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JASON
McCARTHY
(Defender)
Born: 7 Nov 1995
Where: Southampton
Joined Wycombe: October 2015 - Loan from Southampton
Wycombe debut: Stevenage 2 Wycombe 1 - 17 Oct 2015 - League Two
First goal: Wimbledon 1 Wycombe 1 - 21 Nov 2015 - League Two
Returned to Southampton: - May 2016
Re-joined Wycombe: August 2018 - 'Undisclosed fee' from Barnsley
Left Wycombe: 30 July 2019 - 'Undisclosed fee' to Millwall
Re-joined Wycombe: January 2020 - loan from Millwall
Returned to Milwall: - June 2020
Re-joined Wycombe: 25 August 2020 - 'Undisclosed fee' from Millwall
Contracted until: June 2024
Career summary at Wycombe.
201 appearances - 9 goals
Until end of 2022/23 season
Career Details - (*) indicates loan spell
Date Club League
Apps
League
goals
Cup
Apps
Cup
Goals
Jul12-Jan13 Southampton 0(1) 0 0(0) 0
Oct15-May16 Wycombe Wanderers(*) 35(0) 2 4(0) 0
Jun16-May17 Walsall(*) 46(0) 5 6(0) 0
Jun17-Aug18 Barnsley 17(4) 0 3(0) 0
2018/2019 Wycombe Wanderers 44(0) 2 4(1) 0
Jul19-Aug20 Millwall 1(1) 0 - -
2019/2020 Wycombe Wanderers(*) 9(0) 9 0(0) 0
2020/2021 Wycombe Wanderers 22(2) 2 2(0) 0
2021/2022 Wycombe Wanderers 31(0) 1 6(2) 0
2022/2023 Wycombe Wanderers 27(9) 1 3(0) 0
Background:
Southampton born and joined his home side's Accademy in 2002, progressing through The Saints youth ranks to Captain their Under 21 side. Made his Premier League debut for Southampton on 26 December 2014, coming on as 87th minute substitute v Crystal Palace. However, he had not added to his First Team tally prior to the loan deal with Wycombe being announced on Tuesday 13th October 2015 - the then 19 year old centre-half joining on an initial one month loan deal - his spell at Wycombe being his first loan away from his birthplace club.

Commenting on the deal, Manager Gareth Ainsworth told the official website: "Jason’s a very highly-rated defender who’s had good experience in the under-21s at Southampton and they feel he’s ready to go out and get a taste of what senior football is like at 'League Two' level. Our last two games haven’t reached our high standards defensively and he’s a new option who adds competition for us, with Anthony Stewart still missing for another couple of months."

He was allocated the No.22 in the Wanderers squad with he deal originally running until 12th November 2015 but this was extended until 3 January 2016 and then until 3rd February 2016. On the 1st February 2016 it was confirmed that the loan deal had been extended until the end of the 2015/16 season (including any play-off games).

He completed his loan season at Wycombe with 39 appearances to his name and netted his first senior goal in the 1-1 draw at Wimbledon in November 2015. Highlights of the season for the youngster included bagging the winning goal in the 2-1 victory over Oxford United at Adams Park in December 2015. Later in the season he also made a brief appearance in goal for Wanderers when he has forced between the stick after Matt Ingram had been red-carded late on and with no remaining substitutes in the home game with Morecambe in January 2016. Although Wanderers fell-out of promotion contention by the end of the 2015/16 season, his season was capped when he won the Supporters' Player of the Season award.

Having returned to Southampton in May 2016, he subsequently spent the following season on loan at 'League One' side Walsall- being ever present in League games and scoring five times for The Saddlers and once again scooping the Supporters' Player of the Season award. In June 2017 McCarthy left Southampton to join then 'Championship' side Barnsley on a three year deal for a reported £200,000 fee.

On 9th August 2018 it was announced that McCarthy had agreed to leave now 'League One' Barnsley and rejoin Wanderers on a three year deal for an 'undisclosed fee'. Gareth Ainsworth commented: "This is a massive coup for us and I’m thrilled to be able to bring Jason back here on a permanent deal. He was outstanding for us during his loan spell, making his Football League debut and scoring a couple of important goals as well." He added: "The fact that Jason wanted to come back here is testament to my staff and the work they put in to help him develop his game when he was just a teenager starting out in senior football. We have a proud track record of working with young players and Jason was one of our biggest success stories, which is why having him back on a permanent deal is a huge boost for everyone at the Club."

Commenting on his return to Adams Park to the official website, McCarthy said: “I’m so buzzing to be back, linking up with the gaffer again, a lot of the boys are still here from my first time, and I can’t wait to see the Wycombe faithful either,” he smiled. It was a really enjoyable time for me here. Wycombe is a club I hold so close to my heart because it was my first real opportunity in football. I had great memories of [the 2015/16 season] and I feel the gaffer got the best out of me. We had a good team then and an even better one now, and the club are getting a better player back as well."

Ended his first season back with Wycombe as a permament signing top of the League appearance charts with just two matches missed. From his defensive role, added two more goals to his tally, with his dipping free-kick strike against Walsall at Adams Park in April 2019 providing a crucial win that went a long way to ensuring Wanderers safety in 'League One' for another season.

Linked with a move to 'Championship' side Millwall prior to the start of the 2019/20 season despite having two years of his contract still to run. Was not present for the annual squad day photo shoot at Adams Park on Monday 29th July 2019 and the move to Millwall was confirmed the following day, with Fred Onyedinma moving in the opposite direction on a three-year deal. Fees for both players were described at the time as 'undisclosed'. Commenting on the day of the transfer, Wycombe Manager Gareth Ainsworth said: “It’s a bittersweet day for me as we say goodbye to Jason McCarthy. We knew his long-term future probably belonged at a higher level and once the opportunity came up for him to return to the Championship, it seemed right for us to reach an agreement that suited all parties."

McCarthy's time at Millwall did not appear to be a happy one and in January 2020 it was announced he had rejoined Wycombe on a loan deal until the end of the 2019/20 season. Commenting at the time of the deal, Gareth Ainsowrth said: "Once we knew Jason was available, we had no hesitation in bringing him back to the club to strengthen our defensive options because we know all about what a first-class player and professional he is to have around the place. With Jack [Grimmer] having been injured in recent weeks, we wanted to make sure we had another option at right-back and also in the middle of defence, and Jason fits the bill perfectly. The boys loved having him back around the place today and I’ve no doubt he’ll settle right back in and hit the ground running. I’m sure the fans can’t wait to see him back in Wycombe colours and picking up where he left off last season."

After scoring on his first game back for Wanderers, McCarthy was a regular in the side before Covid restrictions resulted in the season being curtailed. In June 2020, McCarthy returned to Millwall because of 'lockdown' cost cutting measures at Adams Park. Wycombe were subsequently awarded a play-off place on 'points per game' but McCarthy had no involvement.

Having won the League One Play-Off to gain a place in the Championship, McCarthy was signed on permanent basis in August 2020 to commence his fourth spell at the Club. Gareth Ainsworth said: "It was a shame we weren't able to extend his loan for the [2019-20] play-offs but we know he was right behind the boys and his video message was one of the last things they watched before they left the hotel that night before the game."

On 13th Apil 2023 it was announced that McCarthy had signed a new deal with Wanderers, running until at least June 2024.

External links:
Wikipedia
Soccerbase
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