Rico Lewis
{{Short description|English footballer (born 2004)}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Rico Lewis
| image = ManCity20240722-027.jpg
| caption = Lewis with Manchester City in 2024
| full_name = Rico Mark Lewis
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2004|11|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = Bury, England
| height = {{convert|1.69|m|order=flip}}
| position = Full-back, defensive midfielder{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/rico-lewis/ |title=Rico Lewis: Profile |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |access-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603200125/https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/rico-lewis/ |archive-date=3 June 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.whoscored.com/Players/444791/Show/Rico-Lewis |title=Rico Lewis |website=WhoScored.com |access-date=25 June 2023 |archive-date=7 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607131058/https://www.whoscored.com/Players/444791/Show/Rico-Lewis |url-status=live }}
| currentclub = Manchester City
| clubnumber = 82
| youthyears1 = 2013–2022
| youthclubs1 = Manchester City
| years1 = 2022–
| clubs1 = Manchester City
| caps1 = 58
| goals1 = 3
| nationalyears1 = 2019–2020
| nationalteam1 = England U16
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2021–2022
| nationalteam2 = England U18
| nationalcaps2 = 7
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2022
| nationalteam3 = England U19
| nationalcaps3 = 3
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2023–
| nationalteam4 = England U21
| nationalcaps4 = 6
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| nationalyears5 = 2023–
| nationalteam5 = England
| nationalcaps5 = 5
| nationalgoals5 = 0
| club-update = 07:37, 11 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 22:10, 14 November 2024 (UTC)
}}
Rico Mark Lewis (born 21 November 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a full-back or defensive midfielder for {{English football updater|ManchesC}} club Manchester City and the England national team.{{Cite web |title=Rico Lewis is Guardiola's pocket-sized hero for Manchester City {{!}} Manchester City {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/sep/21/rico-lewis-is-guardiolas-pocket-sized-hero-for-manchester-city |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=amp.theguardian.com|date=21 September 2024 |last1=Jackson |first1=Jamie }}
Early life
Rico Mark Lewis{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/3044867 |title=Updated Premier League squad lists for 2022/23 |publisher=Premier League |date=4 February 2023 |access-date=20 May 2023 |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206213636/https://www.premierleague.com/news/3044867 |url-status=live }} was born on 21 November 2004{{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/rico-lewis/655390/ |title=R. Lewis: Summary |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=3 June 2023 |archive-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603184054/https://uk.soccerway.com/players/rico-lewis/655390/ |url-status=live }} in Bury, Greater Manchester.{{cite web |url=https://www.mancity.com/citytv/mens/rico-lewis-academy-first-team-63804808 |title=Rico Lewis: Academy to First Team |publisher=Manchester City F.C. |date=26 November 2022 |access-date=3 June 2023 |archive-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603201147/https://www.mancity.com/citytv/mens/rico-lewis-academy-first-team-63804808 |url-status=live }} When he was young, Lewis was inspired by the boxer Muhammad Ali.{{Cite web |last=Mumford |first=Jack |url=https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/rico-lewis-inspirations-muhammad-ali-kyle-walker-63801281 |title=RICO LEWIS' INSPIRATIONS: HIS DAD, MUHAMMAD ALI AND KYLE WALKER |publisher=Manchester City F.C. |date=15 October 2022 |access-date=6 January 2023 |archive-date=6 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106175027/https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/rico-lewis-inspirations-muhammad-ali-kyle-walker-63801281 |url-status=live }} He is of Jamaican descent.{{Cite web|url=https://abtc.ng/which-country-is-rico-lewis-from-does-rico-lewis-play-for-england/|title=Which country is Rico Lewis from? Does Rico Lewis play for England? - ABTC}}
Club career
=Early career=
Lewis joined Manchester City's academy at the age of eight and joined the club's under-18 team at the age of 15. He captained the team for the 2021–22 season, with the team winning the title.{{cite web |title=Rico Lewis player profile |url=https://www.mancity.com/players/rico-lewis |publisher=Manchester City F.C. |access-date=13 August 2022 |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813162735/https://www.mancity.com/players/rico-lewis |url-status=live }}
=2022–23 season=
Lewis was named on City's bench for the first time for Manchester City's first match of the 2022–23 season and made his Premier League debut a week later, on 13 August 2022, against AFC Bournemouth, coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute for Kyle Walker.{{cite web |last1=Edwards |first1=John |title=Slick City cruise to victory over Bournemouth |url=https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/man-city-bournemouth-premier-league-match-report-63795987 |publisher=Manchester City F.C. |access-date=13 August 2022 |archive-date=3 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103001004/https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/man-city-bournemouth-premier-league-match-report-63795987 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Manchester City 4–0 AFC Bournemouth |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62445690 |access-date=22 August 2022 |website=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2022 |archive-date=22 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822094327/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62445690 |url-status=live }} On 5 October, Lewis made his UEFA Champions League debut for Manchester City in a 5–0 win against Copenhagen, entering as a substitute for João Cancelo.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match?gameId=652628 |title=Relentless Haaland at the double as Man City crush Copenhagen |date=5 October 2022 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=6 January 2023 |agency=Reuters |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008064535/https://www.espn.com/soccer/match?gameId=652628 |url-status=live }}
