Cian Ashford

Cian Ashford
Personal information
Date of birth (2004-09-24) 24 September 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Wales
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Cardiff City
Number 45
Youth career
Cardiff City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Cardiff City 9 (1)
International career‡
2023– Wales U21 3 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 02:20, 17 December 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:19, 20 November 2023 (UTC)

Cian Ashford is a Welsh footballer who plays as a forward for EFL Championship 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.[1] 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.[2]

In August 2023, Ashford made his senior debut for Cardiff City in the EFL Cup against Colchester United.[3] In January 2024, he signed a new contract to keep him at the club until June 2027.[4] On 10 April 2024, he made his league debut for Cardiff in a 1–0 victory over Birmingham City.[5] Following the match, he was described as "the future for Cardiff" by teammate Jamilu Collins.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8]

Career statistics

As of match played 6 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cardiff City 2023–24[9] Championship 5 1 1 0 3 0 — 9 1
2024–25[10] Championship 4 0 0 0 1 0 — 5 0
Total 9 1 1 0 4 0 0 0 14 1
Career total 9 1 1 0 4 0 0 0 14 1

References

  1. ^ "Cian Ashford agrees first professional contract". www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  2. ^ Williams, Glen (11 April 2024). "Rising star billed as 'the future for Cardiff City' after debut as Erol Bulut reveals nerves". Wales Online. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  3. ^ Ashford Cardiff debut
  4. ^ "Cian Ashford extends contract with the Bluebirds". www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Birmingham City 0–1 Cardiff City: Josh Bowler strike deepens Blues' relegation fears". BBC Sport. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Ashford hailed as 'the future' after making Cardiff City league bow". BBC Sport. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Cardiff City 2–1 Southampton". BBC Sport. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  8. ^ Ashford Wales-U21 debut
  9. ^ "Games played by Cian Ashford in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Games played by Cian Ashford in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 December 2024.