Sheffield United's Australian international midfielder David Carney joined Norwich City on loan on 28th January 2009 until the end of the 2008/9 season.

Carney began his career as a trainee with Everton before moving to Oldham Athletic in 2003. He had short spells with Halifax Town and Scottish side Hamilton Academicals before returning to his homeland in 2005 to play for Sydney FC. At Sydney, he worked with City's first team coach Ian Crook with both of them having helped Sydney to the Australian Hyundai A-League Grand Final in 2005-06. After trials with Alemania Aachen and being linked with Borussia Monchengladbach and Steaua Bucharest, he arrived at Bramall Lane on a three-year deal in August 2007 and has made a total of 26 appearances for Sheffield United in all competitions, scoring three goals

Carney is a regular Australian international after making his debut for the Socceroos in February 2006 against Bahrain. He currently has 17 caps and one goal, that being a 25-yard stunner at Craven Cottage against Nigeria in November 2007.He was a member of the 2007 Asian Cup squad that faced the likes of Argentina and represented his country in the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing.

Norwich manager Bryan Gunn said "I am delighted to welcome David as my first signing. We've been working very hard behind the scenes and putting several phone calls into different clubs and this is the first one with a positive result. He is an Australian international and I feel he will add something very positive to the squad we already have. He has a tremendous left foot which I hope he can utilise in our games which we have coming up and he's a confident goalscorer who is technically gifted. He wants to come here, he hasn't featured at Sheffield United and with the World Cup coming up in 2010, he wants to have the chance to show what he can do so he has an opportunity of a place in the Australian squad.: Ian Crook worked with him in Sydney, where David played 21 games and scored six times. Ian gave a very high recommendation of David and his capabilities, and was happy to recommend him to us. I know there were other clubs interested in him, both in this country and in Europe, and I really hope he is able to use his abilities to help us in the battle we have ahead of us."

David made his City debut as a substitute in the 3-3 draw at Wolves on 3rd February 2009. He made 9 appearances in total for the Canaries before they were relegated to League One

At the beginning of August 2009, David joined Belgian giants Anderlecht on a week's trial. He signed a two year contract for Dutch side FC Twente, managed by Steve Maclaren, on 31st August 2009. FC Twente went on to win their first ever Dutch League title on 2nd May 2010, although Carney missed the last 3 months of the season with a shoulder injury.

After playing two games in the World Cup in South Africa in June 2010, Carney returned to England on 1st September 2010 (transfer deadline day), signing for Premiership new boys Blackpool on a one-year contract for an undisclosed fee. Carney said: "It has been a busy 24 hours but I am delighted it is done now and I am looking forward to getting out there playing. The way Blackpool play suits me and I am looking forward to meeting the lads and getting started."

David played for Australia in the Asian Cup in Qatar in January 2011. In the final against Japan, an error made by Carney in extra-time allowed Japanese player Tadanari Lee to volley the winning goal,

Carney and Blackpool were relegated to the Championship on 22nd May 2011. Carney was released by the Seasiders within days along with 10 other players. He joined West Ham on trial in mid-September 2011.

In October 2011, he joined Spanish second division side AD Alcorcón on a one year deal. Carney made his debut for the club in a league match against Gimnàstic de Tarragona. After failing to hold down a first team spot he mutually terminated his contract with the club. In February 2012, he signed for Uzbek side FC Bunyodkor following a successful trial. made his debut for Bunyodkor in their 2-1 defeat to Adelaide United in the AFC Champions League on March 6th 2012.

He was released in September 2012 and was last seen in November 2012 on trial with Iranian side Persepolis

He returned to Blackpool on trial in July 2013. Carney turned out for Paul Ince’s side in a friendly with Morecambe and the Bloomfield Road boss will continue to run the rule over him and other players training with the Championship club.

On 8th August 2013, he signed for MLS side New York Red Bulls. "David is an experienced international player, who can play on the left side both as a defender and a midfielder, and he provides us much needed cover,” said Red Bulls Sporting Director Andy Roxburgh. “He is versatile and athletic and has competed at a high level. We are pleased to bring David to New York and look forward to his contribution as a member of the Red Bulls.”

Carney left the Red Bulls on 25th November 2013, after they declined to take up the option to extend the contract. He was linked with a move to Australian A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers on 14th December 2013 but Wanderers coach Tony Popovic has played down talk that his club is interested in signing Australia international David Carney, declaring he has no room to move in his roster. Instead he signed for fellow A-League side Newcastle Jets on 2nd February 2014.

Carney was one of five players sacked by Australian side Newcastle Jets on 27th January 2015 following a player revolt after a 7-0 defeat to Adelaide. After owner Norman Tinkler was stripped of the licence, Carney was retained by Jets and was part of their roster for the 2015–16 season.

On 2nd February 2016, about 7 hours before the transfer window in Australia ended, it was announced that Newcastle Jetshad agreed to release Carney by mutual consent. The next day, it was announced that Sydney FC had signed Carney on an 18-month deal

Carney left Sydney at the end of the 2017/18 season.

It was then announced that he would be coach of the Wollogong Wolves for the 2022/23 campaign.