Gary Mackay-Steven was born in Thurso on 31 August 1990 (age 35), and made his name at Dundee United as a left-sided attacker with enough end product to be more than just a wide player who looked busy. His strongest league season came in 2013-14, when he scored seven goals in 35 appearances for United.
Celtic brought him in from Dundee United in February 2015 for around £250,000. He was an important first-team option rather than a centrepiece, capable of giving the side width, direct running and the occasional spark, though not always with the consistency to make the place his own.
He left Celtic for Aberdeen in July 2017 for around £150,000, a sensible enough move for a player who needed regular football. From there his career took in Aberdeen, New York City FC, Hearts, Kilmarnock, Ross County and Partick Thistle, with enough mileage across different levels and settings to suggest a player who remained useful well beyond his Celtic years.
In 2025-26, Mackay-Steven made 16 league appearances for Ross County before adding four more at Partick Thistle, where he is listed as a left winger and wears number 16. His market value is around £43,000, according to Transfermarkt.
His career has moved from promise at Dundee United, through a notable spell at Celtic, and into a long run of senior football across Scotland and beyond. He remains part of the first-team picture at Partick Thistle.
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