Bio

Paddy McNair provides a wealth of Sky Bet Championship experience to Carlos Corberán’s squad.

The 29-year-old joined the Baggies on a loan deal until the end of 2024 from MLS side San Diego FC and will bolster Corberán’s options in both defence and midfield. 

Born in Ballyclare in Northern Ireland in April 1995, McNair’s football journey started with a local side called Ballyclare Colts. Scouts from Manchester United would regularly watch him play for the Colts and he eventually signed for the Premier League giants in 2011.

Having played in midfield as a youngster, McNair was converted into a centre-back by United’s Youth Team coach Paul McGuinness. He rose up through the ranks at Old Trafford and went on to make his senior debut in the club’s 2-1 victory over West Ham in the top flight in September 2014, completing the whole game following a defensive injury crisis for then manager Louis van Gaal.

He played 18 times for United during 2014/15 – the same season in which he made his international debut for Northern Ireland. At the age of 19, Paddy played the entirety of his nation’s 1-0 defeat to Scotland in a friendly at Hampden Park.

Opportunities to feature for his club were limited the following year, but the 2015/16 campaign ended well for McNair. Albion’s new man featured twice for Northern Ireland at UEFA Euro 2016 in France, starting in the opener against Poland and coming off the bench late on in the 2-0 victory over Ukraine in Lyon. 

Paddy swapped Manchester United for Sunderland following the Euros in search of regular first-team football. He scored his first senior goals in the Black Cats’ 2-1 win at QPR in the League Cup in September, however his season was cut short in November when he suffered a knee injury which ruled him out until October 2017.

Sunderland had suffered relegation while McNair was on sidelines and they’d go on to fall into the third tier later that year, with the Northern Ireland star moving on to the Black Cats’ rivals, Middlesbrough in the summer of 2018. 

He made 33 appearances for club and country in his first year at the Riverside Stadium and then two shy of 50 the following year.

Paddy was named Middlesbrough’s Player of the Year for the 2020/21 campaign, helping the club to a top-ten finish in the second tier. 

The versatile Northern Irishman played a key role in helping Boro earn a play-off place in the Sky Bet Championship in 2022/23, but they were unable to get the better of Coventry City over two legs.

Last season McNair amassed over 30 appearances for both his country and his club side, departing Boro in the summer after six years there. 

In total, Paddy has played 343 senior matches of football, of which 69 have been for Northern Ireland. 

His versatility and Championship experience will be welcomed by all at The Hawthorns during his loan stint with Albion.