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Callum Paterson
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Callum Thomas Owen Paterson (born 13 October 1994)[4] is a professional footballer who plays for EFL League Two club Milton Keynes Dons as a forward.
Key Information
Paterson mainly played for Hearts as a right-back, but was also sometimes used as a striker. Cardiff mainly used him as a midfielder, but he occasionally played higher up the pitch to help aid the attack. He has been praised for his work rate, pace, aerial ability, positioning, and goalscoring prowess. He is also known for his array of goal celebrations.[5]
Paterson made 17 full international appearances for Scotland between 2016 and 2020.
Early life
[edit]Paterson's father is Scottish and his mother is from Zimbabwe. His maternal grandfather is South African.[6] Paterson was born in London and moved from there to Scotland when he was three years old.[6][2] He grew up in South Queensferry[7] where he attended Queensferry High School.[8] He is the cousin of fellow footballer Michael Travis.[7]
Club career
[edit]Heart of Midlothian
[edit]Paterson began his career as a youth player at Tynecastle[9] before joining Heart of Midlothian in 2010.[10][11] A member of the club's Under-20 side[12] he was promoted to the first team during pre-season in the summer of 2012 and made his first team debut on 14 July, in a friendly against Raith Rovers where he scored the first goal of the game.[13] Having impressed during these pre-season fixtures,[14] on 4 August he made his Scottish Premier League (SPL) debut aged 17, in a 2–0 win over St Johnstone.[15] He made his European debut on 23 August, in a 1–0 defeat to Liverpool at Tynecastle.[16]
On 31 August 2012, Paterson signed a new contract extending his stay with the club until 2015.[17] On 22 September 2012, he scored his first two Career goals[18] in a 3–0 win over Dundee Utd in the SPL.[19] On 22 January 2013,[20] Paterson suffered ligament damage to his foot[21] in training that ruled him out of the Scottish League Cup Semi-final against Inverness that weekend.[22] The injury required surgery and ultimately ruled him out for the remainder of the season.[23] During his debut season Paterson made twenty seven appearances, scoring four times[24] In doing so he played as a right-back, midfielder and as a striker,[25][26] with the latter being the position he played in before joining Hearts.[27]
On 11 August 2013, Paterson scored his first goal of the 2013–14 campaign, when he headed home the only goal in the Edinburgh derby against Hibernian at Tynecastle.[28] On 27 April 2014, Paterson scored a brace against city rivals Hibernian in a 2–1 win. A week later he scored again in a 5–0 win over Kilmarnock and also scored three days later against Partick Thistle. Hearts were relegated at the end of the season, but immediately won promotion by winning the 2014–15 Scottish Championship. In their first season back in the top flight, Hearts finished third in the 2015–16 Scottish Premiership and qualified for European competition.
During the summer of 2016, Patterson was subject to interest from several EFL Championship sides, with Hearts rejecting two bids from Wigan Athletic.[29] Despite the interest, he stayed at the club, managing to score 9 goals in 20 appearances, before suffering a serious knee injury on 27 December, which ruled him out for six to nine months.[30] Despite missing the last few months of the season, Paterson managed to pick up the club's Young Player of the Year Award.[31]
Cardiff City
[edit]On 7 June 2017, Paterson agreed a three-year deal with EFL Championship club Cardiff City.[32] The knee injury suffered at Hearts kept him out of the first two months of the season, making his playing return for the Under-23 side in a 4–0 win over Burnley, on 18 September.[33] On 21 October, Paterson returned to the first team, making his debut in a 1–0 win over Middlesbrough, before scoring his first goal for the club, the winner at Barnsley, a month later.[34][35] Cardiff manager, Neil Warnock moved Paterson into a central midfield position in the new year, later stating the reasoning behind the move was because he couldn't defend.[36][37] Following his move to the new position, Paterson scored a brace against Sunderland on 13 January and found the back of the net three times in March.[38] He continued his good form throughout the rest of the season, scoring 10 goals, ending as the club's top goal scorer in the league, as they were promoted to the Premier League. Paterson was also voted Young Player of the Season by the Cardiff fans.[39]
Paterson played his first Premier League game against Bournemouth on the opening day of the season. As Cardiff struggled for goals, Paterson was moved into a central forward role, where he scored his first Premier League goal in a 4–2 win over Fulham.[40]
Sheffield Wednesday
