Sean Roughan
Born in Dublin, Roughan joined City as a teenager and signed his first professional contract in July 2020, making his senior debut shortly afterwards in the EFL Cup before featuring in a 2-0 league win over Oxford United.
Initially eased into senior football, Roughan’s composure, athleticism and tactical intelligence quickly became apparent. A loan spell with Drogheda United in 2022 provided valuable senior experience, and on his return he established himself as a regular in Michael Appleton’s side. He scored his first senior goal in the EFL Trophy later that year and continued to grow in authority, versatility and leadership.
By the 2023-24 season, Roughan was a cornerstone of the defence, earning Lincoln City’s Young Player of the Year award. His durability and consistency were underlined the following campaign when he played every minute of every League One and FA Cup match, an extraordinary achievement for a 21-year-old defender. In total, he made 123 league appearances for the Imps, scoring three goals.
In the summer of 2025, Roughan moved on following the expiry of his contract, joining Huddersfield Town on a three-year deal, a move thought to be worth around £500,000 to the Imps.