Ashley Phillips
Personal information
Date of birth (2005-06-26) 26 June 2005 (age 18)
Place of birth Salford, England
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.92 m)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Plymouth Argyle (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
Number 26
Youth career
0000–2017 Curzon Ashton
2017–2022 Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2023 Blackburn Rovers 8 (0)
2023– Tottenham Hotspur 0 (0)
2024– → Plymouth Argyle (loan) 1 (0)
International career‡
2021 Wales U16 1 (0)
2021–2022 England U17 7 (0)
2023– England U18 3 (0)
2022– England U19 14 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 April 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:33, 24 November 2023 (UTC)

Ashley Phillips (born 26 June 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL Championship club Plymouth Argyle, on loan from Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.[1]

Club career

Blackburn Rovers

In September 2021, it was reported that Phillips had agreed to a three-year professional contract with Blackburn to come into effect from his seventeenth birthday the following June.[2] However, by August 2022, Blackburn manager Jon Dahl Tomasson said the contract had not yet been signed.[3]

Phillips was named in the starting XI for his professional debut in the EFL Cup in a 4–0 victory at home at Ewood Park against Hartlepool United on 10 August 2022.[4][5]

Phillips made his league debut on 14 August 2022 in the game against West Bromwich Albion, playing 71 minutes in a 2–1 win.[6][7] Phillips signed his first professional contract on 20 September 2022 committing his future to Blackburn Rovers until June 2025.[8][9]

Tottenham Hotspur

On 5 August 2023, Phillips signed for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.[10]

Loan to Plymouth Argyle

On 8 January 2024, Phillips joined Championship club Plymouth Argyle on loan for the remainder of the 2023–24 season.[11]

International career

On 9 April 2021, Phillips made his debut for Wales U16 coming off the bench in a 3–2 win against England U16.[12]

On 1 October 2021, Phillips was called up to the England U17 squad.[13]

On 16 September 2022, Phillips along with Rovers teammate Adam Wharton were called up to the England U19 squad,[14] making his debut in a 2–0 win against Montenegro U19.[15]

On 9 June 2023, Phillips made his England U18 debut during a 2–2 draw with Norway at the Lisbon International Tournament.[16]

Style of play

Speaking in November 2021, then first team manager Tony Mowbray described Phillips as "phenomenal" and commented that as well as being 6 ft 4' tall Phillips had great ball-playing ability. Mowbray stated, "He's fast, mobile and can pass it really well. He can use both feet, he's composed ... if you were to create a defender in the mould of how you would want one, this kid has got every attribute."[17]

Career statistics

As of match played 28 February 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Blackburn Rovers 2022–23 Championship 8 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 14 0
Tottenham Hotspur 2023–24 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 8 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 14 0
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup

Honours

References

  1. ^ "A.Phillips Soccerway profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  2. ^ Crooke, Jaquob (17 September 2021). "Ash Phillips agreement and Blackburn Rovers contract latest as negotiations take focus". LancsLive. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  3. ^ Jackson, Elliott (5 August 2022). "Blackburn Rovers boss provides contract update on Ashley Phillips amid Tottenham Hotspur links". LancsLive. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  4. ^ Jackson, Elliott (9 August 2022). "Jon Dahl Tomasson confirms Blackburn Rovers debut for Hartlepool United clash". LancsLive. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Blackburn Rovers 4-0 Hartlepool United". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Team news: Rovers v West Bromwich Albion". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 14 August 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Blackburn Rovers 2-1 West Bromwich Albion". BBC Sport. 14 August 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Phillips pens pro deal!". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  9. ^ "Ash Phillips: Blackburn Rovers defender signs first professional contract". BBC Sport. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  10. ^ "Ashley Phillips: Tottenham sign England Under-19 defender from Blackburn Rovers". BBC Sport. 5 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Ashley Phillips: Plymouth Argyle sign Tottenham Hotspur centre-back on loan". BBC Sport. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  12. ^ "ENGLAND U16 VS. WALES U16 2 - 3". Soccerway.
  13. ^ "Country calls for Phillips". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  14. ^ "England call for Rovers pair!". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  15. ^ Smith, Frank (21 September 2022). "Report: England MU19s 2-0 Montenegro". England Football. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  16. ^ Veevers, Nicholas (9 June 2023). "Report: Report: Norway 2-2 England MU18s". England Football. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  17. ^ Crooke, Jaquob (10 November 2021). "Ash Phillips' exciting development path as Blackburn Rovers foresee first-team involvement". LancsLive. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  18. ^ "Middlesbrough's Chuba Akpom takes Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season". English Football League. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
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