Kyle Edwards (footballer, born 1998)
{{short description|English footballer (born 1998)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Kyle Edwards
| image =
| caption =
| full_name = Kyle Hakeem Edwards{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/465277|title=Squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed|date=1 September 2017|access-date=25 November 2017|publisher=Premier League}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|2|17|df=y}}{{cite web |title=Kyle Edwards |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/kyle-edwards-250018/|work=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |access-date=25 November 2017}}
| birth_place = Dudley, England
| position = Attacking midfielder, left winger
| height = {{convert|1.72|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| currentclub = Stevenage
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2004–2015
| youthclubs1 = West Bromwich Albion
| years1 = 2015–2021
| clubs1 = West Bromwich Albion
| caps1 = 37
| goals1 = 3
| years2 = 2017–2018
| clubs2 = → Exeter City (loan)
| caps2 = 23
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2021–2024
| clubs3 = Ipswich Town
| caps3 = 50
| goals3 = 3
| years4 = 2023–2024
| clubs4 = → Oxford United (loan)
| caps4 = 5
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2024–2025
| clubs5 = Oxford United
| caps5 = 7
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2025–
| clubs6 = Stevenage
| caps6 = 0
| goals6 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2013
| nationalteam1 = England U16
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2014
| nationalteam2 = England U17
| nationalcaps2 = 17
| nationalgoals2 = 3
| nationalyears3 = 2018–2019
| nationalteam3 = England U20
| nationalcaps3 = 38
| nationalgoals3 = 3
| club-update = 20:00, 21 December 2024 (UTC)
}}
Kyle Hakeem Edwards (born 17 February 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or left winger for {{English football updater|Stevenag}} club Stevenage.
Edwards began his career with West Bromwich Albion, joining the club's academy at the age of six. He made his senior professional debut in September 2017 while on loan at EFL League Two side Exeter City. He made his senior debut for West Brom in August of the following season. During the 2019–20 season, Edwards helped West Brom win promotion from the EFL Championship following a second-placed league finish. He made his Premier League debut in September 2020. He left West Brom in July 2021 following the expiry of his contract, and joined Ipswich Town on a free transfer the following month. Following his contract termination at Ipswich, Edwards signed for Oxford United on 16 January 2024 till the end of the season and, following a period of injury, his contract was further renewed to January 2025.
He has represented England at U16, U17 and U20 levels.
Club career
=West Bromwich Albion=
Edwards graduated from the youth academy of West Bromwich Albion, after having joined the setup at the age of six.{{cite web|title=Interview: West Brom youngster Kyle Edwards eyes baggies first team role|date=30 October 2015 |url=https://www.shoot.co.uk/exclusive-england-and-west-brom-youngster-kyle-edwards-eyes-baggies-first-team-role/amp/|publisher=Shoot|access-date=9 October 2017}} In September 2015, he was an unused substitute in a Football League Cup match against Norwich City. In September 2017, he was nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month Award for the month of August.{{cite web|title=Nuttall shortlisted for PL2 Player of the Month award|url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2017/september/nuttall-shortlisted-for-pl2-player-of-the-month-award/|publisher=Blackburn Rovers|access-date=9 October 2017}}
==Exeter City (loan)==
On 31 August 2017, Edwards joined EFL League Two club Exeter City on loan until January 2018. He joined Kane Wilson, another loanee from West Brom.{{cite web|title=Exeter City sign West Brom forward Kyle Edwards on loan|date=31 August 2017 |url=http://www.devonlive.com/sport/football/football-news/exeter-city-sign-west-brom-405424.amp|publisher=Devon Live|access-date=9 October 2017}} The club's assistant manager Matt Oakley commented that he would "add a real strength in depth to our squad".{{cite web|title=Kyle Edwards signs on loan|url=https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/2017/august/kyle-edwards-signs-on-loan/|publisher=Exeter City|access-date=9 October 2017}} He made his senior debut in a 0–3 defeat against Notts County on 26 September.{{cite web|title=Paul Tisdale on how West Brom duo Kane Wilson and Kyle Edwards are progressing at Exeter City|date=28 September 2017 |url=http://www.devonlive.com/sport/football/football-news/paul-tisdale-how-west-brom-548495|publisher=Devon Live|access-date=9 October 2017}} On 4 October 2017, he scored his first senior goal in a Football League Trophy match against Plymouth Argyle, a match which ended 2–2.{{cite web|title=Kyle Edwards' goal gives Paul Tisdale selection problem for Carlisle United|date=4 October 2017 |url=http://www.devonlive.com/sport/sport-opinion/kyle-edwards-goal-gives-paul-578200|publisher=Devon Live|access-date=9 October 2017}} In January, Edwards' loan spell was extended until the end of the 2017–18 season.{{cite web|title=West Brom winger Kyle Edwards confirms loan extension at Exeter City|url=https://www.devonlive.com/sport/football/transfer-news/west-brom-winger-kyle-edwards-1087089|publisher=www.devonlive.com|date=18 January 2018|access-date=5 November 2021}} He helped Exeter reach the 2018 EFL League Two play-off final against Coventry City following a 4th-placed league finish. During the play-off final, Edwards came off the bench to score a consolation goal as Exeter lost 1–3 to Coventry at Wembley Stadium.{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44192549 | first = James | last = Law | access-date = 16 July 2020 | date = 28 May 2018 | publisher = BBC Sport | title = Coventry City 3–1 Exeter City}} Edwards made 28 appearances for Exeter during his loan spell, scoring twice.
