Motherwell midfielder Joe Hodge has opened up about his unique career path, from Manchester City's academy to establishing himself in Scotland. The 23-year-old Ireland international spoke in a report published by Motherwell Football Club this week, reflecting on his development and current ambitions with the Steelmen.
Hodge's journey to Fir Park was a long one, with his transfer from C.D. Tondela finally completed in the summer of 2025 after a protracted process. He arrives at a Motherwell side sitting 3rd in the Premiership with 8 points from their first four games, boasting a positive goal difference of +4. The team is just four points behind leaders Celtic as they prepare for their next challenge, an away trip to face Heart of Midlothian on December 12th.
What was Joe Hodge's youth career like?
Joe Hodge's football education was elite from a young age. Born in Manchester, he joined Manchester City at under-9 level and progressed through their academy system. His talent was recognized when he won the club's Scholar of the Year award for the 2019/20 season. That same year, he was part of the City youth team that lifted the FA Youth Cup, a significant early achievement.
"I think it was a really important part of my career," Hodge said about his time at City. "The level of the players that I would be training with every day going through my scholarship at City pushed me and helped me develop into the player I am today." That foundation led to first-team exposure, with a Premier League debut at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea and a first start in the competition against Everton later in 2023.
How did his move to Motherwell come about?
Hodge's path to Motherwell was not straightforward. After his time at City, he made 13 appearances for Wolverhampton Wanderers before loan spells at QPR in the 2023/24 season and Huddersfield Town in League One the year before, where he played 27 times. A subsequent move to Portuguese side C.D. Tondela presented both a professional and personal challenge.
He described his time in Portugal as difficult, marked by a relegation battle and the obstacle of a language barrier. However, he embraced the experience, learning Portuguese during his stay. The long-awaited transfer to Motherwell finally materialized in the summer of 2025. "I’m feeling really settled early on here," Hodge noted, "which is good because the transfer dragged on a lot longer that I would’ve wanted it to."
What are his international and club ambitions?
Hodge has represented the Republic of Ireland at every youth level from under-15 to under-21, qualifying through his paternal grandmother. His dedication was rewarded with a first senior cap in a friendly against Canada in the summer of 2026, after being named in a squad in 2024. His clear ambition is to become a regular fixture for his national team.
For now, his focus is squarely on contributing to Motherwell. He stated that club football comes first, with a desire to become an important part of a winning team at Fir Park. With the team currently in a strong league position, his integration is seen as key for the fixtures ahead, which fans can track on the club's fixtures page. The squad's overall depth and statistics are available on the official squad and stats pages.
What is happening with other Motherwell teams?
The club's other sides have busy schedules. The Under-19s played Kilmarnock on September 1st and face Annan Athletic on September 8th in the KDM Evolution Trophy, followed by East Fife on the 15th and Bonnyrigg Rose on the 26th. Meanwhile, Motherwell Women secured their first points of the season with a result at Montrose on September 1st. They are set for a significant week, hosting Rangers and a Sky Sports Cup Lanarkshire Derby against Hamilton on Sunday, September 6th.
Defender Dylan Williams also spoke to the club's media ahead of the recent Dundee United match, discussing the influence of former Motherwell player Elliot Watt on his move and his own formative time at Chelsea. Motherwell's next Premiership match is a trip to face Rangers at Ibrox, followed by a home game against Aberdeen on September 15th and a visit to Dens Park on the 19th. The team's current standing can be followed on the standings page. Joe Hodge will be aiming to feature when Motherwell travels to face 6th-placed Heart of Midlothian in December.
