GRAHAM CAREY

Born: 20 May 1989

Came from: Ross County   Went to: CSKA Sofia (Bulgaria)

First game: 08 August 2015   Last game: 04 May 2019

Appearances: 197 (186/11)   Goals: 49

Born in Blanchardstown, a suburb of Dublin, Graham Carey began his youth career with Shelbourne before moving to Scotland to join Celtic in 2005. Predominantly a left-sided attacking midfielder, he made his senior debut for the Bhoys in a UEFA Europa League tie against Rapid Vienna in 2009. Carey also represented the Republic of Ireland at every youth level from under-15 through to under-21, winning six caps and scoring once for the latter. His only under-21 goal came courtesy of a fine left-footed strike from 18 yards following a clever one-two with future Argyle loanee Cillian Sheridan.

In 2009, Carey joined League of Ireland side Bohemians on loan and made an immediate impression, scoring three goals in 17 appearances as the club won the League of Ireland title. Further loan spells followed with St Mirren, where he made 15 league appearances, scored three goals and was named SPL Young Player of the Month for April 2010, and League One side Huddersfield Town, where he made 26 appearances and scored three times.

Released by Celtic at the end of the 2010-11 season without making a Scottish Premier League appearance, he returned to St Mirren on a permanent two-year contract. He went on to make a further 68 appearances for the Buddies, scoring five goals, including a spectacular strike against Hearts that was voted the 2012-13 SPL Goal of the Season. He also collected a Scottish Cup winners' medal in 2013, coming on as a substitute in the final victory over Hearts.

After submitting a transfer request during the previous January, Carey left St Mirren at the end of the 2012-13 campaign. Following a brief trial with Dundee United, he signed for Derek Adams' Ross County, where he made 63 appearances and scored five goals before his release at the end of the 2014-15 season.

Carey reunited with Adams at Home Park in July 2015, becoming the manager's fourth signing of the summer on a one-year contract. He quickly established himself as one of League Two's outstanding creative players, becoming both a fans' favourite and a central figure in the side that reached the 2015-16 Play-off Final before suffering heartbreak at Wembley. His performances earned him both Argyle's Supporters' Player of the Season award and the PFA Fans' Player of the Year award for League Two.

With the club's policy at the time of offering new signings only one-year contracts, there were genuine fears that Carey would depart following the Wembley defeat. Instead, he delighted supporters by signing a one-year extension and publicly committing himself to another promotion challenge.

That decision proved pivotal. Carey was once again instrumental as Argyle secured promotion from League Two in 2016-17, producing a series of memorable long-range goals and moments of individual brilliance. Although Sonny Bradley narrowly denied him a second successive Supporters' Player of the Season award, both players, together with Luke McCormick, were named in the PFA League Two Team of the Year.

Once again out of contract following promotion, speculation linked Carey with Championship clubs throughout another anxious summer. However, on the opening day of pre-season training in June 2017, he reaffirmed his commitment to Argyle by signing what the club described as a "significantly improved" contract, although its length was not disclosed.

Carey adapted impressively to League One during the 2017-18 campaign, particularly in the second half of the season. His influence waned somewhat during the opening months of 2018-19 as his goals became less frequent, but Argyle nevertheless offered him a new contract at the end of the campaign. He opted to move on, however, bringing an outstanding four-year spell at Home Park to a close. In total, he made 197 appearances and scored 49 goals, placing him joint 25th on the club's all-time goalscoring list at the time of his departure.

In June 2019, Carey made the unexpected move to Bulgarian giants CSKA Sofia. He helped the club lift the Bulgarian Cup in 2021 and, later that year, scored CSKA's first-ever goal in the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage, finding the top corner against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico in front of José Mourinho. He made 106 appearances and scored 11 goals during his three seasons in Bulgaria.

Carey returned to Scotland in July 2022, signing for Premiership side St Johnstone. He went on to make 117 appearances and score 12 goals across three seasons before joining fellow Premiership club Livingston ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. A short loan spell with Dunfermline Athletic followed in January 2026, during which he made a single appearance.

After making seven appearances and scoring once for Livingston, Carey was released at the end of the 2025-26 season. However, the separation proved brief and, in July 2026, he returned to the club on a new one-year contract.