[edit]On 30 September 2020, he joined EFL Championship club Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee.[41] He made his club debut the following weekend against Queens Park Rangers[42] and scored his first goal for the club against Brentford on 21 October 2020.[43] He would win the clubs player of the month for January after scoring goals against Derby County and Exeter City as well as the final game in December against Middlesbrough.[44]
On the opening day of the 2021-22 season against Charlton Athletic, he would suffer a nasty head injury following a collision after Paterson cleared a certain goal.[45]
Following promotion back to the EFL Championship Paterson was offered a new contract to stay at the club[46] which was signed on the 8 June 2023.[47] On 9 February, manager Danny Röhl, confirmed that Paterson was facing an extended spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a recent knee injury.[48] On 17 May 2024, Wednesday exercised their option to keep Paterson another year.[49]
He won the clubs player of the month for February 2025, after scoring goals against West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland.[50] He was offered a new contract following the end of the 2024–25 season.[51]
Milton Keynes Dons
[edit]On 28 July 2025, Paterson signed for League Two club Milton Keynes Dons.[52] He made his debut for the club on 2 August 2025, the opening day of the 2025–26 season, in a 0-0 home draw with Oldham Athletic.[53] He scored his first goal for the club in the following game, against Barrow, scoring the second goal in a 2–0 away win.[54]
International career
[edit]Paterson earned caps at both under-18 and under-19 level in 2012 before establishing himself as a regular in Scotland under-21 squads.[55]
On 10 November 2014, manager Gordon Strachan called Paterson into the senior Scottish squad for the first time after Phil Bardsley pulled out of the squad injured, ahead of a European qualifier against the Republic of Ireland and a friendly against England.[56] He made his senior debut for Scotland on 29 May 2016 in a 1–0 friendly defeat against Italy.[57] Paterson made 17 appearances for Scotland between 2016 and 2020, with his most recent cap coming in the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying play-offs against Serbia.[57]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of 15 November 2025[58]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Heart of Midlothian | 2012–13[59] | Scottish Premier League | 22 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2[c] | 0 | 27 | 4 |
| 2013–14[60] | Scottish Premiership | 37 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 11 | |
| 2014–15[61] | Scottish Championship | 29 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[d] | 1 | 32 | 7 | |
| 2015–16[62] | Scottish Premiership | 29 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 7 | |
| 2016–17[63] | 20 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 9 | ||
| Total | 137 | 33 | 6 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 158 | 38 | ||
| Cardiff City | 2017–18[64] | Championship | 32 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 10 |
| 2018–19[65] | Premier League | 27 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 4 | |
| 2019–20[66] | Championship | 36 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 42 | 7 | |
| Total | 95 | 19 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 106 | 21 | ||
| Sheffield Wednesday | 2020–21[67] | Championship | 43 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 9 |
| 2021–22[68] | League One | 40 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[f] | 0 | 45 | 6 | |
| 2022–23[69] | League One | 25 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6[f] | 3 | 38 | 8 | |
| 2023–24[70] | Championship | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
| 2024–25[71] | Championship | 27 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 8 | |
| Total | 160 | 25 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 186 | 31 | ||
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2025–26[72] | League Two | 16 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 5 |
| Career total | 407 | 81 | 23 | 4 | 25 | 5 | 12 | 4 | 467 | 94 | ||
- ^ Includes Scottish Cup, FA Cup
- ^ Includes Scottish League Cup, EFL Cup
- ^ Appearances in the Europa League
- ^ Appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup
- ^ Appearance in Championship play-offs
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in League One Play-offs & Football League Trophy
International
[edit]| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 2016 | 5 | 0 |
| 2017 | — | ||
| 2018 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 17 | 0 | |
Honours
[edit]Heart of Midlothian
Cardiff City
- EFL Championship second-place promotion: 2017–18[73]
Sheffield Wednesday
Individual
- Heart of Midlothian Young Player of the Year: 2016–17[31]
- Cardiff City Young Player of the Year: 2017–18
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Cardiff City" (PDF). English Football League. p. 12. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
- ^ a b Kiddie, Paul (January 2013). "Heart of Midlothian Pen Pics". Scottish Communities League Cup Programme. Semi-final Inverness v Hearts: P28.
