Ipswich Town released him for nothing – he became a Premier League star and is still playing at 38 | OneFootball

After his release from Ipswich Town, David McGoldrick went on to become a star for Sheffield United and he is still showcasing his qualities.

David McGoldrick has been of the most technically gifted footballers in the EFL for quite some time - and he is still going even after being let go by Ipswich Town almost a decade ago.

Born in Nottingham, David McGoldrick came through the academy at Notts County before going on to play for Southampton, AFC Bournemouth, Port Vale, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry City.

Then, in the second half of the 2012-13 season, McGoldrick found himself out on loan at Ipswich Town - where he made himself a home.

That would be a home for the following five years after the summer of 2018 before The Tractor Boys let him go on a free transfer; a decision they surely regret.

Ipswich allowed David McGoldrick to depart

Having bounced around in the Football League, the technically gifted David McGoldrick eventually began to finally establish himself at a club with his move to Ipswich.

Creative albeit with little pace even in his younger days, the forward was the ideal foil for Daryl Murphy in the 2014-15 season as Ipswich reached the play-offs but lost to arch-rivals Norwich City in the semi-finals.

That came a season after his career best tally to that point when he notched 14 goals for The Tractor Boys - the only time he hit double figures in the Championship for the club, though.

As Mick McCarthy's tenure fizzled out to furore from Ipswich supporters, the inconsistency of McGoldrick led the club to not renew his contract in 2018, rather than tap in and find a way to get the best out of him.

David McGoldrick shone at Sheffield United

That summer saw McGoldrick join Championship rivals Sheffield United on a free transfer after The Blades achieved a top ten finish in the second-tier; their first season back at the level after a six-year hiatus in League One.

Alongside Billy Sharp up-front in Chris Wilder's innovative 3-5-2 system with famed overlapping centre-backs, McGoldrick went up a level at Bramall Lane.

McGoldrick struck a career best goals tally at the age of 30 as he notched 15 goals in 45 appearances for United to help them finish sardine gain automatic promotion to the Premier League - winning the club's Player of the Year award,

In the top-flight, he played a key role in their eighth place finish in the 2019-20 season before finishing as their top scorer as they were relegated in the 2020-21 campaign, which resulted in him winning the Players' Player of the Year award.

With a match-winning brace against Manchester United and a stunning strike versus Arsenal being not only his own personal highlights from that season but perhaps the best highlights for Sheffield United as a whole.

In three years, McGoldrick had gone from being a player released by Championship also-rans, who would be relegated in the season after his departure, to joining a club he spearheaded towards the Premier League as he ticked into his 30s.

David McGoldrick has continued to show his quality in the EFL

After becoming a bit-part player in the 2021-22 season upon their return to the second-tier, McGoldrick eventually moved on but continued to thrive in the EFL.

At Derby County, McGoldrick notched an impressive 22 goals in 39 games in one season in League One for a Rams side that somehow missed out on the top six and the play-off places.

Since then it has felt like a case of 'one last job' with McGoldrick seemingly opting to finish his career back at Notts County, only to depart them after scoring 12 and then 17 goals in successive seasons in League Two.

That was followed by a return to League One and finishing up as Barnsley's top scorer in the division ahead of a move to Mansfield Town to link up with Nigel Clough.