Jake Rooney
FullnameJake Richard Rooney[1]
Birth date22 August 2003 (age 23)
Birth placeLiverpool, England
Height1.88m[1]
PositionDefender
CurrentclubDerby County
Clubnumber20
Youthyears 12014–2018
Youthclubs 1Tranmere Rovers
Youthyears 22018–2022
Youthclubs 2Burnley
Years 12022–
Clubs 1Derby County
Caps 112
Goals 10
Years 22025–2026
Clubs 2→ Barnsley (loan)
Caps 21
Goals 20
Years 32026
Clubs 3→ Boston United (loan)
Caps 316
Goals 33
Club-update20:17, 13 May 2026 (UTC)

Jake Richard Rooney (born 22 August 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for club Derby County.

Rooney spent time in the academies at Tranmere Rovers and Burnley, before signing with Derby County's under-21 in August 2022, he would make his league debut for Derby County in November 2022, in July 2023 Rooney signed a three-year contract at Derby, in August 2023, Rooney picked up an anterior cruciate ligament injury which left him on the sidelines for a year. After this setback, Rooney was loaned to Barnsley on a one year deal, but this deal was terminated in January 2026. Later in the month, he joined Boston United on loan until the end of the season. In June 2026, he is set to leave Derby County at the expiry of his contract.

Personal life

Rooney is a cousin of former England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney and Macclesfield manager John Rooney.[2]

Career

Youth career

Rooney joined the Burnley academy at age 14,[3] after leaving Tranmere Rovers following the closure of their academy.

Derby County

He joined Derby County on 8 August 2022, following a trial period with the club, and made his debut the following day, playing 63 minutes of Derby's 2–1 EFL Cup first round win at Mansfield Town.[2][4] Rooney would make his first league appearance in a 3–1 win at Milton Keynes Dons on 14 November 2022, playing the entire 90 minutes.[5] Rooney would feature in the majority of first team matchday squads during the season as he made a total 18 appearances during his first season with the club.

On 11 July 2023 it was announced that Rooney had signed a three-year contract extension, extending his stay at Derby until June 2026.[6] At the start of the 2023–24 season, Rooney would feature as an unused substitute in Derby's opening four games of the season, but after injuries to Joe Ward and Kane Wilson, Rooney would start the next three games at right-back,[7] in the third of these games against Bolton Wanderers on 2 September Rooney was substituted off after 14 after a serious looking injury.[8][9] He underwent a scan[9] to check the severity of the injury, on 6 September 2023 the scan results confirmed anterior cruciate ligament damage in his right knee, with the 20-year old defender expected to be sidelined for a "significant period".[10] In a February 2024 interview to the Derby Telegraph, Rooney thanked the support of the club, his teammates and family during his recovery and took up his hobby of playing the guitar during his rehab, which was said to be going "better than expected" with a return to training before the end of the season possible.[11] Rooney did not feature in any further games for Derby in 2023–24; he made a total of three appearances for Derby during the season, as they secured promotion to the Championship.[12]

Rooney returned to action in a 2024–25 pre-season friendly against Matlock Town on 12 July 2024.[13] However just a week later in a pre-season training camp in Spain, Rooney picked up another knee injury which is expected to rule him out for the first four months of the season.[14]

After a two-year absence; Rooney appeared for the first team on 12 August 2025, in Derby's EFL Cup match at West Bromwich Albion.[15]

Rooney was linked with either a loan move or permanent move away from The Rams during the 2025 summer transfer window.[16] On 1 September 2025, Rooney would complete a deadline-day loan move to EFL League One outfit Barnsley for one year.[17] At Barnsley, he linked up with former team-mates David McGoldrick as well as Conor Hourihane, who is the current Barnsley manager.[18][19] After making seven apperances for Barnsley, with only of these being in the league Rooney's loan was terminated on 1 January 2026.[20]

On 30 January 2026, Rooney joined National League club Boston United on loan for the remainder of the season.[21] A day later, Rooney made his Boston United debut in a 2–1 win at Boreham Wood.[22] On 14 February 2026, Rooney scored his first goals for Boston United and in senior football when he netted twice in a 6–3 win at Scunthorpe United.[23] Rooney played 16 times for Boston United during his loan spell, scoring three goals.

On 15 May 2026, it was announced that Rooney would leave Derby County upon the expiry of his contract in June 2026, he played 23 times for the club during a four-year spell.[24]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Derby County2022–23[25]League One9040302[a]0180
2023–24[26]League One3000000030
2024–25[27]Championship000000—00
2025–26[28]Championship000020—20
Total120405020230
Barnsley (loan)2025–26[28]League One1020103[a]070
Boston United (loan)2025–26[28]National League163———163
Career total293606050463
  1. ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Derby County

References

  1. ^ "England - J. Rooney - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com
  2. ^ "Rams add defender Rooney to Under-21 ranks". – via www.dcfc.co.uk.
  3. ^ "Jake Rooney - Burnley Football Club". – via www.burnleyfootballclub.com.[dead link]
  4. ^ "Mansfield Town 1-2 Derby County". BBC Sport
  5. ^ "Milton Keynes Dons 1-3 Derby County". BBC Sport. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Derby County defender signs new contract after impressive season". Derby Telegraph. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  7. ^ "'Massive blow': Paul Warne confirms that Derby County trio will be out of action for a long time". derbycounty.news. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Derby County". BBC Sport. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Jake Rooney set for scan as Derby County boss rues 'heartbreaking' injury". Derby Telegraph. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Jake Rooney: Derby County defender out with knee injury". BBC Sport. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  11. ^ "'I thought it was all a dream' - Jake Rooney opens up on Derby County, injury and Wayne's advice". Derby Telegraph. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Breaking: Derby County promoted as duo seal it for Paul Warne's side". Derby Telegraph. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Pre Season Match Report: Matlock Town 0–3 Derby County". 12 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024. – via www.dcfc.co.uk.
  14. ^ "Derby County rocked by major Jake Rooney injury blow". Derby Telegraph. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Eustace 'really proud' of squad after Cup win". BBC Sport. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  16. ^ "Jake Rooney lined up for Derby County reunion as EFL club shows interest". Derbyshire Live. 2025-09-01. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
  17. ^ ""Jake Rooney joins the Reds!"". www.barnsleyfc.co.uk. 2025-09-01. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
  18. ^ "Conor Hourihane appointed Barnsley head coach on permanent basis". BBC Sport. 2025-04-18. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
  19. ^ ""DAVID McGOLDRICK SIGNS FOR THE REDS"". www.barnsleyfc.co.uk. 2025-07-09. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
  20. ^ "TRANSFER NEWS: Rooney Returns From Barnsley Loan". www.dcfc.co.uk. 2026-01-01. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  21. ^ "United capture Rooney signature". www.bostonunited.co.uk. 30 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  22. ^ "Boreham Wood 1–2 Boston United". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  23. ^ "Scunthorpe United 3–6 Boston United". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. 14 February 2026. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  24. ^ "Derby County retained list revealed as four leave with defender in contract talks". Derby Telegraph. 15 May 2026. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
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