known for his role at the heart of defence. Currently donning the number 26 shirt for Ipswich Town, O'Shea is an imposing figure standing at 6ft 2in (1.88m) and tipping the scales at 83kg (13st). He has also had the honour of representing his country at the highest level, playing for the Republic of Ireland national team.
O'Shea's first gainful employment in football came in July 2015 when he joined West Bromwich Albion in England's Championship as a trainee. In his debut season of 2019-2020 at West Brom, O'Shea made 17 first-team appearances, impressing with three goals from his defensive berth. His appearances increased over the following seasons, making 28, 14, and 37 appearances respectively in each season through to 2023.
A temporary change of scenery first came for O'Shea in August 2017 when he was loaned to Hereford United in the Southern Football League in England. His loan stint completed, he returned to West Bromwich Albion the following year, and made steady progress at the club. His form in the Championship caught the eye of other clubs and eventually led to another loan move, this time to Exeter City in League One, in August 2018. Again, O'Shea returned the following year to his parent club, West Bromwich Albion.
In the summer of 2023, O'Shea made a permanent switch to Burnley, moving up to the Championship in England for a respectable fee around £7m. During the 2023-2024 season, O'Shea made 33 first-team league appearances and managed to find the back of the net three times. His progression continued in the current season with two first team appearances and one goal to his name.
In August 2024, O'Shea levelled up to the Premier League in England, transferring to Ipswich Town for a significant fee around £15m. And the combative defender has already taken to his new club, registering four first-team appearances in league matches in the current 2024-2025 season.
Away from his club responsibilities, O'Shea has also represented his national team on a number of occasions. He featured in the Euro Qualifiers 2022-2024 for the Republic of Ireland, contributing three starts and two appearances from the bench. He also represented his nation in the Nations League 2024-2025 with four starts, whilst domestically he participated in the League Cup 2024-2025 for Ipswich Town with one start.