- ^ "Callum Paterson". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- ^ "Callum Paterson". UEFA. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
- ^ Booth, Dominic (12 December 2018). "The making of Callum Paterson, a crazy Cardiff City cult hero". WalesOnline. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Callum Paterson reveals he's eligible for four countries". Edinburgh News (Scotsman). 6 December 2014. Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
- ^ a b "Queensferry teen's debut for Hearts". linlithgowgazette.co.uk. Linlithgow Gazette. 21 July 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "Cousins snapped up for senior squads". linlithgowgazette.co.uk. Linlithgow Gazette. 16 July 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
- ^ "I can't believe I'm about to face Steven Gerrard, says Hearts starlet". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 22 August 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
- ^ "Callum Paterson". hydc.co.uk. Heart of Midlothian Youth Development Committee. Archived from the original on 27 May 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "Foot injury ends Callum Paterson's season". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
- ^ "U20 team". heartsfc.co.uk. Heart of Midlothian F.C. Archived from the original on 1 September 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "Match Report: Raith Rovers 0–3 Hearts". Heart of Midlothian F.C. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "Hearts boss backs young talent". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "Hearts 2 – 0 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. BBC. 4 August 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "Hearts 0–1 Liverpool". BBC Sport. BBC. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Contract for Callum". heartsfc.co.uk. Heart of Midlothian F.C. 31 August 2012. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
- ^ "Hearts kid Callum Paterson gets first career goals as they demolish Dundee United". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
- ^ "Dundee Utd 0–3 Hearts". BBC Sport. BBC. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
- ^ "Injury blow for Callum". heartsfc.co.uk. Heart of Midlothian F.C. 24 January 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
- ^ "Callum Paterson out until next season after surgery on injured foot". skysports.com. Sky Sports. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
- ^ "Hearts teenager Callum Paterson to miss semi-final and will have scan on his ankle". skysports.com. Sky Sports. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
- ^ "Blow for Hearts as striker Callum Paterson is ruled out for the rest of the season". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
- ^ "Games played by Callum Paterson in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "Hearts boss says Callum Paterson will be a full-time striker after double". sport.stv.tv. STV. 22 September 2012. Archived from the original on 24 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
- ^ "Hearts starlet Callum Paterson set for extended run up front". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
- ^ "Hearts youngster Callum Paterson may retain striking berth against Dundee Unite". scotsman.com. Edinburgh Evening News. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
- ^ "A Callum Paterson header gave Hearts a vital victory and bragging rights in a frantic and edgy Edinburgh derby". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
- ^ "Callum Paterson: Hearts reject new Wigan bid for full-back". BBC Sport. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
- ^ "Callum Paterson: Hearts right-back sidelined for six to nine months". BBC Sport. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
- ^ a b Booth, Dominic (12 December 2018). "The making of Callum Paterson, a crazy Cardiff City cult hero". WalesOnline.
