# Paul Smyth (footballer)

Paul Patrick Smyth (born 10 September 1997) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL Championship club Queens Park Rangers.

## Club career
### Linfield

Smyth broke into the Linfield first team as an 18-year-old in 2015, making his NIFL Premiership debut in a 2–1 defeat to Cliftonville on 14 November 2015. In the 2016–17 season he helped the club lift a treble of trophies; the NIFL Premiership, the Irish Cup, and the County Antrim Shield, while picking up a host of individual awards including the Ulster Young Player of the Year 2016–17.

### Queens Park Rangers (first spell)

On 29 August 2017, Smyth joined Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee on a two-year contract.
On 1 January 2018, Smyth made his QPR, EFL Championship and professional debut against Cardiff City, scoring the winning goal in the 72nd minute. He would go onto win the Supporters Young Player of the Year, after an impressive first few months in the first team.
On 20 May 2021, Smyth was released by QPR at the expiry of his contract.

#### Wycombe Wanderers (loan)

Following a loan spell on loan at Accrington Stanley, Smyth joined Wycombe Wanderers on a season-long loan.

#### Charlton Athletic (loan)

On 16 October 2020, Smyth joined Charlton Athletic on a season-long loan. He scored his first goal for Charlton in a 4-2 defeat to Burton Albion on 24 November 2020.

#### Accrington Stanley (loan)

On 28 January 2021, Smyth joined Accrington Stanley on loan until the end of the season, returning to the club he had previously spent time on loan with two seasons before.

### Leyton Orient

Upon his contract expiry, Leyton Orient announced that they signed Smyth on 25 June 2021.

### Queens Park Rangers (second spell)

On 27 June 2023, Smyth rejoined Queens Park Rangers on a three-year deal.

## International career

Having played for Northern Ireland U21 on 22 March 2018, Smyth was called into the senior Northern Ireland squad for the friendly with South Korea on 24 March 2018. He made his debut as an 82nd minute substitute and scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory three minutes later.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 22 February 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Linfield | 2015–16 | NIFL Premiership | 19 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 5 |
| Linfield | 2016–17 | NIFL Premiership | 29 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 8 |
| Linfield | 2017–18 | NIFL Premiership | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 2 |
| Linfield | Linfield total | Linfield total | 52 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 67 | 15 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 2017–18 | Championship | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 2 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 2018–19 | Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 2019–20 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 2020–21 | Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| Queens Park Rangers | Queens Park Rangers total | Queens Park Rangers total | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 2 |
| Accrington Stanley (loan) | 2018–19 | League One | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 |
| Wycombe Wanderers (loan) | 2019–20 | League One | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 1 |
| Charlton Athletic (loan) | 2020–21 | League One | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| Accrington Stanley (loan) | 2020–21 | League One | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 3 |
| Leyton Orient | 2021–22 | League Two | 24 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 4 |
| Leyton Orient | 2022–23 | League Two | 38 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 10 |
| Leyton Orient | Leyton Orient total | Leyton Orient total | 62 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 68 | 14 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 2023–24 | Championship | 44 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 2024–25 | Championship | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 2 |
| Queens Park Rangers | Queens Park Rangers total | Queens Park Rangers total | 78 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 83 | 5 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 280 | 41 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 313 | 44 |
* ↑ Includes Irish Cup, FA Cup
* ↑ Includes EFL Cup
* ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, one appearance and one goal in NIFL Charity Shield
* ↑ One appearance in EFL Trophy
* ↑ One appearance in EFL Trophy
* ↑ One appearance in EFL Trophy

### International

    As of match played 18 November 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Northern Ireland | 2018 | 2 | 1 |
| Northern Ireland | 2019 | 0 | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 2023 | 5 | 1 |
| Northern Ireland | 2024 | 8 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 16 | 2 |

### International goals

    As of match played 14 October 2023. Northern Ireland score listed first, score column indicates score after each Smyth goal.
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition :
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 24 March 2018 | Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland | 1 | South Korea | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 2 | 14 October 2023 | Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland | 6 | San Marino | 1–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualification |

## Honours

Linfield
* NIFL Premiership: 2016-17
* Irish Cup: 2016-17
* County Antrim Shield: 2016-17
* NIFL Charity Shield: 2017
Leyton Orient
* EFL League Two: 2022–23
Individual
* PFA Team of the Year: 2022–23 League Two