==Return to West Brom==
On 26 January 2018, Edwards extended his contract at West Bromwich Albion until 2020.{{cite web|title=Edwards extends Albion contract|url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/2018/january/edwards-extends-albion-contract/|publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.|access-date=29 January 2018}} He made his Albion debut as a half-time substitute in the club's 1–0 win against Luton Town in the EFL Cup on 14 August 2018.{{cite web|title='Special night' for Kyle|url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/2018/august/special-night-for-kyle/|publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.|date=15 August 2018|access-date=15 August 2018}} He scored his first goal for West Brom in his following appearance, netting the winning goal in a 1–0 EFL Cup win against Mansfield Town on 28 August.{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45254733 | title = West Bromwich Albion 2 – 1 Mansfield Town | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 28 August 2018 | access-date = 5 November 2021}} On 16 March 2019, Edwards scored the winning goal in a 1–0 away win against Brentford.{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47505161 | title = Brentford 0 – 1 West Bromwich Albion | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 16 March 2019 | access-date = 5 November 2021}} He scored twice in 11 appearances during his first full season in the West Brom first team, helping the club reach the EFL Championship play-offs.
Edwards scored his first goal of the 2019–20 season in the opening match against Nottingham Forest, the match finishing in a 2–1 win for West Brom.{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49135730 | title = Nottingham Forest 1 – 2 West Bromwich Albion | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 3 August 2019 | access-date = 5 November 2021}} He managed to feature more regularly during the 2019–20 season, scoring his second goal of the campaign in a 5–1 win against Swansea City on 8 December.{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50618814 | title = West Bromwich Albion 5 – 1 Swansea City | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 8 December 2019 | access-date = 5 November 2021}} Edwards made 30 appearances during the season, 26 of which came in the EFL Championship, helping West Brom win promotion to the Premier League following a second-placed league finish. In May 2020, West Brom took up the option to extend Edwards' contract by an additional year, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2021.{{cite web|title=West Brom extend Kyle Edwards deal|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/west-bromwich-albion/2020/05/05/west-brom-extend-edwards-deal/|publisher=Express & Star|date=8 May 2020|access-date=5 November 2021}}
He made his Premier League debut in a 0–3 defeat against Leicester City on 13 September 2020.{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54045209 | title = West Bromwich Albion 0 – 3 Leicester City | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 13 September 2020 | access-date = 5 November 2021}} He featured infrequently in the West Brom first team under manager Slaven Bilić during the first half of the 2020–21 season, and found game time very limited during the second half of the season following the arrival of Sam Allardyce, his only appearance coming in an FA Cup third-round tie against Blackpool on 9 January. He made 8 appearances in all competitions during the season, as West Brom suffered relegation from the Premier League after finishing 19th.