- ^ "Callum Paterson: Scotland defender joins Cardiff City on three-year deal". BBC Sport. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ "U23 Match Report Burnley 0–4 Cardiff City". Cardiff City Football Club. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
- ^ "Middlesbrough 0–1 Cardiff City". BBC Sport. 21 October 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
- ^ "Barnsley 0–1 Cardiff City". BBC Sport. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
- ^ "Callum Paterson: Cardiff 'wobble' out of way, says Scotland international". BBC Sport. BBC. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ "Neil Warnock reveals why he won't actually play 'defender' Callum Paterson in defence". South Wales Echo. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ "Cardiff City 4–0 Sunderland". BBC Sport. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ "Awards 2018: The Winners". Cardiff City F.C. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ "Cardiff City 4–2 Fulham". BBC Sport. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "Owls sign Callum Paterson". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
- ^ "Report: Wednesday 1-1 QPR". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ "Report: Wednesday 1-2 Brentford". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ^ "Paterson is your Player of the Month". Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ "Darren Moore: Charlton talking points". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ^ "Owls retained list confirmed". Sheffield Wednesday FC. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ "Callum Paterson extends Owls contract". Sheffield Wednesday Official Site. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ "Owls dealt Paterson blow". Sheffield Wednesday FC. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ "Owls confirm retained list". Sheffield Wednesday FC. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "Callum Paterson voted February Player of the Month". Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ^ "Owls confirm retained list". Sheffield Wednesday FC. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "Callum Paterson moves to Milton Keyes". Milton Keynes Dons FC. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ^ "Milton Keynes Dons 0-0 Oldham Athletic". BBC. 2 August 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "Barrow 0–2 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC. 9 August 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
- ^ "Scotland U21 player Callum Paterson". FitbaStats. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
- ^ "Hearts defender Callum Paterson called up by Scotland". BBC Sport. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
- ^ a b c Callum Paterson at the Scottish Football Association
- ^ "C Paterson". uk.soccerway.com. Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "Games played by Callum Paterson in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "Games played by Callum Paterson in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "Games played by Callum Paterson in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "Games played by Callum Paterson in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "Games played by Callum Paterson in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "Games played by Callum Paterson in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "Games played by Callum Paterson in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ "Games played by Callum Paterson in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- ^ "Games played by Callum Paterson in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
- ^ "Games played by Callum Paterson in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
- ^ "Games played by Callum Paterson in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
- ^ "Games played by Callum Paterson in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
- ^ "Games played by Callum Paterson in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
- ^ "Games played by Callum Paterson in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
- ^ Anderson, John, ed. (2018). Football Yearbook 2018–2019. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 106–107. ISBN 978-1-4722-6106-9.
- ^ Ian Woodcock (29 May 2023). "Barnsley 0–1 Sheffield Wednesday". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
External links
[edit]- Callum Paterson at Soccerway
- Callum Paterson at Soccerbase
- Callum Paterson on Twitter
Callum Paterson
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Background
Early life
Callum Paterson was born on 13 October 1994 in London, England, to a Scottish father and a Zimbabwean mother. His maternal grandfather is South African, providing him with diverse heritage. Due to this background, Paterson was eligible to represent four national teams: Scotland through his father, England by virtue of his birthplace, Zimbabwe via his mother, and South Africa through his grandfather. He has affirmed his strong Scottish identity, stating in 2018, "I was born in London but brought up here my whole life and have always considered myself Scottish. I am Scottish and that’s who I want to play for."[7] At the age of three, Paterson moved with his family from London to South Queensferry, a coastal village near Edinburgh, Scotland, where he spent his childhood. He grew up in this community, immersed in the local Scottish environment that surrounded him with football culture from an early age. Paterson attended Queensferry High School during his teenage years. Paterson's family heritage and upbringing in South Queensferry fostered his early passion for football, which propelled him toward structured youth involvement in the sport.Youth career
