Who Is Michael Johnston?
Michael Andrew “Mikey” Johnston is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for West Bromwich Albion and represents the Republic of Ireland internationally. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on April 19, 1999, and spent most of his early career with Celtic after entering the club’s academy at nine years old.
Although he was born and raised in Scotland and represented Scotland at youth international level, Johnston has strong Irish roots on both sides of his family. He has publicly explained that his mother’s side of the family is connected to Derry, while his father’s side is from Donegal. Those connections eventually played an important role in his decision to represent the Republic of Ireland.
Information about Mikey Johnston’s parents, siblings, girlfriend and children is considerably more private. Johnston has discussed his mother and father and their support for his international decision, but their names and occupations have not been reliably disclosed. There is also no strong public evidence identifying brothers or sisters, a current girlfriend or wife, or any children as of August 2026.
Michael Johnston’s Parents and Family Background
Mikey Johnston’s parents have Irish family roots despite raising their son in Glasgow.
Johnston has spoken directly about both his mother and father when discussing his decision to switch international allegiance from Scotland to Ireland. He said the possibility of representing Ireland had long been discussed within the family and that his parents supported him when the opportunity became serious.
The Irish side of the family is not limited to one relative. Johnston has described having family in Derry, Donegal and Dublin, while The42 also reported that one of his uncles lives in Bettystown, County Meath.
Johnston’s parents have nevertheless avoided becoming public figures themselves. Reliable interviews and official profiles do not establish their names or professional backgrounds, making it important not to attach identities to them based simply on surnames or social-media accounts.
Who Is Michael Johnston’s Mother?
Michael Johnston’s mother’s name has not been reliably disclosed publicly.
What Johnston has confirmed is that his mother’s side of the family has roots in Derry. In an interview about becoming a Republic of Ireland international, he specifically described his maternal side as being connected to Derry while his father’s relatives were associated with Donegal.
That connection is particularly significant because the Football Association of Ireland officially states that Johnston qualified for Ireland through a grandfather from Derry. The FAI did not specify in that announcement whether the grandfather was maternal or paternal, so it is safest not to go beyond what the official source confirms.
Johnston has also made clear that his mother supported his decision to play for Ireland. He said both parents told him to pursue the opportunity if it was what he genuinely wanted.
Beyond these details, his mother’s occupation and personal background remain private.
Who Is Michael Johnston’s Father?
Mikey Johnston’s father’s name and occupation have also remained outside reliable public reporting.
Johnston has said his father’s side of the family is from Donegal, giving him Irish connections on both sides of his immediate family rather than through a single distant relative.
His father was also involved in the family discussions surrounding Michael’s international future. Johnston had represented Scotland through youth level, including the Under-21 side, before deciding in 2023 to play senior international football for the Republic of Ireland. Both his mother and father supported the decision.
No reliable evidence reviewed indicates that Johnston’s father was a professional footballer. Claims about his name or career should therefore not be presented as established fact without stronger sourcing.
Michael Johnston’s Grandfather From Derry
One of the most important people in Johnston’s family story is his Derry-born grandfather.
When the FAI announced in March 2023 that Johnston had received FIFA clearance to represent Ireland, it confirmed that his international eligibility came through a grandfather from Derry. Johnston said at the time that he and his family had always been proud of their Irish roots.
The family connection changed the course of his international career.
Johnston had represented Scotland at several youth levels but had not appeared competitively for the country’s senior team. That allowed him to complete the international-switch process and become eligible for Ireland.
He subsequently made his Republic of Ireland debut in March 2023 and scored his first international goal later that year against Gibraltar.
Michael Johnston’s Family in Derry and Donegal
Johnston’s Irish roots extend beyond the grandfather who provided his international eligibility.
He has said that his mother’s family is associated with Derry and his father’s with Donegal, while also mentioning relatives in Dublin.
The42 reported that Johnston also has an uncle living in Bettystown, showing that the wider Johnston family is spread across different parts of Ireland.
Johnston discovered just how extensive that extended family was after becoming an Ireland international. He joked that he began receiving messages from aunts around Ireland whom he had not previously known.
Around ten relatives travelled to watch his early appearance for Ireland against Latvia, according to Johnston, demonstrating how strongly his family embraced his international decision.
How Michael Johnston’s Parents Reacted to His Ireland Decision
The decision to switch from Scotland to the Republic of Ireland was discussed within the Johnston household rather than made without family involvement.
Johnston explained that representing Ireland had always been something discussed because Irish identity was already present within his family. When the possibility became realistic, his mum and dad encouraged him to make the choice he felt was right.
His extended relatives responded positively as well.
Johnston later said that his family were delighted to see him wearing the Ireland shirt and that relatives travelled to Dublin for his debut period.
That support appears to have been particularly important because changing international allegiance can attract considerable public attention. Johnston said he preferred to concentrate on the opinions of family and friends rather than reactions on social media.
Does Michael Johnston Have Siblings?
There is currently no sufficiently reliable public information confirming whether Michael Johnston has brothers or sisters.
