McClean has not been a regular starter for Wrexham in the Championship this season, and now looks set to end his career where it all began
13:53, 17 Jan 2026Updated 19:59, 17 Jan 2026
James McClean(Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne)
James McClean has rejoined his boyhood club Derry City ahead of the new League of Ireland season.
The 36-year-old has left Welsh club Wrexham to join the side he departed in 2011.
The transfer was confirmed on Saturday, with McClean joining his younger brother Patrick at the Brandywell, whose own return to Derry was confirmed this week.
McClean left Derry City to sign for Sunderland more than 14 years ago and has since enjoyed a long and storied career in English football, playing close to 600 games.
After leaving the Stadium of Light, the Derryman went on to play for Wigan Athletic, West Brom, Stoke City and Wrexham. He won two trophies with Wigan during two separate spells at the club – the FA Cup in 2013 and the League One title in 2022.
Rumours were rife that McClean was eyeing a return to Derry City when leaving Wigan in 2023. But he ended up signing for League Two side Wrexham, helping them to achieve two successive promotions.
McClean has not been a regular starter for Wrexham in the Championship this season, though, and now looks set to end his career where it all began.
Before his move to Sunderland, the Creggan native played for Derry City between 2008 and 2011, winning a League of Ireland First Division title in 2010.
The 36-year-old, who won 103 caps for the Republic of Ireland, has regularly attended Derry City matches in recent years.