After a string of substitute appearances, Lewis was given his first start in the Champions League on 2 November 2022, scoring the equaliser in a 3–1 comeback win against Sevilla.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/manchester-city-vs-sevilla/477442|title=Man City 3–1 Sevilla: Rico Lewis makes Champions League history as City end Group G with victory|website=Sky Sports|date=2 November 2022|access-date=2 November 2022|archive-date=2 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102213353/https://www.skysports.com/football/manchester-city-vs-sevilla/477442|url-status=live}} In doing so, he became the youngest scorer on a first start in a Champions League match, and City's youngest ever Champions League scorer, aged 17 years and 346 days.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63480704|title=Manchester City 3–1 Sevilla|website=BBC Sport|date=2 November 2022|access-date=2 November 2022|archive-date=25 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225024916/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63480704|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63490166|title=Teenager Lewis a dream for Man City – Guardiola|website=BBC Sport|access-date=3 November 2022|archive-date=25 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225024847/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63490166|url-status=live}} Lewis received racist abuse during the match from Sevilla fans.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63507771|title=Man City condemn racist abuse of 17-year-old Lewis|website=BBC Sport|access-date=3 November 2022|archive-date=3 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103200450/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63507771|url-status=live}} On 28 December, he was given his first start in the Premier League, in a 3–1 win over Leeds United, playing until the 68th minute, coming off for João Cancelo.{{cite web|url=https://www.sofascore.com/leeds-united-manchester-city/rsJ#10385403|title=Leeds United 1–3 Manchester City|publisher=SofaScore|access-date=15 August 2023|archive-date=15 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815221338/https://www.sofascore.com/leeds-united-manchester-city/rsJ#10385403|url-status=live}}
On 20 May 2023, Manchester City won the 2022–23 Premier League title, with Lewis playing 14 matches, starting 10.{{cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/4523386/2023/05/20/manchester-city-win-premier-league/|title=Manchester City win Premier League title after Arsenal lose at Nottingham Forest|website=The Athletic|date=24 May 2023 |access-date=15 August 2023|archive-date=15 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815221337/https://theathletic.com/4523386/2023/05/20/manchester-city-win-premier-league/|url-status=live}} His team also won the FA Cup, with him playing all games but the final, completing a domestic double. On 10 June, his team won the Champions League for the first time, with Lewis being an unused substitute in the final, completing a continental treble.{{Cite news |last=Jackson |first=Jamie |date=2023-05-20 |title=How Rico Lewis helped harden up Manchester City's treble surge |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/may/20/how-rico-lewis-helped-harden-up-manchester-city-treble-challenge |access-date=2023-05-20 |issn=0029-7712 |archive-date=20 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520231120/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/may/20/how-rico-lewis-helped-harden-up-manchester-city-treble-challenge |url-status=live }}
=2023–present=
File:Yokohama F. Marinos - Manchester City (3-5) - 53075581668 (Rico Lewis).jpg in 2023]]
On 16 August 2023, Lewis signed a new five-year contract with City.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/rico-lewis-contract-extension-announcement-manchester-city-63827685#:~:text=Rico%20Lewis%20has%20signed%20a,until%20the%20summer%20of%202028.|title=Rico Lewis signs new five-year deal}} He scored his first league goal for the club on 16 December in a 2–2 draw at home to Crystal Palace.{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Isaac |date=26 December 2023 |title='Down to us' - Rico Lewis makes honest Man City admission after Crystal Palace draw |work=Manchester Evening News |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/down-us-rico-lewis-makes-28304140 |access-date=17 December 2023 |archive-date=17 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217015027/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/down-us-rico-lewis-makes-28304140 |url-status=live }} On 22 December, Lewis started in central midfield in the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup final, playing 60 minutes as City beat Fluminense 4–0 in Jeddah to become world champions for the first time.{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/liveblog/2023/12/22/manchester-city-vs-fluminese-club-world-cup-final-live-match-coverage-football-commentary-updates-jeddah-saudi-arabia|title=Manchester City vs Fluminense 4-0: Club World Cup final – as it happened|date=22 December 2023|access-date=11 September 2024|website=Al Jazeera|archive-date=11 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240911021957/https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/liveblog/2023/12/22/manchester-city-vs-fluminese-club-world-cup-final-live-match-coverage-football-commentary-updates-jeddah-saudi-arabia|url-status=live}}
On 27 April 2025, Lewis scored his first FA Cup goal in the 2nd minute of City's 2–0 semi-final victory against Nottingham Forest, helping his team reach their third successive final in the competition.{{cite web |last=Jackson |first=Bobbie |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cg72ezz8307t |title=Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City |website=BBC Sport |date=27 April 2025 |access-date=27 April 2025 |archive-date=27 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250427143039/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cg72ezz8307t |url-status=live }}
International career
In September 2021, Lewis scored for the England national under-18 team in a draw against Wales.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58438895|title=Wales U18 1–1 England U18: Rico Lewis cancels out Luke Harris opener|website=BBC Sport|date=3 September 2021|access-date=21 September 2022|archive-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922105034/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58438895|url-status=live}}
On 21 September 2022, Lewis made his under-19 debut in a 2–0 2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification win over Montenegro in Denmark.{{cite web |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2022/Sep/21/england-mu19s-montenegro-uefa-u19-euro-qualifying-report-20222109 |title=Report: England MU19s 2–0 Montenegro |publisher=The Football Association |first=Frank |last=Smith |date=21 September 2022 |access-date=21 September 2022 |archive-date=3 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003153036/https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2022/Sep/21/england-mu19s-montenegro-uefa-u19-euro-qualifying-report-20222109 |url-status=live }}
Lewis made his debut for the under-21s on 28 March 2023 in a 2–1 defeat to Croatia at Craven Cottage.{{Cite web|title=Report: England MU21s 1-2 Croatia|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Mar/28/england-mu21s-croatia--match-report-20232803|access-date=2023-03-30|publisher=The Football Association|archive-date=29 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329232350/https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Mar/28/england-mu21s-croatia--match-report-20232803|url-status=live}}
On 13 November 2023, Lewis received his first call-up to the senior England national team ahead of their UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Malta and North Macedonia.{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Andy |title=England men's squad updates: Lewis, Palmer and Konsa called up |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Nov/13/england-mens-squad-updates-november-internationals-2023 |publisher=The Football Association |date=13 November 2023 |access-date=2023-11-13 |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113092332/https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Nov/13/england-mens-squad-updates-november-internationals-2023 |url-status=live }} He made his debut on 20 November, playing the entirety of a 1–1 draw away to North Macedonia, a result that ensured England top seeding at Euro 2024.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67400092 |title=North Macedonia 1–1 England |first=Joe |last=Rindl |website=BBC Sport |date=20 November 2023 |access-date=20 November 2023 |archive-date=20 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120012948/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67400092 |url-status=live }}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 10 May 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"|EFL Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="3"|Manchester City U21
|2021–22{{soccerbase season|144394|2021|access-date=3 June 2023}} |colspan="3"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearance in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 2022–23
|colspan="3"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| colspan=2|Total
!colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| rowspan="4"|Manchester City
|2022–23{{soccerbase season|144394|2022|access-date=3 June 2023}} |14 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 | |
| 2023–24{{soccerbase season|144394|2023|access-date=10 September 2024}}
|Premier League |16 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in FIFA Club World Cup}} | 0 | 27 | 2 | |
| 2024–25{{soccerbase season|144394|2024|access-date=10 September 2024}}
|Premier League |28 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in FA Community Shield}} | 0 | 43 | 2 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!58 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 93 | 5 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!58 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 95 | 5 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 14 November 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/rico-lewis/4/ |title=Rico Lewis: Internationals |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |date= |access-date=13 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120221059/https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/rico-lewis/4/ |archive-date=20 November 2023 |url-status=live}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="2"|England
|2023 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 4 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total||5||0 |
Honours
Manchester City
- Premier League: 2022–23, 2023–24{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/99281/Rico-Lewis/overview |title=Rico Lewis: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=25 May 2024 |archive-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603201345/https://www.premierleague.com/players/99281/Rico-Lewis/overview |url-status=live }}
- FA Cup: 2022–23;{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65785637 |title=Manchester City 2–1 Manchester United |first=Phil |last=McNulty |website=BBC Sport |date=3 June 2023 |access-date=3 June 2023 |archive-date=2 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602230358/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65785637 |url-status=live }} runner-up: 2023–24{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c2jj8k5vym5t#Line-ups |title=Manchester City 1–2 Manchester United: Line-ups |website=BBC Sport |date=25 May 2024 |access-date=25 May 2024}}
- FA Community Shield: 2024{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c9wjkjyqpg4t#Line-ups |title=Manchester City 1–1 Manchester United: Line-ups |website=BBC Sport |date=10 August 2024 |access-date=10 August 2024 |archive-date=1 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001191553/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c9wjkjyqpg4t#Line-ups |url-status=live }}
- UEFA Champions League: 2022–23{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65845807 |title=Manchester City 1–0 Inter Milan |first=Phil |last=McNulty |website=BBC Sport |date=10 June 2023 |access-date=10 June 2023 |archive-date=10 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610003917/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65845807 |url-status=live }}
- UEFA Super Cup: 2023{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66513883 |title=Manchester City 1–1 Sevilla |first=Phil |last=McNulty |website=BBC Sport |date=16 August 2023 |access-date=13 November 2023 |archive-date=29 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829172949/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66513883 |url-status=live }}
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2023{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67795653 |title=Manchester City 4–0 Fluminense |website=BBC Sport |date=22 December 2023 |access-date=22 December 2023 |archive-date=28 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228001550/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67795653 |url-status=live }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.mancity.com/players/rico-lewis Profile] at the Manchester City F.C. website
- {{UEFA player}}
{{Manchester City F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Rico}}
Category:Footballers from Bury, Greater Manchester
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's international footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:England men's under-21 international footballers
Category:English people of Jamaican descent
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Manchester City F.C. players
Category:Premier League players
Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players
Category:Black British sportsmen
Category:21st-century Black British people