# Alex Cochrane (footballer)

Alexander William Cochrane (born 21 April 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back for EFL League One club Birmingham City. He has previously played for Heart of Midlothian, Brighton & Hove Albion, East Grinstead Town and Union Saint-Gilloise.

## Club career
### Brighton & Hove Albion

Cochrane played football for Chailey & Newick Colts before joining Brighton & Hove Albion as an under-8. He developed in their academy, and was loaned to Isthmian League South side East Grinstead in January 2018. He made his professional debut for Brighton on 25 September 2019, in a 3–1 defeat at home against Aston Villa in the 2019–20 EFL Cup. Cochrane was named in the Premier League matchday squad on 20 July 2020 for the 0–0 home draw against Newcastle United that confirmed Brighton's safety from relegation, but he remained unused.
Cochrane made his first appearance for the senior side in almost a year on 23 September 2020, as a late substitute in a 2–0 away win over Preston North End in the EFL Cup. On 5 October, he joined Belgian First Division B club Union Saint-Gilloise – owned by Brighton chairman Tony Bloom – on loan for the season to gain experience of senior football. He made seven appearances and one assist before surgery on ruptured ankle ligaments kept him out for the rest of the campaign, in which Union gained promotion to the top flight. In May 2021, he signed a one-year contract with Brighton.

### Heart of Midlothian

On 28 June 2021, Cochrane joined Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian on a season-long loan from Brighton. He made his competitive debut two weeks later, playing 83 minutes of the 2–0 away win over Peterhead in the Scottish League Cup. On 31 July, he made his Scottish Premiership debut on the opening day of the 2021–22 season, playing the whole of the 2–1 home victory over Celtic. Cochrane scored his first professional goal, Hearts' third in a 3–0 home win against Livingston, on 25 September. He scored his second goal for the club on 6 November, and also claimed an assist as Hearts beat Dundee United 5–2. On 21 May 2022, Cochrane started and played 100 minutes in the 2022 Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park, in which Hearts lost 2–0 after extra time to Rangers.
Cochrane signed a permanent deal with Hearts on 25 June 2022.

### Birmingham City

On 16 July 2024, recently relegated EFL League One club Birmingham City signed Cochrane on a four-year contract. The fee was undisclosed, but was reported as a seven-figure amount. He made his debut in the starting eleven for the opening fixture of the season, a 1–1 draw at home to Reading.

## International career

Cochrane made one appearance for the England U16s, assisting a goal in a 3–3 draw against the United States U15s.
He made his international debut for the England under-20 team on 19 November 2019, in the starting eleven for a 3–0 win against Iceland under-21 at Wycombe Wanderers' Adams Park ground.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 15 March 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 |
| East Grinstead (loan) | 2017–18 | Isthmian League South | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion U21 | 2018–19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion U21 | 2019–20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion U21 | Total | Total | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2019–20 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2020–21 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | Total | Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Union Saint-Gilloise (loan) | 2020–21 | Belgian First Division B | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Heart of Midlothian (loan) | 2021–22 | Scottish Premiership | 32 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 3 |
| Heart of Midlothian | 2022–23 | Scottish Premiership | 33 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 45 | 2 |
| Heart of Midlothian | 2023–24 | Scottish Premiership | 31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
| Heart of Midlothian | Total | Total | 64 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 85 | 2 |
| Birmingham City | 2024–25 | EFL League One | 33 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 44 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 137 | 4 | 12 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 183 | 5 |
* ↑ Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup
* ↑ Includes EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup
* 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
* ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Europa League, four appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

## Honours

Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
* Belgian First Division B: 2020–21
Heart of Midlothian
* Scottish Cup runner-up: 2021–22