Harry Paton (soccer)

Harry Paton (soccer)
Harrison Theodore Paton (born May 23, 1998) is a Canadian soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Scottish Premiership club Motherwell and the Canada national team.
Club career
Early career
A product of the Fulham and Heart of Midlothian academies, Paton played with Stenhousemuir of League Two on loan from Hearts and was part of their successful season getting promoted to League One. For his efforts with the club, he was named to the League 2 Team of the Season.
Ross County
Paton would sign a one year deal with Scottish Championship side Ross County in July 2018. Paton made his debut for Ross County against Alloa in the Scottish League Cup, where he also scored his first goal for the club. In his first season with Ross County, Paton would spend the first half of the season back on loan with Stenhousemuir, but would return from loan in January, and would make 7 appearances for the club.
Ross County would re-sign Paton for the 2019-20 season, and he would make his first start for the club in September 2019. Paton would make 23 appearances for the club in 2019-20, breaking into the first team on a full-time basis.
On May 25, 2020, Ross County announced Paton had signed a new deal with the club. In June 2022, it was announced that Paton had turned down a new contract offer with the club, ending his time at Ross County after four seasons.
Motherwell
In April 2023, Paton signed for Scottish side Motherwell on a contract until the end of the season, making his debut for the club later the same day. In June 2023, he signed a new two-year contract to remain with the club. Paton scored his first goal on August 26 for Motherwell, netting a stoppage-time winner to complete a 2-1 comeback win against Kilmarnock.
International career
Youth
Paton was part of the Canada U17 team who participated in the 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship where Paton played 6 times. He would be named to Canada's provisional squad for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship in February 2020. Paton was set to be named to the team ahead of the re-scheduled tournament in March 2021, but Ross County opted to not release him.
Senior
In June 2021, Paton was named to Canada's 60-man preliminary squad for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. On July 1, he was named to the final 23-man squad. Paton would join the team late due to COVID-19 protocols after a number of Ross County players and staff tested positive for the virus prior to his departure. He would fail to make an appearance at the tournament.
In October 2023, Paton returned to the national team ahead of a friendly against Japan in Niigata. He made his debut for Canada in the match on October 13, coming on as a substitute for Samuel Piette at the 61st minute.
Personal life
Paton's younger brother, Ben, is also a professional soccer player.
In late 2021, Paton was accused of domestic abuse by his ex-partner. In May 2022, his trial was deferred. In January 2023, the charges were dropped.
Career statistics
Club
International
Honours
Club
Ross County
Scottish Championship: 2018–19
Scottish Challenge Cup: 2018–19
References
External links
1998 births
Living people
Sportspeople from Kitchener, Ontario
Soccer people from Ontario
Canadian men's soccer players
Men's association football midfielders
Heart of Midlothian F.C. players
Ross County F.C. players
Scottish Professional Football League players
Stenhousemuir F.C. players
Canada men's youth international soccer players
Canada men's international soccer players
2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Canadian expatriate men's soccer players
Canadian expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland