Megan Jane Connolly (born 7 March 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Italian Serie A Femminile side Lazio and the Republic of Ireland women's national team.

She previously played for College Corinthians, Women's Super League club Brighton & Hove Albion, where she had signed her first professional contract, and Bristol City, where she was captain.

She eventually opted to concentrate on association football because it gave her the opportunity to represent Ireland at international level.

In December 2015, Connolly was named a First Team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America for her performances during the season, becoming the first ever freshman player from Florida State to do so.

[10][clarification needed] Returning from the USA, Connolly signed a contract with Women's Super League side Brighton & Hove Albion on 26 January 2019 for the remainder of the season.

[15] Released from Bristol City after their relegation,[16] Connolly swapped England for Italy at the start of the 2024-25 season, signing for newly-promoted Serie A Femminile side Lazio on 9 August 2024.

On 6 August 2013 during a 2014 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualifier, Connolly scored a hat-trick in a 12–1 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

[21] Connolly was also a member of the Republic of Ireland team that won their group at the 2014 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship and qualified for the semi-finals.

[30] Connolly was part of the Irish squad for the country's inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup appearance in the 2023 edition in Australia and New Zealand.

[32] Her father was a volunteer coach at College Corinthians and, after Megan began to show potential, he was responsible for reintroducing women's association football to the club.