Joel Cooper

Glenavon Cooper was signed to Glenavon as manager Gary Hamilton "felt he had everything to step up a level" into the NIFL Premiership. In his first season at the club, he helped them reach the Irish Cup final at Windsor Park on 7 May 2016; Cooper started the match as Glenavon defeated favourites Linfield 2–0. At the end of the 2015–16 season, Cooper was named the Northern Ireland Young Player of the Year after scoring eight goals and providing 20 assists for the "Lurgan Blues".

Glenavon won the NIFL Charity Shield on 30 July 2016 after beating league champions Crusaders 1–0 at Mourneview Park. However, he did not end up taking the scholarship and returned to Glenavon, scoring two goals in 17 games during the 2017–18 season. He was utilised as part of an interchangeable three behind the striker in a 4–2–3–1 system and scored seven goals in 33 league games as Linfield won the Premiership title at the end of the 2018–19 season. Dundalk won the return fixture 6–0. The "Blues" also finished as runners-up in the County Antrim Shield, losing 4–3 to Crusaders.

In his second season with Linfield, Cooper scored 11 league goals and provided a further 17 assists, as the club were crowned 2019–20 league champions. In addition to 33 domestic appearances, he also featured five times in the UEFA Europa League, where Linfield reached the final round of qualification before losing to Qarabağ on the Away goals rule.

Oxford United On 23 July 2020, Cooper signed a three-year contract with Oxford United in League One after joining for an undisclosed fee. He made his full debut for Oxford at the Kassam Stadium three days later in an EFL Cup match against Watford, providing the assist for Robert Hall's goal, though the "U's" would lose in a penalty shoot-out after the match finished 1–1. Cooper returned home to Northern Ireland in November to deal with ongoing personal issues and manager Karl Robinson looked to secure him a loan move to maintain his fitness as the issues at home required Cooper's continued presence.

Speaking in August 2021, Robinson confirmed that the personal issues had been resolved and that Cooper was ready to play for Oxford again. However, he played just two League One and three EFL Trophy games, scoring twice against Tottenham Hotspur U21s. On 9 May 2022, the club announced that Cooper would leave at the end of the 2021–22 season and "will now return to Northern Ireland as a free agent having reached agreement with the U's to terminate his contract".

Loan to Linfield In December 2020, it was announced that Cooper would return to Linfield on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season once the January transfer window opened. However, despite having three weeks' notice, the Irish Football Association failed to complete his registration in time to play on 23 January, much to manager David Healy's frustration. On 21 May 2021, Cooper scored the winning goal for Linfield as the club defeated Larne in the Irish Cup final to claim a league and cup double. He made his debut at Vale Park as a late substitute on 29 January and would make a further five appearances – all away from home – between then and 5 March. He was named as Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association Player of the Month after scoring six goals in March, including four against Newry City. He scored the opening goal of the 2023 Northern Ireland Football League Cup final, which Linfield won 2–0 against Coleraine. He scored 16 goals from 42 appearances in the 2022–23 season. Four of his goals came in the club's run to the final of the Northern Ireland Football League Cup, which they went on to win by beating Portadown. Linfield also reached the final of the Irish Cup, but lost 3–1 to Cliftonville after extra-time.

Cooper was the subject of transfer speculation in December 2024 with reports saying that he had signed a pre-contract agreement with Coleraine. Coleraine had recently enjoyed "significant investment" from local property developer Henry Ross. Linfield manager David Healy would only state that any club wanting to buy the player in the January transfer window would have to pay a £1 million transfer fee. Cooper said that he was "fully focused" on winning the league title with Linfield after he was named Northern Ireland Football Writers' Player of the Month for January. Linfield ran away with the league title with Cooper being their star player as they were crowned champions with six games left to play. He became only the fourth player to win a second Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association Player of the Year award. He also won the Ulster Footballer of the Year award for the first time.

Coleraine Following months of speculation, Cooper signed a "multi-year deal" with Coleraine on 4 June 2025. Manager Ruaidhrí Higgins said Cooper would take the club "to the next level". He scored 21 goals in 37 league games throughout the 2025–26 campaign. He also scored in the Irish Cup final win over Dungannon Swifts.

International career Cooper was called up to the Northern Ireland under-21 squad by manager Jim Magilton in August 2015, at which point he had acquired the nickname of the 'Mourneview Messi'. He won a total of five youth team caps. In August 2020, Cooper was called up by manager Ian Baraclough to join the Northern Ireland senior squad for UEFA Nations League matches against Romania and Norway in September. Speaking in April 2025, he stated that not winning a senior cap was his only regret in football.

Style of play Cooper is a versatile winger who can play on either flank. NIFL Championship

2014–15 NIFL Championship

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2015–16 League One

2021–22 League One

6!!0!!1!!0!!1!!0!!4!!2!!12!!2 Linfield (loan) 2020–21

Linfield NIFL Premiership: 2018–19, 2019–20, Irish Cup: 2020–21; runner-up: 2023–24 Ulster Footballer of the Year: 2024–25