Paterson represented Scotland at youth international level from 2012 to 2016, earning caps across the under-18, under-19, and under-21 teams due to his Scottish heritage via his father, despite being born in London and holding eligibility for England, Zimbabwe, and South Africa through birth and maternal lineage.[7][8] He made his debut for the Scotland under-18 side on 19 April 2012, featuring in a 4–1 friendly victory over Serbia.[9] He earned additional appearances for the U18 squad. Later that year, Paterson received his sole under-19 cap in a friendly against Germany on 14 August 2012, following a call-up for the match; he was subsequently ruled out of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifying fixtures against Armenia, Romania, and Switzerland in October due to an ankle injury sustained at club level.[10][11] Paterson progressed to the under-21 team in November 2012, debuting in a 3–2 friendly defeat to Portugal on 14 November.[12] He went on to accumulate seven caps for the U21s between 2012 and 2015, scoring one goal, with appearances including UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers.[12] His strong performances at Heart of Midlothian contributed to his consistent selection in these youth squads.[13]Club career
Heart of Midlothian
Paterson progressed through the youth ranks at his boyhood club Heart of Midlothian, making his senior league debut for the team as a 17-year-old in August 2012 during the Scottish Premier League season.[14] During the 2014–15 season in the Scottish Championship, Paterson emerged as a key figure in Hearts' campaign, contributing significantly to their title win and promotion back to the top flight with a standout performance that included multiple goals across competitions.[2] In July 2014, he signed a new three-year contract extension with the club, securing his future amid growing interest in his versatile abilities as a right-back, midfielder, or forward; by that point, he had already scored 15 goals in 69 appearances.[14] Over his time at Hearts from 2012 to 2017, Paterson made 137 league appearances and scored 33 goals, establishing himself as a reliable and dynamic player despite occasional setbacks.[15] A major interruption came in December 2016, when he suffered a serious knee ligament injury just 15 minutes into a 4–0 home win over Kilmarnock, sidelining him for six to nine months and limiting his play in the latter part of the 2016–17 season.[16] His contract expired at the end of that season, leading to a free transfer to Cardiff City in June 2017, for which Hearts received a compensation fee of around £300,000 due to his age and development status.[2][17]Cardiff City
On 7 June 2017, Callum Paterson joined Cardiff City from Heart of Midlothian on a free transfer, signing a three-year contract after his previous deal had expired.[18] The move allowed him to transition from Scottish football to the English Championship, building on his prior success in domestic competitions north of the border. During the 2017–18 season, Paterson emerged as a key contributor for Cardiff, scoring 10 goals in 32 league appearances while primarily deployed as a forward or midfielder.[4] His goals and versatility helped the team finish sixth in the Championship and secure promotion to the Premier League through the playoffs, culminating in a 1–0 victory over Fulham in the final at Wembley Stadium on 26 May 2018. Paterson's impact was recognized with the club's Young Player of the Season award, highlighting his adaptation to a more competitive league environment.[19] Over his three-and-a-half years at Cardiff, Paterson made 95 league appearances and scored 19 goals, demonstrating remarkable positional flexibility across forward, central midfield, and right-back roles to suit manager Neil Warnock's tactical needs.[4] This adaptability proved vital during the 2018–19 Premier League campaign, where Cardiff struggled against relegation, but Paterson's utility kept him as a regular squad option despite the team's eventual drop back to the Championship.[20] Paterson departed Cardiff on 30 September 2020, signing permanently with Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee reported to be around £500,000.[21][22]Sheffield Wednesday
On 30 September 2020, Callum Paterson joined Sheffield Wednesday from Cardiff City on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee, reported to be around £500,000. He quickly established himself as a versatile forward capable of playing across the frontline or at right-back, drawing on his multi-positional experience from previous clubs. In his debut season (2020–21), Paterson made 45 appearances across all competitions, scoring nine goals, including key contributions in a dramatic 12-point deduction survival battle in the EFL Championship.[21][22][23] Over his five-year stint at Hillsborough, spanning 2020 to 2025, Paterson amassed 186 appearances and 31 goals in all competitions, becoming a fan favorite for his work rate and adaptability.[23] His standout campaign came in 2022–23 in EFL League One, where he scored five goals in 29 outings to help secure promotion via the playoffs, including a vital role in the semi-final victory over Peterborough United. The following season (2023–24) saw him contribute to Championship survival with 0 goals in 27 appearances despite limited starts, while in 2024–25, he added six goals in 31 games amid another playoff push.[23][24][4] Paterson's time was not without setbacks, including a serious head injury in August 2021 during a 0–0 draw at Charlton Athletic, where he was knocked unconscious and stretchered off, requiring a period of recovery and concussion protocols. In January 2024, he underwent knee surgery after an injury sustained in late 2023, sidelining him for several months and limiting his involvement until a return in April. Despite these challenges, his resilience endeared him to supporters.[25][26][27] To secure his services long-term, Sheffield Wednesday extended Paterson's contract in June 2023 with a two-year deal, recognizing his 38 appearances and eight goals from the prior promotion-winning season. This was followed by a one-year extension activated in May 2024, ensuring his continuity into the 2024–25 campaign amid ongoing squad rebuilding efforts.[28][29]Milton Keynes Dons