On 27 May 2021 it was announced that he would leave West Bromwich Albion following the conclusion of his contract, ending a 17-year spell at the club.{{Cite web|title=Albion announce retained and released lists {{!}} West Bromwich Albion|url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/albion-announce-retained-and-released-lists|access-date=29 May 2021|website=www.wba.co.uk|language=en}}
=Ipswich Town=
Edwards joined Ipswich Town on a free transfer on 9 August 2021, signing a 3-year deal.{{Cite web | url = https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2021/august/town-sign-kyle-edwards/ | title = Edwards sign Kyle Edwards | publisher = Ipswich Town F.C. | date= 9 August 2021 | access-date = 9 August 2021}} He made his debut as a second-half substitute in a 1–2 away loss against Burton Albion on 14 August.{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58124730 | title = Burton Albion 2 – 1 Ipswich Town | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 14 August 2021 | access-date = 5 November 2021}}
On 11 January 2024, it was announced that Edwards had left Ipswich Town following the mutual termination of his contract.{{Cite web | url = https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2024/january/11/kyle-edwards-leaves-ipswich-town/ | title = KYLE EDWARDS DEPARTS TOWN | publisher = Ipswich Town Official Site | date = 11 January 2024 | access-date = 11 January 2024}}
=Oxford United=
On 1 September 2023, Edwards joined Oxford United on a season-long loan.{{cite news |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/23761358.oxford-united-sign-ipswich-town-winger-kyle-edwards-loan/ |title=Oxford United sign Ipswich Town winger Kyle Edwards on loan |first=Robert |last=Folker |date=1 September 2023 |newspaper=Oxford Mail |access-date=2 September 2023}} He made his first appearance as a 71st-minute substitute in a home League defeat to Port Vale the following day, and scored his first goal in an EFL Trophy win over Northampton Town three days after that. His first league start, and first league goal (described as a "beauty" and a "thunderbolt"{{cite web |url=https://www.oufc.co.uk/news/2023/september/match-report-for-fleetwood-town-vs-oxford-united-on-16-sep-23/ |title=REPORT Fleetwood Town 0 Oxford United 3 |first=Chris |last=Williams |date=16 September 2023 |publisher=Oxford United F.C. |access-date=14 September 2023}}) for Oxford came in a 3–0 away victory over Fleetwood Town on 16 September.
A recurring hamstring injury meant that in late November 2023 Edwards was ruled out until April, at which point his loan deal at Oxford United was terminated – though in January it was announced he would stay at the club to recover from his injury, with Ipswich Town terminating his contract several days later.{{cite news |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/24035874.kyle-edwards-stay-oxford-united-stan-mills-returns-everton/ |title=Kyle Edwards to stay at Oxford United as Stan Mills returns to Everton |first=Liam |last=Rice |date=8 January 2024 |newspaper=Oxford Mail |access-date=13 January 2024}} On 16 January 2024, he joined Oxford on a permanent basis, signing a short-term deal until the end of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.oufc.co.uk/news/2024/january/kyle-edwards-signs/|title=Kyle Edwards Returns To Oxford|website=www.oufc.co.uk|date=16 January 2024|accessdate=16 January 2024}} In September 2024, the club announced that he had signed a further deal until January 2025.{{cite news |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/24560494.kyle-edwards-signs-deal-oxford-united-january/ |title=Kyle Edwards signs deal with Oxford United until January |date=3 September 2024 |newspaper=Oxford Mail |first=Liam |last=Rice |access-date=3 September 2024}}
International career
Edwards has represented England at multiple youth team levels. He won 1 cap for the England U16 team in 2013. He won 3 caps for the England U17 team in 2014. Edwards made his debut for the England U20 team in 2018, going onto win 5 caps between 2018 and 2019. He was a member of the 2019 Toulon Tournament squad.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2019/may/28/england-u20-squad-named-for-maurice-revello-tournament-280519 |title=ENGLAND MU20S SQUAD NAMED BY PAUL SIMPSON FOR MAURICE REVELLO TOURNAMENT IN FRANCE |website=TheFA.com |access-date=1 June 2019}}
Style of play
In 2017, Darren Moore (then Professional Development Coach of West Bromwich Albion) described Edwards as an exciting talent with real potential. Moore also said that Edwards was "quick and very direct and has tight ball control. He has the ability to go past people and create things."{{cite web|title=Young West Brom winger joins League Two leaders Exeter City on loan|date=31 August 2017 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/young-west-brom-winger-joins-13554536.amp|publisher=Birmingham Mail|access-date=9 October 2017}}
Personal life
Following West Brom's promotion to the Premier League in 2020, Edwards released the rap track "Promotion Ting" via Link Up TV, the video amassing over 100,000 views on YouTube.{{Cite news|title=West Brom's Edwards releases promotion track|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54093593|access-date=13 March 2021}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 21 December 2024}}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.itfc.co.uk/teams/first-team/midfielder/kyle-edwards/ Kyle Edwards profile] at the Ipswich Town F.C. website
- [http://www.thefa.com/england/all-teams/players?p=355902 England profile] at The Football Association
- {{Soccerway|422154}}
- {{Soccerbase|88146}}
{{Oxford United F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Kyle}}
Category:Footballers from Dudley
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. players
Category:Exeter City F.C. players
Category:Ipswich Town F.C. players
Category:Oxford United F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Premier League players
Category:Black British sportsmen