Edward Francis (footballer)

For other uses, see Edward Francis.

Edward Francis

Personal information
Full name	Edward Albert Francis[1]
Date of birth	(1999-09-11) 11 September 1999 (age 25)[2]
Place of birth	Poynton, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.82 m)[2]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Exeter City
Number	8
Youth career
0000–2018	Manchester City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2019	Manchester City	0	(0)
2018–2019	→ Jong Almere City (loan)	8	(1)
2018–2019	→ Almere City (loan)	1	(0)
2019–2020	Wolverhampton Wanderers	0	(0)
2020	→ Grasshopper (loan)	0	(0)
2020–2021	Harrogate Town	20	(1)
2021–2023	Notts County	43	(2)
2023	→ Gateshead (loan)	14	(0)
2023–2024	Gateshead	40	(3)
2024–	Exeter City	28	(2)
International career
2015	England U16	1	(0)
2014–2016	England U17	16	(0)
2017	England U18	1	(0)
2017–2018	England U19	4	(0)
2024	England C	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:04 1 February 2025 (UTC)

Edward Albert Francis (born 11 September 1999) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Exeter City.

Club career

Francis was born in Poynton and came through the academy system at Manchester City, joining them in the under-6 year-group.[3] He captained the club's under-18 side in the final of the 2016–17 FA Youth Cup final against Chelsea, standing in for Joel Latibeaudiere, which City lost 6–2 on aggregate.[4][5][6]

Having graduated from the academy in summer 2018, Francis joined Dutch Eerste Divisie side Almere City on loan for the 2018–19 season.[7] During his time there he played predominantly for their development side, Jong Almere City, in the Tweede Divisie.

Francis was signed by Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers in January 2019 for an undisclosed fee. He signed a two-and-a-half-year with the option of a further year.[8] On 18 February 2020, he was loaned out to Swiss club Grasshopper Club Zürich until the end of the season.[9]

On 15 December 2020, Francis signed for EFL League Two side Harrogate Town.[10]

On 20 July 2021, Francis joined National League side Notts County on a two-year deal.[11]

Following Notts County's promotion to the Football League at the end of the 2022–23 season, Francis was released by the club.[12] Having impressed the previous season on loan at Gateshead, he returned to the club on a permanent basis in June 2023, signing a two-year contract.[13]

In January 2024 he was hospitalised after fracturing his skull during a match.[14] Francis started for Gateshead in the 2024 FA Trophy final win against Solihull Moors at Wembley Stadium.[15]

On 4 July 2024, Francis signed for League One side Exeter City for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-year deal with a club option to extend for a third.[16]

International career

Francis was called up to represent the England C team in March 2024. On 19 March, he made his debut in the 1–0 defeat to the Wales C team at Stebonheath Park.[17]

Career statistics

As of match player 1 February 2025[18]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Manchester City U23	2017–18	–							3[a]	1	3	1
Manchester City	2018–19	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Jong Almere City (loan)	2018–19	Tweede Divisie	8	1	0	0	–		0	0	8	1
Almere City (loan)	2018–19	Eerste Divisie	1	0	2[b]	0	–		0	0	3	0
Wolverhampton Wanderers U23	2019–20	–							2[a]	0	2	0
Grasshopper (loan)	2019–20	Swiss Challenge League	0	0	0	0	–		0	0	0	0
Harrogate Town	2020–21	League Two	20	1	0	0	–		0	0	20	1
Notts County	2021–22	National League	32	1	3	0	—		5[c]	0	40	1
	2022–23	National League	10	1	1	0	—		2[d]	0	13	1
	Total		42	2	4	0	0	0	7	0	53	2
Gateshead (loan)	2022–23	National League	14	0	0	0	—		0	0	14	0
Gateshead	2023–24	National League	40	3	1	0	—		4[d]	0	45	3
	Total		54	3	1	0	0	0	4	0	59	3
Exeter City	2024–25[19]	League One	28	2	3	0	0	0	3[a]	1	34	3
Career total			153	9	10	0	0	0	19	2	182	11

1. Appearances in EFL Trophy
2. Appearances in the KNVB Cup
3. Four appearances in FA Trophy and one appearance in National League play-offs
4. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

Honours

Harrogate Town

• FA Trophy: 2019–20[20]

Gateshead

• FA Trophy: 2023–24[15]

References

1. "Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists". Premier League. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
2. "Ed Francis". 11v11. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
3. "ALL ABOUT...ED FRANCIS". Manchester City. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
4. "FRANCIS PROUD OF CITY CHARACTER IN FIRST LEG DRAW". Manchester City. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
5. "FRANCIS: WE'RE READY FOR YOUTH CUP DECIDER". Manchester City. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
6. "Chelsea 5-1 Man City". The FA. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
7. "Almere City FC huurt Edward Francis van Manchester City". Almere City. 4 July 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
8. "Francis joins Wolves from Man City". Almere City. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
9. Under-23 pair depart on loan, wolves.co.uk, 18 February 2020
10. "Francis signs ahead of Exeter fixture". Harrogate Town FC. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
11. "New signing: Ed Francis". www.nottscountyfc.co.uk. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
12. "Retained List 2023". www.nottscountyfc.co.uk. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
13. "Familiar Face Francis!| Francis signs for Gateshead!". gateshead-fc.com. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
14. "Gateshead's Francis sidelined with fractured skull" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
15. "Gateshead 2–2 Solihull Moors: Line-ups". BBC Sport. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
16. "Ed Francis is a Grecian!". www.exetercityfc.co.uk. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
17. "Cymru C vs. England C | Domestic Football International Friendly". FAW. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
18. Edward Francis at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
19. "Games played by Edward Francis in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
20. Law, James (3 May 2021). "Concord Rangers 0–1 Harrogate Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 May 2024.