PLAYER SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | George David Eric Hirst |
| Date of Birth | 15/02/1999 (Age: 27) |
| Place of Birth | Sheffield, England |
| Nationality | Scottish (via grandparent) / English |
| Height | 1.91 m / 6 ft 3 in |
| Weight | 84 kg |
| Position | Striker / Centre-Forward |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
| Squad Number | #9 |
| Current Club | Ipswich Town |
| Previous Clubs | Sheffield Wednesday, Oud-Heverlee Leuven, Leicester City, Rotherham United (loan), Portsmouth (loan), Blackburn Rovers (loan) |
| International Caps | 10 (Scotland) |
| International Goals | 1 |
| World Cup Appearances | 2026 |
| Contract Until | 2029 |
| Market Value | €9.4M |
The Frozen Moment
The summer of 2025 was meant to be a time of reflection for George Hirst. The 26-year-old striker from Sheffield had just endured a challenging Premier League season with Ipswich Town, scoring just three goals as the club suffered relegation. Instead, it became the prelude to the most significant period of his professional life.
On March 11, 2025, FIFA approved Hirst’s change of association from England to Scotland. The son of former England international David Hirst had chosen to follow his Scottish heritage, just as his grandad Eric had always dreamed. Within weeks, he made his full international debut against Greece, and on June 9, 2025, he scored his first goal for Scotland in a friendly against Liechtenstein.
A year later, Hirst was on the plane to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The boy who had been a prolific goalscorer for England’s youth teams—scoring 40 goals in the 2016-17 season alone—had chosen Scotland and was now representing them on football’s greatest stage. The moment his grandad had drilled into him in the back garden—”score a goal for Scotland”—had become a reality.
Origins
Born on February 15, 1999, in Sheffield, England, George David Eric Hirst is the son of former Sheffield Wednesday and England striker David Hirst. His grandfather, Eric Hirst, was Scottish, and the family connection to Scotland would ultimately define his international career.
Hirst joined Sheffield Wednesday’s academy as a youth player and signed his first professional contract in March 2016. His early potential was immediately evident, and he represented England at every youth level from U17 to U20. However, his path to the senior game would be more circuitous than his early promise suggested.
The European Journey
Sheffield Wednesday (2016-2018):
Hirst made just two senior appearances for Sheffield Wednesday, with his only league appearance coming in the 2016/17 season. His time at the club was limited, and he moved on to seek regular first-team football.
Oud-Heverlee Leuven (2018-2019):
Hirst moved to Belgian second-tier club Oud-Heverlee Leuven, where he was managed by former Sheffield Wednesday player Nigel Pearson. He made 22 league appearances, scoring 3 goals. The move provided valuable experience in a different footballing culture.
Leicester City (2019-2023):
Hirst joined Leicester City in 2019, but his time at the club was marked by loan moves rather than first-team opportunities. He made just 2 Premier League appearances for the Foxes. However, he was prolific for Leicester’s U23 side, scoring 9 goals in 14 appearances for the reserves.
Loan to Rotherham United (2020-2021):
Hirst’s first significant loan was to Rotherham United in the Championship. He made 31 league appearances but failed to score a single goal. The experience was challenging and highlighted the difficulties of adapting to senior men’s football.
Loan to Portsmouth (2021-2022):
The 2021/22 season proved transformative. Hirst joined Portsmouth in League One and scored 13 goals in 40 league appearances. His goalscoring form returned, and he rediscovered his confidence.
Loan to Blackburn Rovers (2022-2023):
Hirst moved to Blackburn Rovers on loan, but the spell was less productive. He made just 9 league appearances without scoring.
Loan to Ipswich Town (2023):
In January 2023, Hirst joined Ipswich Town on loan, scoring 6 goals in 21 League One appearances as the club secured promotion to the Championship.
The Ipswich Breakthrough
Ipswich Town (2023-Present):
Hirst’s loan at Ipswich was made permanent in July 2023 for a reported fee of £1.75 million. He signed a four-year contract worth $3.56 million, with an average annual salary of $890,000.
The 2023/24 season saw Hirst make 26 Championship appearances, scoring 6 goals, as Ipswich secured promotion to the Premier League. The 2024/25 season was Hirst’s first taste of Premier League football. He made 26 appearances, scoring 3 goals, and scored his first Premier League goal on October 26, 2024, in a dramatic 4-3 defeat at Brentford.
In July 2025, Hirst extended his contract until 2029. The new deal is worth $5.72 million over four years. Ipswich were relegated from the Premier League in the 2024/25 season, finishing 19th.
