The highly rated 22-year-old, who has been with City’s Academy since the age of eight, made his senior debut for the Foxes in a 4-0 Premier League win over Newcastle United in December 2021.
McAteer spent the second half of 2021/22 on loan in League 2 with Forest Green Rovers, where he made nine appearances and helped the club earn promotion to League 1 as champions.
Appearing twice for the Foxes in the following season, during victories over Gillingham in the Emirates FA Cup and MK Dons in the Carabao Cup, McAteer then headed out on loan at AFC Wimbledon in Sky Bet League 2 for the rest of the season. He furthered his football education with the Dons, who finished in 21st position in the fourth tier, before a landmark moment back at Leicester.
Now under Enzo Maresca's management, the Foxes started the 2023/24 season at home against Coventry City - with McAteer impressing in the Championship opener at right wing. Despite injury, he was back in the XI for a visit to Rotherham United later in the month and he scored both goals in a 2-1 win to send the Foxes top of the table.
He was on the scoresheet again a few weeks later, netting in a 4-1 win at Southampton, later also scoring in a 2-0 success at Norwich City the following week. The opener at Anfield followed, in a Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool, before further strikes back in the league away at Stoke City (5-0) and then Preston North End (3-0), the latter confirming Leicester as Championship champions.