Josh Wolff’s first glimpse at Jon Gallagher came long before Austin FC acquired the versatile attacker in a trade from Atlanta United on Dec. 13, 2020. Wolff saw Gallagher’s talent at Notre Dame, and monitored his rise after he was drafted 14th overall in 2018. The Irishman got the seasoning he needed, and Wolff felt the time was right to bring him to Austin.
Gallagher is certainly a fit for the style Wolff wants his team to play. He’s fast, a good finisher and versatile, as he showed in his lone MLS season in Atlanta. During that 2020 campaign Gallagher led the club with four goals, providing a bright spot in the absence of injured Josef Martínez.
Born: Feb. 23, 1996
Hometown: Dundalk, Ireland
Position: Right winger
Height: 5-foot-9
Club history: Atlanta United (2018-20), Atlanta United 2 (loan, 2018), Aberdeen FC (loan, 2019), Austin FC (2021-)
Transfer fee: Acquired in trade for $175,000 in GAM from Atlanta United.
Social media: Twitter: @JonGallagher96; Instagram: @jongallagher
Quotable: “What he captured was the opportunity. He’s a versatile player that has played out left, out right. He’s played a number of positions for Atlanta. For me his qualities are his ability to arrive in the penalty box is very good, his finishing with both feet was part of his four goals. The willingness to run, getting behind the back line, his calm in and around the penalty box stands out. These are things that we want to see from our attacking players.” — Austin FC coach Josh Wolff