Ashley Phillips (footballer, born 2005)

Ashley Phillips

Personal information
Full name	Ashley Phillips [1]
Date of birth	(2005-06-26) 26 June 2005 (age 18)
Place of birth	Manchester, 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)	16	(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 03:24, April 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:33, 24 November 2023 (UTC)

Ashley Phillips (born 26 June 2005) is a British professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL Championship club Plymouth Argyle, on loan from Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. ^[2]

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. ^[3] However, by August 2022, Blackburn manager Jon Dahl Tomasson said the contract had not yet been signed. ^[4]

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. ^{[5] [6]}

Phillips made his league debut on 14 August 2022 in the game against West Bromwich Albion, playing 71 minutes in a 2–1 win. ^{[7] [8]} Phillips signed his first professional contract on 20 September 2022 committing his future to Blackburn Rovers until June 2025. ^{[9] [10]}

Tottenham Hotspur

On 5 August 2023, Phillips signed for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. ^[11]

Loan to Plymouth Argyle

On 8 January 2024, Phillips joined Championship club Plymouth Argyle on loan for the remainder of the 2023–24 season. ^[12]

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. ^[13]

On 1 October 2021, Phillips was called up to the England U17 squad. ^[14]

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

On 9 June 2023, Phillips made his England U18 debut during a 2–2 draw with Norway at the Lisbon International Tournament. ^[17]

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 feet 4 inches 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." ^[18]

Career statistics

As of match played 6 February 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup [lower-alpha 1]		League Cup [lower-alpha 2]		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
Plymouth Argyle	2023–24	Championship	16	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	16	0
Career total			24	0	3	0	3	0	0	0	30	0

1. Includes FA Cup
2. Includes EFL Cup

Honours

• EFL Championship Apprentice of the Season: 2022–23 ^[19]

References

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