Full name Ryan Joseph Sweeney Name Ryan Sweeney Playing position Role Footballer | Number 20 Date joined 2015 2005–2015 AFC Wimbledon | |
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Date of birth (1997-04-15) 15 April 1997 (age 18) Place of birth Kingston upon Thames, England Current team AFC Wimbledon (#20 / Defender) | ||
New signing ryan sweeney
Ryan Joseph Sweeney (born 15 April 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Bristol Rovers on loan from Stoke City.
Contents
- New signing ryan sweeney
- Reaction ryan sweeney post port vale
- Early life
- AFC Wimbledon
- Stoke City
- Bristol Rovers loan
- International career
- Republic of Ireland U21s
- Career statistics
- References
Reaction ryan sweeney post port vale
Early life
Sweeney was born in Kingston upon Thames and attended Richard Challoner School in New Malden where he was captain of the school football team. Sweeney's brother Dan was also in the academy at AFC Wimbledon. and currently plays for Barnet.
AFC Wimbledon
Sweeney began his career with his local club AFC Wimbledon, joining their youth academy at the age of eight in 2005. Sweeney signed his first professional contract with AFC Wimbledon in February 2015. Sweeney made his Football league début for AFC Wimbledon on 6 April 2015, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute during the 4–0 away loss against Dagenham and Redbridge. He started Wimbledon's next match on 11 April 2015, a 0–0 draw against Oxford United at Kingsmeadow, and was named man of the match.
Sweeney began the 2015–16 season with the club's under-21 side before injury to Karleigh Osborne saw Neal Ardley give Sweeney his chance in defence against Luton Town on 13 February 2016. Wimbledon won the match 4–1 and Sweeney earned praise for his performance. He kept his place in the side until he was sent-off for conceding a penalty in a 2–1 defeat at Morecambe on 12 March 2016. Sweeney signed a new contract with Wimbledon in March 2016 after attracting interest from Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United. On 4 August 2016 Wimbledon announced that they had agreed a fee with Stoke City for the transfer of Sweeney.
Stoke City
On 5 August 2016, Sweeney completed his move to Stoke City for an undisclosed fee, understood to be in the region of £250,000.
Bristol Rovers loan
On 20 January 2017 Sweeney joined Bristol Rovers on loan for the remainder of the 2016–17 season. He impressed on his debut for the club, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory over local rivals Swindon Town during which he had a header cleared off the line. He played 16 times for the Gas helping he club finish in 10th position.
He rejoined The Pirates on loan for the 2017–18 season. He scored his first goal for the club in his fifth appearance of his second spell. A powerful header from a Chris Lines cross in the 85' minute to make it Rovers 2-2 Oldham Athletic. However Oldham went on to win 3-2.
International career
On 18 May 2015 Sweeney was called up to the Ireland U-18s squad for the first time.
Republic of Ireland U21s
On March 15 2017, Sweeney was called up to the Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team for the first time for the Under 21 European Championship qualifier match against Kosovo. He started the game and played the whole game as Ireland ran out as 1-0 winners thanks to a 2nd half goal from Olamide Shodipo.