Cian Ashford
{{Short description|Welsh footballer}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Cian Ashford
|image =
|fullname =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2004|9|24|df=y}}
|birth_place = Rhondda, Wales
|height =
|currentclub = Cardiff City
|clubnumber = 45
|position = Forward
|youthyears1 =
|youthclubs1 = Cardiff City
|years1 = 2022– |clubs1 = Cardiff City |caps1 = 29 |goals1 = 3
|nationalyears1 = 2023–
|nationalteam1 = Wales U21
|nationalcaps1 = 7
|nationalgoals1 = 3
|club-update = 12 April 2025 (UTC)
|nationalteam-update = 15:19, 23 March 2025 (UTC)
}}
Cian Ashford is a Welsh footballer who plays as a forward for {{English football updater|CardiffC}} club Cardiff City. He is a Wales Under-21 international.
Career
Ashford joined the Cardiff City academy at the age of six, signing a first professional contract with the club in June 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/cian-ashford-agrees-first-professional-contract|title=Cian Ashford agrees first professional contract|website=www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk|date=16 June 2023|accessdate=18 April 2024}} He had first caught the eye of the first-team in November 2020, when he was called up to first-team training by then manager Neil Harris, impressing with three goals in a 4v4 match with the senior squad.{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rising-star-billed-the-future-28975302|title=Rising star billed as 'the future for Cardiff City' after debut as Erol Bulut reveals nerves|publisher=Wales Online|last=Williams|first=Glen|date=11 April 2024|accessdate=18 April 2024}}
In August 2023, Ashford made his senior debut for Cardiff City in the EFL Cup against Colchester United.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66822267 Ashford Cardiff debut] In January 2024, he signed a new contract to keep him at the club until June 2027.{{cite web|url=https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/cian-ashford-extends-contract-bluebirds|title=Cian Ashford extends contract with the Bluebirds|website=www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk|date=19 January 2024|accessdate=18 April 2024}} On 10 April 2024, he made his league debut for Cardiff in a 1–0 victory over Birmingham City.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68719946|title=Birmingham City 0–1 Cardiff City: Josh Bowler strike deepens Blues' relegation fears|publisher=BBC Sport|date=10 April 2024|accessdate=18 April 2024}} Following the match, he was described as "the future for Cardiff" by teammate Jamilu Collins.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c2qvpw7234lo|title=Ashford hailed as 'the future' after making Cardiff City league bow|publisher=BBC Sport|date=11 April 2024|accessdate=18 April 2024}} In his third league appearance for the club, he scored his first senior goal, a 96th minute winner from twenty-five yards against promotion hopefuls Southampton.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68804432|title=Cardiff City 2–1 Southampton|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 April 2024|accessdate=22 April 2024}}
International career
Ashford made his Wales under-21 debut on 24 October 2023 in the UEFA EURO U21 qualifier against Czech Republic as a 91st-minute substitute, immediately scoring the equalising goal in the 1–1 draw.[https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/academy-player-focus-cian-ashford Ashford Wales-U21 debut]
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 9 January 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Cardiff City
|2023–24{{soccerbase season|182016|2023|accessdate=18 April 2024}} |5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 1 | ||
| 2024–25{{soccerbase season|182016|2024|accessdate=9 January 2025}}
|Championship |9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 2 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!14 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 3 | |
| colspan="3" |Career total
!14 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 3 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase|182016}}
- {{Soccerway|684642}}
{{Cardiff City F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashford, Cian}}
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Welsh men's footballers
Category:Wales men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Cardiff City F.C. players