Billy Gilmour

Billy Clifford Gilmour (born 11 June 2001) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Serie A club Napoli and the Scotland national team. He is considered one of Scotland's best players, particularly in relation to his passing skills and his style of midfield play.

Gilmour spent three months with Celtic at an early age before moving to Rangers, where he developed in the club's academy and trained with the first-team squad at the age of 15. He joined Chelsea in 2017 after turning down a professional contract with Rangers, made 22 appearances, and was on the bench for their UEFA Champions League and FA Cup finals in 2021. He spent a season on loan at Norwich City where the club were relegated, before he signed with Brighton & Hove Albion on a permanent basis in September 2022. Gilmour signed for Italian side Napoli on a permanent deal on deadline day in August 2024, winning the Scudetto in his first season.

Gilmour represented Scotland at all youth level from under-15, under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels before making his senior debut in 2021. He was selected for their Euro 2020 squad later that year, and was subsequently selected for Euro 2024.

Early life

Gilmour was born on 11 June 2001 at Ayrshire Central Hospital in Irvine, North Ayrshire, and was raised in nearby Ardrossan. His father, William Gilmour, served with the Royal Navy and played junior football for Ardrossan Winton Rovers. Gilmour attended Stanley Primary School in Ardrossan and Grange Academy in Kilmarnock, where he was part of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) Performance School programme. He listed Cesc Fàbregas, Luka Modrić and Andrés Iniesta as his football role models.