Lewis Neilson

Lewis Neilson of Falkirk was born in Dundee, Scotland on 15 May 2003 (age 23).

Lewis Neilson, born on 15 May 2003 (age 23), is a Scottish central defender with Falkirk. A commanding 6ft 3in (1.91m), he wears squad number 15 and fits the modern profile of a young centre-half still putting proper senior miles into his career.

His strongest league campaign so far came in 2023-2024 at Partick Thistle, where he made 36 appearances and scored once. That season gave him regular football and a useful grounding away from the usual noise around young Scottish defenders being pushed too quickly into certainty by people who should know better.

Neilson is now with Falkirk. In 2026-2027, he has made three League Cup appearances and three Scottish Cup appearances, giving him six games in all competitions for the club.

At this stage, his career is that of an established young professional rather than a finished article: a tall Scottish centre-back with meaningful senior experience at Partick Thistle and a current role in the Falkirk squad.

📈 Key stats and insights

Lewis Neilson has six cup appearances for Falkirk in 2026-27

Lewis Neilson has played three League Cup matches and three Scottish Cup matches in 2026-27

Lewis Neilson averages a 6.51 season rating

Lewis Neilson's rating range this season runs from 5.75 to 7.35

Lewis Neilson joined Falkirk from Hearts on a free transfer in July 2026

Last updated 6 August 2026. Send feedback

Lewis Neilson stats

Check out all of the statistics about Lewis Neilson.

Central Defender
Primary Position: Defender
Position

Lewis Neilson

CD

1.91m (6ft 3in)
Height: 15
Squad Number: 83kg (13st)
Weight: 15 May 2003 (age 23)
Date of Birth: Dundee
Birthplace: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Country of Birth: Falkirk
Team

📊 Season stats

Team: Falkirk
Premiership 2026 - 2027
Games: 1
Starting: 1
Substitute: -
Unused: 1
Utilisation: 50%
Goals: -
Yellows: -
Reds: -

Team: Falkirk
League Cup 2026 - 2027
Games: 3
Starting: 2
Substitute: 1
Unused: 1
Utilisation: 75%
Goals: -
Yellows: -
Reds: -

Team: Falkirk
Scottish Cup 2025 - 2026
Games: 3
Starting: 1
Substitute: 2
Unused: 1
Utilisation: 75%
Goals: -
Yellows: -
Reds: -

Neilson's 2026-27 involvement at Falkirk is concentrated in the cups, with three League Cup appearances and three Scottish Cup appearances. For a 23-year-old central defender, that points to a squad role at this stage of the season, with his competitive appearances coming in knockout competition.

🔥 Recent form

Last 10 appearances for Lewis Neilson.

Season average rating: 6.91

Match: Motherwell 0-0 Falkirk
9 Aug 2026 (A)
Mins: 90
Goals: -
Rating: 6.9

Match: Falkirk 0-2 St. Mirren
1 Aug 2026 (H)
Mins: -
Goals: -
Rating: -

Match: Falkirk 3-0 Stranraer
25 Jul 2026 (H)
Mins: -
Goals: -
Rating: -

Match: Alloa Athletic 1-1 Falkirk
21 Jul 2026 (A)
Mins: 62
Goals: -
Rating: -

Match: Falkirk 0-1 Ayr United
14 Jul 2026 (H)
Mins: 90
Goals: -
Rating: -

Match: Edinburgh City 0-5 Falkirk
11 Jul 2026 (A)
Mins: 90
Goals: -
Rating: -

Match: Falkirk 2-5 Rangers
16 May 2026 (H)
Mins: 90
Goals: -
Rating: 5.8

Match: Falkirk 1-3 Hibernian
9 May 2026 (H)
Mins: 90
Goals: -
Rating: 6.4

Match: Falkirk 1-0 Motherwell
2 May 2026 (H)
Mins: 90
Goals: -
Rating: 7.4

Match: Celtic 3-1 Falkirk
25 Apr 2026 (A)
Mins: 90
Goals: -
Rating: 6.0

Neilson's season rating profile sits at 6.51 on average, with a high of 7.35 and a low of 5.75. That spread suggests serviceable form with some volatility, rather than a run of consistently high performances.

📋 Career stats

Team: Falkirk
Season 2026 - 2027
Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games: 1
Goals: -

Team: Falkirk
Season 2025 - 2026
Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games: 16
Goals: -

Team: Hearts
Season 2024 - 2025
Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games: 5
Goals: -

Team: St Johnstone
Season 2024 - 2025
Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games: 17
Goals: -

Team: Partick Thistle
Season 2023 - 2024
Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games: 36
Goals: 1

Team: Hearts
Season 2022 - 2023
Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games: 10
Goals: -

Team: Dundee United
Season 2021 - 2022
Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games: 6
Goals: -

Team: Dundee United
Season 2020 - 2021
Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games: 9
Goals: -

Neilson is 23, Scottish and plays as a central defender for Falkirk. His route has been shaped by Hearts and a series of Scottish loans, including Partick Thistle, St Johnstone and Falkirk, before his permanent move to Falkirk in 2026. The clearest scoring note in his career line is one goal in 2023-24.

💰 Transfers

Team: Falkirk
1 July 2026
From: Hearts
Type: Free Transfer

Team: Falkirk
7 July 2025
From: Hearts
Type: Loan

Team: Hearts
1 January 2025
From: St Johnstone
Type: Returned from loan

Team: St Johnstone
30 July 2024
From: Hearts
Type: Loan

Team: Hearts
1 June 2024
From: Partick Thistle
Type: Returned from loan

Team: Partick Thistle
3 August 2023
From: Hearts
Type: Loan

Team: Hearts
1 July 2022
From: Dundee United
Type: Free Transfer

Team: Dundee United
1 June 2021
From: Falkirk
Type: Returned from loan

Team: Falkirk
12 March 2021
From: Dundee United
Type: Loan

Team: Dundee United
1 July 2018
Type: Trainee

Neilson's transfer history is a steady sequence of loans and returns rather than fee-driven moves. Hearts brought him back from Partick Thistle in June 2024, loaned him to St Johnstone the following month, recalled him in January 2025, then sent him to Falkirk on loan in July 2025 before the July 2026 free transfer made that step permanent.

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