Ryan McGowan, born 15th August 1989 in Australia, is a skilled defender predominantly serving as a central defender for Livingston. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91m) and weighing 11st 11lb (75kg), the Australian contributes significantly to the team's defence line. Currently, he is sporting the number 5 jersey. According to Transfermarkt, his market value stands at around £64k.
McGowan’s journey in professional football commenced in Scotland with Hearts in January 2008. His performance significantly improved over seasons, with his first team appearances in league matches progressing from a single appearance in his debut season 2007-2008 to a solid 20 appearances by season 2012-2013. For a brief period in October 2009, hearts loaned him to Ayr United, where he managed to make 28 appearances and even score a goal.
Following his tenure at Ayr United, he returned to Hearts in June 2010. In the subsequent seasons, his performance lifted significantly, making up to 28 first-team appearances and scoring two goals in the league matches. His next move was a loan transfer to Partick Thistle in February 2011. Here, he made 8 first-team appearances during his time.
In January 2013, McGowan transferred from Hearts to Shandong Taishan in China for approximately £340k. His prowess didn't wane in China, making up to 29 first-team appearances in his debut season 2013.
Interestingly, McGowan proved himself not only to be a prolific player but also a globetrotter. In subsequent years, he was on the roster of several football clubs including Dundee United in Scotland, Henan and Guizhou in China, and Sharjah FC in UAE's Pro League. He even experienced English football with Bradford City before returning to Scotland for Dundee on loan in January 2019.
Subsequently, McGowan moved from Bradford City back to his homeland, becoming part of Sydney FC in Australia in July 2019. After two seasons there, he embarked on another international endeavour, joining Al Kuwait in Kuwait's First Division in July 2021. This was followed by brief stints at St Johnstone and Livingston in Scotland, where he currently plays.
McGowan has shown substantial growth in his performance with the Scottish clubs. In Livingston, he made thirty-six first-team appearances during the 2024 - 2025 season, and so far, in the ongoing 2025 - 2026 season, he has made nine appearances. He also participated in the League Cup 2025 - 2026 and the Premiership Play-offs 2024 - 2025 for Livingston.
