Niall Huggins

Niall Huggins

Personal information
Full name	Niall Joseph Huggins [1]
Date of birth	(2000-12-18) 18 December 2000 (age 23)
Place of birth	York, England
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) [2]
Position(s)	Right-back
Team information
Current team	Sunderland
Number	2
Youth career
2007–2009	Heworth
2009–2020	Leeds United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2021	Leeds United	1	(0)
2021–	Sunderland	24	(1)
International career‡
2019–2023	Wales U21	4	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:25, 12 September 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 8 November 2023 (UTC)

Niall Joseph Huggins (born 18 December 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a full-back for EFL Championship club Sunderland and the Wales national team.

Early life

Huggins was born in York and grew up in Fulford, on the outskirts of York. ^{[3] [4]} He attended Fulford School in Fulford. ^[4]

Club career

Leeds United

After winning his division with under-8s junior side Heworth, he joined Leeds United's academy in 2009, alongside Kane Rogerson and future professional Jack Clarke. ^{[5] [4]} He graduated through their academy and, alongside Clarke, signed a two-year scholarship with Leeds United in May 2017. ^[4] Upon signing his scholarship deal with Leeds United, he stated that he was "looking forward to the next two years", adding that he will be "working hard and putting all my effort into, hopefully, getting a 'pro' deal at the end of it". ^[4] Following his two-year scholarship, he signed a year-long professional contract with Leeds in May 2019. ^[6] In December 2020, he signed a contract lasting until the end of the 2022–23 season. ^[7] Huggins made his professional debut as a 54th-minute substitute for Ezgjan Alioski in a 4–2 defeat at Arsenal on 14 February 2021. ^{[8] [9]}

Sunderland

On 20 August 2021, Huggins joined EFL League One side Sunderland on a four-year deal. ^{[10] [11]} It was reported by BBC Radio Leeds that he joined the club on a free transfer, but the deal included a sell-on fee. ^[10]

On 4 October 2023, Huggins scored his first professional goal for Sunderland against Watford in a 2–0 home win.

Huggins signed a contract extension in October 2024 until the summer of 2026 with an option by the club for an additional year. ^[12]

International career

Huggins qualifies for Wales through his Welsh born father. ^[13] Huggins made his debut for the Wales national under-21 side on 9 June 2019 in a 2–1 defeat to Albania. ^[14]

In November 2023 Huggins was called up to the senior Wales squad for the first time. ^[15]

Style of play

Huggins played as a forward for Leeds' under-18 side, but transitioned to play as a left-back for their under-23 side. ^[16]

Career statistics

As of match played 16 December 2023

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
Leeds United	2020–21 [17]	Premier League	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Leeds United U21	2020–21 [17]	—			—		—		1 [a]	0	1	0
Sunderland	2021–22 [18]	League One	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	4	0
	2022–23 [19]	Championship	1	0	1	0	0	0	2 [b]	0	4	0
	2023–24 [20]	Championship	18	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	19	2
	Total		21	2	1	0	3	0	2	0	27	2
Career total			22	2	1	0	3	0	3	0	29	2

1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
2. Appearances in Championship play-offs

Honours

Sunderland

• EFL League One play-offs: 2022 ^[21]

References

1. "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". premierleague.com. Premier League. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
2. "Niall Huggins". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
3. Niall Huggins at Soccerway. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
4. Appleyard, Ian (18 May 2017). "York teenagers land two year scholarships at Championship club Leeds United". York Press. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
5. "Talented U8s take title glory". York Press. 2 May 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
6. "Niall Huggins agrees professional contract". leedsunited.com. Leeds United F.C. 22 May 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
7. Rayner, Stuart (4 December 2020). "Wales Under-21 international Niall Huggins latest youngster added to Leeds United's future plans". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
8. Sobot, Lee (14 February 2021). "Arsenal 4 Leeds United 2: First-half Gunners blitz costs Whites as Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang nets treble". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
9. Sobot, Lee (14 February 2021). "Spotlight on Niall Huggins as versatile Leeds United youngster makes his Whites debut against Arsenal". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
10. "Niall Huggins: Sunderland sign full-back from Leeds United". BBC Sport. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
11. Jones, Matty (20 August 2021). "Niall Huggins signs a four-year deal at Sunderland". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
12. "Huggins signs contract extension". www.safc.com. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
13. Davies, Mathew (15 February 2021). "Who is Niall Huggins, the Welsh Leeds starlet who impressed against Arsenal". WalesOnline. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
14. "U21s fall short in Albania despite late comeback". faw.cymru. Football Association of Wales. 9 June 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
15. "Huggins Wales call-up". bbc.co.uk.
16. Byrom, David (4 December 2020). "Barry Douglas sends message to Niall Huggins as youngster signs new contract". LeedsLive. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
17. "Games played by Niall Huggins in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
18. "Games played by Niall Huggins in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
19. "Games played by Niall Huggins in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
20. "Games played by Niall Huggins in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
21. Paddy, Chris (21 May 2022). "Sunderland 2–0 Wycombe". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2022.

External links

• Niall Huggins at Soccerbase
• Niall Huggins at SoccerAssociation (subscription required)