Detailed interviews about his Irish heritage mention his mother, father, grandfather, aunts and an uncle, but they do not clearly identify any siblings.
This does not mean Johnston is necessarily an only child. It simply means the identities and number of any Mikey Johnston siblings have not been established through authoritative football reporting.
For that reason, people sharing the Johnston surname should not automatically be described as his brother or sister.
Michael Johnston’s Girlfriend and Relationship Status
As of August 2026, there is no reliably confirmed public information identifying Mikey Johnston’s current girlfriend or partner.
Johnston has given numerous interviews during his Celtic, Vitória de Guimarães, West Brom and Republic of Ireland career, but established football reporting reviewed for this profile does not provide a confirmed romantic partner.
West Brom’s interviews with Johnston focus on football, teammates and his reasons for joining the club. For example, after completing his permanent move in 2024, he discussed friendships within the squad and even mentioned going on holiday with teammate John Swift, but did not disclose a romantic relationship.
The absence of a publicly named girlfriend does not prove Johnston is single. It means his current relationship status should be described as private or unconfirmed.
Is Michael Johnston Married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Michael Johnston is married as of August 2026.
Official West Brom profiles and established Irish reporting do not identify a wife or report a wedding.
Therefore, articles referring to Mikey Johnston’s wife should not attach a name unless a reliable source establishes that a marriage has occurred.
Does Michael Johnston Have Children?
There are no reliably confirmed public reports that Michael Johnston has children as of August 2026.
The available interviews discussing his family background and personal life do not identify Johnston as a father.
The appropriate conclusion is therefore that Mikey Johnston has no publicly confirmed children, rather than making a definitive claim about information he may choose to keep private.
Michael Johnston’s Childhood in Glasgow
Johnston was born in Glasgow on April 19, 1999.
Football became a major part of his life early. Celtic recruited him into their academy at only nine years old, and he eventually progressed through every major stage of the club’s youth structure.
That made Celtic an enormous part of Johnston’s childhood and early adulthood.
He eventually made his first-team debut in May 2017 against St Johnstone, with Celtic winning 4–1.
Johnston subsequently spent years competing for a place in one of Scotland’s biggest clubs while also representing Scotland internationally at youth level.
FAQ About Michael Johnston’s Family
Who are Michael Johnston’s parents?
The names of Mikey Johnston’s parents have not been reliably disclosed publicly. Johnston has confirmed that both supported his decision to represent the Republic of Ireland.
Who is Michael Johnston’s mother?
Michael Johnston’s mother’s name and occupation remain private. Johnston has said his mother’s side of the family is connected to Derry.
Who is Michael Johnston’s father?
Michael Johnston’s father’s identity has not been reliably disclosed. Johnston has said his father’s side of the family is from Donegal.
Where are Michael Johnston’s Irish roots?
Johnston has family roots in Derry and Donegal, with additional relatives elsewhere in Ireland.
Who is Michael Johnston’s grandfather?
The FAI confirms that Johnston qualifies for Ireland through a grandfather from Derry. His grandfather’s name has not been prominently disclosed by the association.
Does Michael Johnston have family in Ireland?
Yes. Johnston has spoken about relatives in Derry, Donegal and Dublin, while an uncle has also been reported living in Bettystown.
Does Michael Johnston have siblings?
There is no reliable public confirmation identifying brothers or sisters of Mikey Johnston.
Who is Michael Johnston’s girlfriend?
As of August 2026, no current girlfriend or partner has been reliably identified through established public sources.
Is Michael Johnston married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Michael Johnston is married as of August 2026.
Does Michael Johnston have children?
There are no publicly confirmed reports that Michael Johnston has children as of August 2026.
What is Michael Johnston’s full name?
His full name is Michael Andrew Johnston, although he is widely known professionally as Mikey Johnston.
When was Michael Johnston born?
Mikey Johnston was born on April 19, 1999.
Where was Michael Johnston born?
Johnston was born in Glasgow, Scotland.
Is Mikey Johnston Scottish or Irish?
Johnston was born in Scotland and represented Scotland at youth level, but he has Irish family ancestry and represents the Republic of Ireland at senior international level.
Why does Michael Johnston play for Ireland?
He qualified through his Derry-born grandfather and decided to switch international allegiance after discussing the opportunity with his parents and family.
When did Michael Johnston make his Ireland debut?
Johnston made his Republic of Ireland debut in March 2023 against Latvia.
Did Michael Johnston play for Celtic?
Yes. Johnston joined Celtic’s academy at nine and eventually made 93 senior appearances in all competitions before permanently leaving for West Brom.
Did Michael Johnston play in Portugal?
Yes. He spent the 2022–23 season on loan with Vitória de Guimarães.
When did Michael Johnston join West Brom?
Johnston first joined West Brom on loan in February 2024 before completing a permanent transfer on August 30, 2024.
Which club does Michael Johnston play for in 2026?
The latest official West Brom information reviewed lists Mikey Johnston as a West Bromwich Albion attacker.
When does Michael Johnston’s West Brom contract expire?
Johnston signed a four-year agreement when he joined permanently in 2024, taking his contract through the summer of 2028.
Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
