Hailing from Scotland, McGinn has become a regular in his national team and Aston Villa, where he has shone following their promotion back to the Premier League.

John McGinn plays as a midfielder for Premier League side Aston Villa and has become a regular starter for the Scotland national team.

After starting his career at St Mirren in Scotland, McGinn moved across the border in 2018 when joined Aston Villa. He has now made 100 appearances for the Birmingham-based side, scoring 11 goals in the process.

Playing in the heart of the midfield, McGinn is known for his tenacity, but he has also shown his eye for goal, including the winner he scored in Aston Villa's 2018/19 Play-off final win over Derby County.

McGinn has won four major honours including the English Championship Play-offs, and the Scottish Cup with Hibernian - the side's first Scottish Cup for 114 years.

Starting in Scotland

McGinn started his career as a youth player for St Mirren and broke into the first team in the 2012/13 season. He made his competitive debut in a 5-0 defeat to Celtic as a 78th-minute substitute.

McGinn's first professional season ended in success when he played 81 minutes of the 2013 Scottish League Cup final. St Mirren beat Hearts 3-2 to claim their first major trophy since 1987.

A freak training ground accident in 2015 left McGinn with a season-ending injury, after club captain Steven Thompson 'speared' a training pole into McGinn's thigh. As a result, McGinn took legal action against the club and their relationship started to sour.

On July 31, 2015, McGinn left St Mirren to join Hibernian on a four-year contract. Hibernian paid St Mirren a development fee and promised them 30% of any future transfer fee.

At Easter Road, McGinn helped the side win the Scottish Cup and earn promotion to the Scottish Premiership.

McGinn's form attracted the attention of other clubs, but multiple offers from both Nottingham Forest and Scottish rivals Celtic were turned down.

He ended the 2017/18 season with a nomination for the PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year Award.

Becoming a hero for the Villains

McGinn completed a transfer to Aston Villa on August 8, 2018, signing a four-year contract despite continued interest from Celtic.

As first goals go, McGinn's wasn't bad at all. The Scot fired in a swerving 25-yard volley in a 2-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, It was later crowned the Championship's goal of the season.

McGinn quickly became a fan favourite at Villa Park, winning both the Player's Player of the Season and Supporters' Player of the Season in 2018/19.

His standout moment came in Aston Villa's Play-off final against Derby County. McGinn scored the winner in a 2-1 victory, restoring Villa to the Premier League after a three-year absence.

Premier League journey

McGinn scored Villa's first goal back in the Premier League after just nine minutes against Tottenham Hotspur, although they went on to lose the game 3-1.

On December 11, 2020, McGinn signed a new five-year contract, tying him to Villa until 2025.

In the 2020/21 season, McGinn contributed three goals and five assists, playing a crucial role in Villa's improved 11th-placed finish.

National team

McGinn made his first international appearance for the Scotland under-19s in a 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands.

McGinn has played for Scotland's under-19s, under-21s and senior team, and has captained all three sides.

He scored his first goal for Scotland in September 2019 and less than a month later scored his first career hat-trick, in a Euro 2020 qualifier against San Marino.

In the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign, McGinn finished with seven goals and helped Scotland qualify for their first major tournament since 1998, ending a 22-year barren spell.

The Euro 2020 group stage saw Scotland pitted against rivals England, Croatia and the Czech Republic, with McGinn started all three matches in midfield. 

Personal life

McGinn has three siblings - a twin sister, Katie, and two older brothers, Stephen and Paul. Both his older brothers are also professional soccer players. All of the McGinn brothers have played for both St Mirren and Hibernian at some point in their careers. Their grandfather Jack McGinn is a former Celtic chairman and Scottish Football Association president.

Net Worth

McGinn's five-year contract with Aston Villa is worth around £1.3million a year according to Spotrac.