Edward Francis (footballer)

Last updated

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
–2018 Manchester City
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(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 41 (2)
2023 → Gateshead (loan) 14 (0)
2023–2024 Gateshead 40 (3)
2024– Exeter City 44 (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 as of 20:26, August 23, 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.

Contents

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 played on 23 August 2025 [18]
ClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester City 2017–18 [19] Premier League 00003 [a] 131
Manchester City 2018–19 Premier League00000000
Jong Almere City (loan) 2018–19 Tweede Divisie 81000081
Almere City (loan) 2018–19 Eerste Divisie 102 [b] 00030
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2019–20 [20] Premier League00002 [a] 020
Grasshopper (loan) 2019–20 Swiss Challenge League 00000000
Harrogate Town 2020–21 [21] League Two 2010000201
Notts County 2021–22 [22] National League 311101 [c] 0331
2022–23 [23] National League1011000111
Total4122010442
Gateshead (loan) 2022–23 [24] National League1400000140
Gateshead 2023–24 [25] National League403101 [a] 0423
Total5431010563
Exeter City 2024–25 [26] League One 422403 [a] 1493
2025-26 [27] League One20001 [a] 030
Career total16899011218811
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Appearances in EFL Trophy
  2. ↑ Appearances in the KNVB Cup
  3. ↑ One appearance in National League play-offs

Honours

Harrogate Town

Gateshead

References

  1. ↑ "Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists". Premier League. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  2. 1 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. 1 2 "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. ↑ "Ed Francis | Football Stats | Exeter City | Season 2017/2018 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  20. ↑ "Ed Francis | Football Stats | Exeter City | Season 2019/2020 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  21. ↑ "Ed Francis | Football Stats | Exeter City | Season 2021/2022 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  22. ↑ "Ed Francis | Football Stats | Exeter City | Season 2021/2022 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  23. ↑ "Ed Francis | Football Stats | Exeter City | Season 2022/2023 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  24. ↑ "Ed Francis | Football Stats | Exeter City | Season 2022/2023 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  25. ↑ "Ed Francis | Football Stats | Exeter City | Season 2023/2024 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  26. ↑ "Games played by Edward Francis in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  27. ↑ "Ed Francis | Football Stats | Exeter City | Season 2025/2026 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  28. ↑ Law, James (3 May 2021). "Concord Rangers 0–1 Harrogate Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
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