On 28 July 2025, Callum Paterson signed for EFL League Two club Milton Keynes Dons on an undisclosed deal following the expiry of his contract with Sheffield Wednesday.[30][24] The move came after a period of limited opportunities at his previous club, exacerbated by injuries earlier in the year that had restricted his playing time, prompting him to seek regular minutes in a fresh environment. With prior experience in the Championship, including a promotion via the play-offs in 2023, Paterson joined as an experienced forward expected to contribute leadership and versatility to Dons' squad during their promotion campaign.[3] Paterson made his debut for Milton Keynes Dons on 2 August 2025, coming on as a substitute in the 60th minute during a 0–0 draw against Oldham Athletic in the EFL League Two opening match at Stadium MK.[31] His first start followed a week later on 9 August 2025, where he scored his debut goal and provided an assist in a 2–0 victory over Barrow, helping the team secure an early win in the season.[32] As of 15 November 2025, Paterson had made 17 appearances across all competitions for Milton Keynes Dons, scoring 4 goals and establishing himself as a key figure in the forward line. His physical presence and work rate have been highlighted as assets in supporting the team's promotion push, with the club positioned strongly in the League Two table after 15 matches.[33]International career
Youth career
Paterson represented Scotland at youth international level from 2012 to 2016, earning caps across the under-18, under-19, and under-21 teams due to his Scottish heritage via his father, despite being born in London and holding eligibility for England, Zimbabwe, and South Africa through birth and maternal lineage.[7][8] He made his debut for the Scotland under-18 side on 19 April 2012, featuring in a 4–1 friendly victory over Serbia in which the team scored four goals.[9] Later that year, Paterson received his sole under-19 cap after being called up for UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifying matches, though he withdrew from one fixture in October due to an ankle injury sustained at club level.[10][11] Paterson progressed to the under-21 team in November 2012, debuting in a 3–2 friendly defeat to Portugal on 14 November.[12] He went on to accumulate seven caps for the U21s between 2012 and 2015, scoring one goal, with appearances including UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers.[12] His strong performances at Heart of Midlothian contributed to his consistent selection in these youth squads.[13]Senior career
Paterson made his senior international debut for Scotland on 29 May 2016, appearing as a substitute in a 1–0 friendly defeat to Italy at Ta' Qali Stadium in Malta. His early promise at Hearts led to this call-up under manager Gordon Strachan, marking a transition from youth levels to the senior squad. Over the course of his senior career with Scotland, Paterson accumulated 17 caps between 2016 and 2020, during which he did not score any goals.[34] He featured prominently in key qualification campaigns, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where he made competitive debuts in matches such as the 5–1 home win over Malta in September 2016 and the 1–1 draw against Lithuania in October 2016.[35] These appearances highlighted his versatility as a defender and forward, contributing to Scotland's efforts in Group F despite the team ultimately failing to qualify.[36] Paterson also played in the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League, starting in fixtures like the 1–0 victory over Slovakia in October 2020 and the 1–2 away win against the Czech Republic in September 2020.[37] His final appearance came on 12 November 2020, as a substitute in the UEFA Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Serbia, which ended 1–1 before Scotland advanced 5–4 on penalties.[34] Since that match, Paterson has not received further call-ups, attributed to a series of injuries— including a season-ending ankle issue in 2019 sustained on international duty—and fluctuating form at club level.[38][39]Career statistics
Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition| Club | Seasons | League | Apps | Goals | Other | Apps | Goals | Total | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heart of Midlothian | 2012–2017 | Scottish Premiership / Championship | 137 | 33 | – | – | – | 137 | 33 | [4] |
| Cardiff City | 2017–2021 | Championship / Premier League | 95 | 19 | – | – | – | 95 | 19 | [4] |
| Sheffield Wednesday (loan) | 2020–2021 | Championship | Included in total below | |||||||
| Sheffield Wednesday | 2020–2025 | Championship / League One | 160 | 25 | – | – | – | 160 | 25 | [4] |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2025– | League Two | 15 | 4 | FA Cup / EFL Cup | 2 | 0 | 17 | 4 | [40][1] |
| Career total | 409 | 81 |
International
Paterson represented Scotland at youth international level, earning caps for the under-18, under-19, and under-21 teams.[34]| Youth Level | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Under-18 | 1 | 0 |
| Under-19 | 1 | 1 |
| Under-21 | 7 | 1 |
| Total | 9 | 2 |
| Competition | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Friendlies | 5 | 0 |
| 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | 4 | 0 |
| 2018–19 UEFA Nations League C | 5 | 0 |
| UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 17 | 0 |