Ruari Paton
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ruari Michael Paton | ||
| Date of birth | 9 August 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Port Vale | ||
| Number | 17 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2012 | Shelbourne | ||
| 2013 | St Kevin's Boys | ||
| 2014–2016 | Belvedere | ||
| 2016–2018 | Hibernian | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2019 | Hibernian | 0 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | → Gala Fairydean Rovers (loan) | ||
| 2019–2020 | East Kilbride | ||
| 2020–2021 | Stranraer | 21 | (6) |
| 2021–2023 | Queen of the South | 70 | (25) |
| 2023–2024 | Queen's Park | 36 | (17) |
| 2024– | Port Vale | 19 | (1) |
| 2025 | → Dundee United (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| Republic of Ireland U16 | 2 | (0) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:08, 17 May 2025 (UTC) | |||
Ruari Michael Paton (born 9 August 2000) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a striker on loan for EFL League One club Port Vale. He has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-16 level.
Paton, a talented dancer, spent his youth with Shelbourne, St Kevin's Boys and Belvedere, before he left Ireland to join the development squad at Scottish club Hibernian. He spent time on loan at Gala Fairydean Rovers, before joining East Kilbride in July 2019 after being released from Hibernian. His goal record in the Lowland League earned him a move to Stranraer in Scottish League Two. He was signed by Queen of the South in July 2021 and played on the losing side in the 2022 final of the Scottish Challenge Cup. He was named to the PFA Scotland Team of the Year following 22 Scottish League One goals in the 2022–23 season. He was sold to Queen's Park in June 2023 and was again named on the PFA Scotland Team of the Year after scoring 17 Scottish Championship goals in the 2023–24 campaign. He was signed by English club Port Vale for an undisclosed fee in July 2024 and returned to Scotland on loan at Dundee United in January 2025.