The Championship Return (2025/26):
The 2025/26 season saw Hirst return to the Championship with Ipswich. He has been a key figure, making 42 league appearances, scoring 11 goals, and providing 3 assists. His expected goals (xG) of 11.76 placed him in the 97th percentile among Championship players. He ranks in the 96th percentile for goals scored per 90 minutes (0.47) and the 96th percentile for goal involvement.
His performances have been instrumental in Ipswich’s campaign, with the club securing promotion back to the Premier League. His average rating in the Championship has been 6.6 across the season. His contract’s salary cap hit is $1.43 million for the 2025/26 season.
The Anatomy of His Game
George Hirst is a classic centre-forward who combines physical presence with intelligent movement. At 191 cm, he is a formidable aerial presence and a handful for defenders.
In Possession:
Hirst’s strengths lie in his physicality, hold-up play, and movement in the box. His goalscoring record in the 2025/26 Championship season—11 goals in 42 appearances—demonstrates his ability to find the net consistently. His non-penalty expected goals (npxG) of 10.36 places him in the 96th percentile. However, he has sometimes struggled for form, and his manager Kieran McKenna has publicly defended him against criticism.
Out of Possession:
Hirst’s work rate and team ethic are defining attributes. McKenna noted that Hirst “trains well every day and gives his all on the pitch.” He is a combative presence, with 6 yellow cards in the 2025/26 Championship season. His former manager John Hughes described his physicality as a key attribute.
Psychological Edge:
Hirst’s resilience is a defining trait. After a difficult goalless loan at Rotherham, he rebuilt his career at Portsmouth and Ipswich. He has described his journey: “I’ve treated every camp like it might be my last. I don’t look too far into the future.” His decision to switch international allegiance to Scotland at 26, despite representing England at youth level, demonstrates conviction. McKenna described him as “a player who’s come through that journey with the club and was the first one to want to sign (a new contract) in the summer (after relegation). He wanted to stay no matter what.”
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: The Data Snapshot (2025/26 Season)
| Competition | Apps | Starts | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Championship | 42 | 25 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 2,110 |
| FA Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| EFL Cup | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| FIFA World Cup 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 44 | 26 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 2,110 |
TABLE B: Career Overview
| Season(s) | Club | League/Competition | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-2018 | Sheffield Wednesday | Championship | 1 | 0 |
| 2018-2019 | Oud-Heverlee Leuven | Belgian First Division B | 22 | 3 |
| 2019-2023 | Leicester City | Premier League | 2 | 0 |
| 2020-2021 | Rotherham United (loan) | Championship | 31 | 0 |
| 2021-2022 | Portsmouth (loan) | League One | 40 | 13 |
| 2022-2023 | Blackburn Rovers (loan) | Championship | 9 | 0 |
| 2023 | Ipswich Town (loan) | League One | 21 | 6 |
| 2023-Present | Ipswich Town | Champ / Prem | 94 | 21 |
| TOTAL | — | — | 220+ | 43 |
TABLE C: International Record
| Tournament/Competition | Apps | Goals | Major Honours |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIFA World Cup 2026 | 0 | 0 | Group Stage |
| UEFA Nations League | 2 | 0 | — |
| World Cup Qualifying | 2 | 0 | — |
| Friendlies | 6 | 1 | — |
| Scotland Senior Career | 10 | 1 | — |
TABLE D: Career Milestones
| Year | Achievement | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Professional Contract | Sheffield Wednesday |
| 2016 | England U17 Debut | Algarve Cup |
| 2017 | Toulon Tournament Winner | England U20 |
| 2019 | Leicester City Transfer | Premier League move |
| 2022 | League One Goalscorer | Portsmouth (13 goals) |
| 2023 | Ipswich Town Transfer | League One promotion |
| 2024 | Premier League Debut | Ipswich Town |
| 2024 | First Premier League Goal | Brentford 4-3 Ipswich |
| 2025 | Scotland Debut | vs Greece |
| 2025 | First Scotland Goal | vs Liechtenstein |
| 2025 | New Contract | Ipswich until 2029 |
| 2026 | World Cup Selection | Scotland squad |
These figures reveal a player who has forged a career through resilience and adaptability. Hirst has accumulated over 220 professional appearances, scored 43 goals, and earned 10 caps for Scotland.
