Aaron Drinan

Aaron John Drinan (born 6 May 1998) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Leyton Orient.

He played youth football for Irish sides Carrigaline United, Cobh Ramblers and Cork City, before joining League of Ireland side Waterford in 2017, making his senior debut in August 2017. He helped Waterford to win the League of Ireland First Division title during his first season in senior football. In January 2018, Drinan signed for English side Ipswich Town. He spent time out on loan at English National League side Sutton United, former club Waterford, Swedish Superettan club GAIS and Scottish side Ayr United between 2018 and 2020. He made his first-team debut for Ipswich in September 2020.

Drinan has won caps for the Republic of Ireland U21 team, making his debut in March 2019.

Club Career

Early career

Drinan began playing football with his local side Carrigaline United at the age of 4, impressing enough to earn a move to Cobh Ramblers, where he would play with their Under-19 side for a short time in early 2015 before moving to their rivals Cork City in the summer of 2015 where he would play until the end of the 2017 season. During his time at Cork's under-19 side, he played alongside Chiedozie Ogbene, Cian Coleman and Conor McCarthy among others.

Cork City

Drinan won his first title with Cork City Under 19's with a win over Limerick at Markets Field on 15 December 2015. His first appearance for the first-team came on 9 June 2016, playing 85 minutes of a friendly against Fulham. He was part of the side to the Enda McGuill Cup in September 2016, beating St Patrick's Athletic in the final and qualifying for the UEFA Youth League in the process. Drinan impressed in the UEFA Youth League, scoring the winner in a 1–0 win on aggregate against HJK Helsinki of Finland as well as scoring an equaliser against Italian giants AS Roma. His first involvement in a first-team squad for a league game was on 23 June 2017 when he was an