Notts County have confirmed the departure of David McGoldrick following the conclusion of the 2024/25 League Two campaign, with the 38-year-old’s contract at Meadow Lane due to expire next month.
A club statement published on Saturday morning confirmed that McGoldrick had rejected the offer of a new contract with his boyhood club, whom he joined in the summer of 2023 from Derby County.
McGoldrick, a Magpies supporter himself, has been a hugely popular figure in the black-and-white quarters of Nottingham since his return to the club, having started his career with Notts all the way back in 2003 before joining Southampton two years later.
The former Republic of Ireland international enjoyed a storied career in the EFL with the likes of Nottingham Forest, Ipswich Town and Sheffield United, and had looked set to see out his playing days at Notts after joining from Derby following a 25-goal haul down the road at Pride Park in the 2022/23 season.
However, McGoldrick will now be moving on in a fresh blow for Notts, who recently sacked head coach Stuart Maynard in the wake of their play-off semi-final defeat to AFC Wimbledon.
Notts County confirm David McGoldrick departure
Just over a week ago, a report from BBC Sport detailed how Notts had presented a new contract offer to McGoldrick.
David McGoldrick, Chris Wilder, Sheffield United
Indeed, McGoldrick himself had previously explained his own desire to earn fresh terms with the Magpies, which made the prospect of renewal appear likely. However, the club has now confirmed that McGoldrick will be moving on this summer after rejecting a new proposal, with the two parties unable to reach an agreement.
A message from Notts’ board of directors reads: “While we’re of course disappointed to be losing a player of David’s quality and character, he leaves having given us many fantastic memories over the last two years.
“Unfortunately we have been unable to reach an agreement on this occasion, but everyone at Meadow Lane thanks David wholeheartedly for his charismatic performances, wonderful goals, leadership and dedication.
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“It was special to see him realise his dream of returning to Meadow Lane and we wish him all the best in the next chapter of his brilliant career.”
David McGoldrick departure is the last thing Notts County need right now
McGoldrick has been a crucial player for Notts, proving that class is very much permanent.
He has aged like a fine wine, it must be said, registering 30 goals and 10 assists from just 76 appearances across his two seasons with the club.
David McGoldrick’s stats for Notts County between 2023 and 2025, as per FotMob
Season
Appearances
Goals
Assists
2023/24
39
13
6
2024/25
37
17
4
Total
76
30
10
He scored on 17 occasions in League Two last time out, stepping up infront of goal to offset the exits of key performers in the last 12 months, such as Macaulay Langstaff and Daniel Crowley.
It’s untimely, then, for him to depart at such a critical and uncertain juncture for County, who are currently without a manager and find themselves at risk of losing sight of their upwards trajectory following a second successive failed promotion bid.
And it would be even more of a blow to see him join a direct divisional rival, a prospect already feared by the Notts faithful.
David McGoldrick (3)
Many supporters have speculated that McGoldrick could follow the aforementioned Crowley to MK Dons, which would see him link back up with ex-Derby manager Paul Warne and former teammate Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who recently made the move to Stadium MK following three seasons with the Rams.
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