Shaun McWilliams

Following his move to Cheltenham, McWilliams's current-season form is down 14% on last season (Season 22→19), while his Rating climbed 31→36. His peak season for form remains 2021/22 (Season 28).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Cheltenham · 14th	1	0	0	6.2	36	19
2025/26	Rotherham · 23rd	26	2	2	6.67	31	22
2024/25	Rotherham · 13th	28	0	0	6.82	39	9
2023/24	Northampton · 14th	36	2	2	6.8	44	25
2022/23	Northampton · 3rd	30	3	1	6.79	34	23

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 6 earlier seasons in the full career.

Scout report

Squad depthDefensive midfielder

S. McWilliams is a 28-year-old defensive midfielder at Rotherham, rated 31.5 overall by Field Insider's model. An experienced operator, he has been a rotation option this season (40.4% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.76 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on McWilliams.

On the season, McWilliams graded 22 for current form (age-blind), on 2 goals, 2 assists and 3.763 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 22 → 19). Over the 7 seasons on record his form has held fairly steady, peaking in 2021/22.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 32. At 28 McWilliams is in his prime years, and a market index of 4.8 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Below his 2021/22 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2021/22Holding levelRemarkably consistentStepped up 2023/24

31.5

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

21.5

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

40.4%

Minutes

rotation minutes

3.76

Def. actions / 90

solid defensive volume

Output in context · Rotherham finished 23rd of 24 · a relegation-threatened side

Apps

3.76

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.76 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 4 clean sheets across 26 appearances. Doing that for a relegation-threatened side (23rd of 24) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight. Going forward he chipped in 2 goals and 2 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.22 goal involvements per 90, useful for a defensive midfielder.
Defensive volume. 3.76 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.

Watch points

Game time. Only 40.4% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 31.5 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (3.76 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1.2× now → 0.9× projected in three years).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %40.4%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900.108

Assists / 900.108

Goal contribution / 900.215

Defensive actions / 903.763

Player flow

Goal involvements4

Cards / 900.108

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around age 28 (~5), then tapers with age. At 28, McWilliams sits on 4.8, past its peak and easing. The blue line is McWilliams's projected Rating — 31.5 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among defensive midfielders in the League Two with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals2

Passing

Assists2

Defending

Tackles50

Interceptions16

Blocks4

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards2

Red cards0

Transfer history

CheltenhamJul 2026 – nowFree

Rotherhamuntil Jul 2026

Free agentJun 2026 – Jul 2026Free

RotherhamJun 2024 – Jun 2026Free

Northampton(back from loan)Mar 2017 – Jun 2024

KKing's Lynn Town(on loan)Aug 2016 – Mar 2017

Northamptonuntil Aug 2016

About S. McWilliams

Shaun Daniel McWilliams is a 28-year-old defensive midfielder who plays for Cheltenham, born on August 14, 1998 in Northampton, standing 180 cm tall. He is from England. Cheltenham currently sit 14th of 24 in the League Two.

This season

In the current season, S. McWilliams has made 1 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 45 minutes, with 1 yellow card.

S. McWilliams's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Cheltenham face Barnet away in the League Two.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates S. McWilliams at 31.5 with a Season form score of 21.5. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 2 career titles — among them the League Two. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 11 recorded seasons, S. McWilliams has totalled 258 club appearances with 8 goals and 8 assists for 4 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2021/22, with 38 appearances for Northampton.

S. McWilliams's career has also included time at Rotherham, Northampton and KKing's Lynn Town.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.