Michael Forbes

Michael Forbes grew up in Ardboe, Northern Ireland, working through the youth ranks at Cookstown Youth before joining Dungannon Swifts, from where West Ham United's academy picked him up in July 2020. He signed his first professional contract with the London club in May 2022 but never made a senior appearance for them, spending the following years out on loan instead — a short spell at Bristol Rovers, a loan at Colchester United without a single game, and a longer run at Northampton Town, where he made 22 appearances and scored twice.

Despite the lack of first-team minutes, Forbes has a UEFA Europa Conference League winner's medal from West Ham's 2022–23 campaign. He left the club as a free agent in June 2026, with St Johnstone and clubs in England and the Netherlands also showing interest, before signing for Dundee United on a two-year deal with the option of a further year.

Forbes has represented Northern Ireland at under-16, under-18, under-19 and under-21 level, captaining the under-21 side. He earned his first senior cap on 17 November 2023, coming on as an 83rd-minute substitute against Finland in a Euro 2024 qualifier that finished in a 4–0 defeat.