Samuel James Gallagher (born 15 September 1995) is an English footballer who plays as a striker for EFL Championship club Stoke City.
Originally a member of the Plymouth Argyle youth academy, Gallagher joined Southampton in 2012 and earned a call-up to the first team at the beginning of the 2013–14 season.
[3] In April 2012 he joined Southampton amidst reported interest from fellow Premier League clubs Everton and Newcastle United.
[4] The striker made his debut for the Southampton first team on 6 November 2013 in the League Cup against Sunderland, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute for Gastón Ramírez.
[6] Gallagher continued to make semi-regular substitute appearances for the first team, before scoring his first senior goal against Championship side Yeovil Town in the FA Cup on 25 January 2014.
[16] On 20 October, Blackburn's manager, Owen Coyle, expressed his desire to sign Gallagher on a permanent contract, after he scored five goals from nine starting appearances.
[22] His first goal, deflected off defender Michael Dawson in stoppage time in a 6–1 loss at Hull City with incoming manager Steve Cotterill watching from the stands, took nine appearances to arrive.
[21][24] Amid speculation that the club might try to end his loan early, he was given a chance on the wing – a position he had played with Blackburn – after Isaac Vassell sustained a long-term injury.