Michael Forbes (footballer)

Michael Forbes (born 29 April 2004) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a centre-back for Northampton Town on loan from Premier League club West Ham United, and the Northern Ireland national team.

Michael Forbes

Personal information
Full name	Michael Forbes[1]
Date of birth	(2004-04-29) 29 April 2004 (age 21)
Place of birth	Ardboe, Northern Ireland[2]
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[3]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Northampton Town (on loan from West Ham United)
Number	18
Youth career
2008–2009	Ardboe
2009–2017	Cookstown Youth
2017–2020	Dungannon Swifts
2020–	West Ham United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–	West Ham United	0	(0)
2024–2025	→ Bristol Rovers (loan)	7	(0)
2025	→ Colchester United (loan)	0	(0)
2025–	→ Northampton Town (loan)	2	(1)
International career‡
2019	Northern Ireland U16	4	(1)
2022	Northern Ireland U18	2	(1)
2021–2022	Northern Ireland U19	6	(0)
2023–	Northern Ireland U21	8	(0)
2023–	Northern Ireland	1	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:00, 9 August 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 09:59, 29 July 2025 (UTC)

Club career

Forbes is a youth product of Ardboe, Cookstown Youth, and Dungannon Swifts.^[4] He joined the youth academy of West Ham United on 24 July 2020 when he signed a scholarship contract with the club.^[5] The following season, he captained the U18s and debuted with the U23s in December 2021.^[6] He signed his first professional contract with the club on 31 May 2022.^[7] He made his first appearance on the senior West Ham squad for a UEFA Conference League match against FCSB on 3 November 2022.^[8]

On 5 July 2024, Forbes joined League One club Bristol Rovers on a season-long loan deal.^[9][10] He was recalled on 3 January 2025 to continue rehabilitation from a hamstring injury suffered two weeks prior.^[11] On 30 January 2025, he joined League Two side Colchester United on loan for the remainder of the season.^[12] During an in-house training match, he once again suffered a hamstring injury requiring surgery, returning to West Ham United in March 2025.^[13]

On 25 July 2025, Forbes joined League One side Northampton Town on a season-long loan deal.^[14] He made his Northampton debut on 2 August scoring in a 3–1 away defeat to Wigan Athletic.^[15]

International career

Forbes is a youth international for Northern Ireland, having played up to the Northern Ireland U21s.^[16] After injuries to the senior squad in November 2021, he was called up to train with the senior national team.^[17] He debuted with the senior Northern Ireland national team as a late substitute in a 4–0 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying loss to Finland on 17 November 2023.^[18]

Career statistics

As of 12 August 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
West Ham United U21	2020–21[19]	—			—		—		1[a]	0	1	0
	2021–22	—			—		—		0	0	0	0
	2022–23[20]	—			—		—		3[a]	0	3	0
	2023–24[21]	—			—		—		3[a]	0	3	0
	2024–25	—			—		—		0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	6	0
Bristol Rovers (loan)	2024–25[22]	League One	7	0	2	0	1	0	2[a]	0	12	0
Colchester United (loan)	2024–25[22]	League Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Northampton Town (loan)	2025–26[23]	League One	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	1
Career total			9	1	2	0	2	0	8	0	21	1

1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

International

As of matches played 17 November 2023^[24]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Northern Ireland	2023	1	0
	Total	1	0