The Present Tense
The Ipswich Story:
George Hirst is in his second full season at Ipswich Town, having joined permanently in July 2023. His contract runs until 2029. The 2025/26 season has been his most productive statistically—11 goals in 42 Championship appearances. He ranks in the 96th percentile for goals scored per 90 minutes and the 97th percentile for expected goals.
In February 2026, manager Kieran McKenna publicly defended Hirst against criticism of his form. McKenna argued: “He’s a player that we signed for circa a million pounds in League One… He scored goals that got us promoted from League One. He scored goals that got us promoted from the Championship. He scored goals for the club in the Premier League. And he’s scored goals this season.” McKenna added that Hirst was “voted by his peers into the leadership group this season.”
The Championship campaign has been successful—Ipswich secured promotion back to the Premier League. Hirst’s annual salary is estimated at $1.43 million, with total career earnings of $3.75 million.
The FIFA Club World Cup Context:
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States featured 32 of the world’s leading clubs. Ipswich did not qualify for the tournament.
The World Cup Campaign:
The 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico marked Hirst’s first major tournament with Scotland. He was named in Steve Clarke’s 26-man squad. Despite being part of the squad, he did not make an appearance in the tournament. Scotland were eliminated in the group stage.
His inclusion was a testament to his performances for Ipswich and his commitment to Scotland. As he told the Daily Record: “When you’re younger, do you think you’re going to get the chance to share the pitch with those players? Not really. You kinda hope and try to work towards it.”
International Record:
Hirst has earned 10 caps for Scotland since his debut in March 2025. He has scored one international goal—against Liechtenstein in a friendly on June 9, 2025. He has played 379 minutes for Scotland across his 10 appearances.
Beyond the Touchline
Off the pitch, George Hirst is known for his enthusiasm and straightforward personality. His former manager John Hughes described him as “a breath of fresh air” with “an enthusiasm and confidence.”
His journey from England youth international to Scotland senior player is a source of pride for his family. He told the Daily Record: “My grandad was constantly on about scoring a goal for Scotland, it was never anything else. So that was a massive factor in my decision.” His father David, a former England international, is “absolutely delighted” and will support Scotland.
Hirst’s full name—George David Eric Hirst—includes his father’s and grandad’s names. His market value is estimated at €9.4 million. His agent representation is not publicly disclosed.
His England youth career was prolific: he scored 40 goals in all competitions in the 2016-17 season and won the Toulon Tournament with England U20 in 2017.
The Verdict from the Camp
Kieran McKenna, Ipswich Town Manager:
“He’s a player who’s come through that journey with the club and was the first one to want to sign (a new contract) in the summer (after relegation). He wanted to stay no matter what. He’s been voted by his peers into the leadership group this season. He trains well every day and gives his all on the pitch.”
George Hirst, on his playing style:
“I can appreciate how good Neymar is. But if any of you have watched me play, he’s not someone that I tend to model my game on! There are other options for that. I’m probably more Peter Crouch than Neymar!”
Statistic:
Hirst has scored 11 goals in 42 Championship appearances in the 2025/26 season, with an expected goals (xG) of 11.76.
Statistic:
Hirst ranks in the 97th percentile for expected goals and the 96th percentile for goals scored per 90 minutes in the Championship.
Statistic:
Hirst has earned 10 caps for Scotland and scored 1 international goal.
Statistic:
Hirst’s contract with Ipswich Town runs until 2029, with an annual salary of $1.43 million.
Statistic:
Hirst was named in Scotland’s 2026 World Cup squad but did not make an appearance.
Where Next?
George Hirst is 27 years old and at a pivotal moment in his career. His contract with Ipswich Town runs until 2029. With Ipswich returning to the Premier League, Hirst will have the opportunity to prove himself at the highest level once again.
His Championship form in 2025/26—11 goals, 3 assists, and elite xG statistics—demonstrates his ability at that level. The question is whether he can replicate that form in the Premier League. His previous season in the top flight yielded just 3 goals in 26 appearances. McKenna’s faith in him is evident, describing him as “an incredible player for the club.”
For Scotland, Hirst is a developing asset. With 10 caps and a World Cup appearance (without playing) under his belt, he will be eager to establish himself as a key player in the next World Cup cycle. His physicality and goalscoring ability make him a valuable option for Steve Clarke’s squad.
From the youth ranks of Sheffield Wednesday to the World Cup stage, from England youth international to Scotland senior player, George Hirst’s journey is one of resilience, family legacy, and footballing determination. The boy whose grandad drilled “score a goal for Scotland” into him from the back garden has achieved his dream—and now looks to build on it.
