Tyler French

Tyler French

French in July 2019 with Bradford City.
Personal information
Full name	Tyler Jay French [1]
Date of birth	(1999-02-12) 12 February 1999 (age 25) [2]
Place of birth	Bury St Edmunds, England
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) [2]
Position(s)	Central defender
Team information
Current team	Sutton United
Number	4
Youth career
2014–2015	Long Melford
2015	Hadleigh United
2015–2016	A.F.C. Sudbury
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2019	A.F.C. Sudbury	96	(1)
2019–2021	Bradford City	16	(0)
2020	→ AFC Fylde (loan)	5	(0)
2021–2022	Wrexham	38	(0)
2022–2024	Dundee	18	(1)
2023–2024	→ Greenock Morton (loan)	32	(0)
2024–	Sutton United	21	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:00, 14 December 2024 (UTC)

Tyler Jay French (born 12 February 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Sutton United. He has played in English football for AFC Sudbury, Bradford City, AFC Fylde (on loan) and Welsh side Wrexham, and in Scottish football for Dundee and Greenock Morton (on loan).

Early and personal life

Born in Bury St Edmunds, French attended Ormiston Sudbury Academy. ^[3] He grew up supporting Liverpool. ^[4]

Career

French spent his early career in non-league football with Long Melford, Hadleigh United and A.F.C. Sudbury. ^[5] He combined his non-league playing career with a part-time job building conservatory bases. ^[6] In early 2019 he trialled with Football League clubs Barnsley and Charlton Athletic, and was transfer listed by Sudbury in an attempt to move up the league system. ^[7] He also had trials at Crystal Palace, Leicester City, and Ipswich Town. ^[8]

Following a successful trial period, he signed a two-year professional contract with League Two club Bradford City in May 2019. ^{[9] [10] [11]} French said that he would be spending the summer before the start of the 2019–20 season training, stating that "I won't have much time off because I want to get myself in the best shape possible for pre-season [...] I've got an off-season [training] programme to help me but I'm quite naturally fit, so hopefully I'll be all right". ^[6] He scored his first goal for Bradford when he scored in an EFL Trophy tie against Rochdale on 12 November 2019. ^[12]

In February 2020 he moved on loan to AFC Fylde. ^[13] He credited his time at Fyle for helping him getting used to a higher level of football. ^[14]

French was praised by club captain Richard O'Donnell after an impressive performance in the opening day of the 2020–21 season. ^[15] On 31 January 2021 it was announced that he had left the club. ^[16]

On 1 February 2021, he signed for Wrexham. ^[17] He was sent off on his debut for the club a day later. ^[18]

On 5 July 2022, French joined Scottish Championship side Dundee for an undisclosed fee on a two-year deal. ^[19] He made his competitive debut for Dundee in an away Scottish League Cup win over Stranraer, starting the match. ^[20] The following week, French scored his first goal for the club in a 5–1 win over Forfar Athletic. ^[21] On 21 January 2023, French suffered a serious injury to his right leg during a Scottish Cup match against St Mirren, which would leave him out of action for the rest of the season. ^[22] Despite his injury, French would win the Scottish Championship with Dundee at the end of the season. ^[23]

French would make his competitive return in August 2023 with Dundee's B team in a Scottish Challenge Cup fixture against East Fife. ^[24]

On 12 September 2023, French signed for Scottish Championship club Greenock Morton on a season-long loan. ^[25] He made his debut in a draw away to Dundee United. ^[26] The following week, French again suffered an injury to his right leg and was stretchered off against Dunfermline Athletic. ^[27] Fortunately, it was not a serious injury and French started for the Ton the following week. ^[28] On 20 May 2024, Dundee confirmed that French would depart at the expiry of his contract. ^[29]

On 12 June 2024, French joined National League club Sutton United on a permanent contract. ^[30] French made his debut on 10 August in the league opener against Tamworth. ^[31]

Career statistics

As of 14 December 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
A.F.C. Sudbury	2015–16 [32]	Isthmian League Division One North	4	0	0	0	—		0	0	4	0
	2016–17 [33]	Isthmian League Premier Division	24	0	0	0	—		6	0	30	0
	2017–18 [34]	Isthmian League North Division	40	0	5	0	—		5	0	50	0
	2018–19 [35]	Isthmian League North Division	28	1	5	0	—		3	0	36	1
	Total		96	1	10	0	0	0	14	0	120	1
Bradford City	2019–20 [36]	League Two	2	0	0	0	1	0	3 [a]	1	6	1
	2020–21 [37]	League Two	14	0	1	0	2	0	2 [a]	0	19	0
	Total		16	0	1	0	3	0	5	1	25	1
AFC Fylde (loan)	2019–20 [2]	National League	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
Wrexham	2020–21 [2]	National League	17	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	17	0
	2021–22 [38]	National League	21	0	1	0	0	0	2 [b]	0	24	0
	Total		38	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	41	0
Dundee	2022–23 [39]	Scottish Championship	18	1	1	0	5	1	1 [c]	0	25	2
	2023–24 [40]	Scottish Premiership	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		18	1	1	0	5	1	1	0	25	2
Dundee B	2023–24 [40]	—			—		—	1 [d]	0	1	0
Greenock Morton (loan)	2023–24 [40]	Scottish Championship	32	0	2	0	—		0	0	34	0
Sutton United	2024–25	National League	21	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	23	0
Career total			226	2	17	0	8	1	23	1	274	4

1. Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.
2. Appearances in the Football League Trophy and the National League play-offs
3. Appearance(s) in the Scottish Challenge Cup
4. SCC

Honours

Dundee

• Scottish Championship: 2022–23 ^[23]

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Bradford City" (PDF). English Football League. p. 8. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
2. Tyler French at Soccerway. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
3. Bacon, Mike (29 May 2019). "'It's a dream come true' says AFC Sudbury's Tyler French as he joins Bradford City". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
4. Simon Parker (16 July 2019). "Bradford City: Defender French relishes "surreal" occasion". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
5. "Profile". Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
6. Simon Parker (4 June 2019). "Bradford City: French gets up to speed for pre-season". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
7. "Charlton Athletic take a look at Tyler French". The Non-League Football Paper. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
8. Simon Parker (25 June 2019). "Bradford City: French bounced back from rejection". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
9. "BANTAMS COMPLETE FRENCH SIGNING". Bradford City A.F.C. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
10. "Tyler French: Bradford City sign AFC Sudbury defender". BBC Sport. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
11. Simon Parker (29 May 2019). "Bradford City: Centre-half French is second summer signing". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
12. "Bradford City 1 Rochdale 2: Record low at Valley Parade as Bantams exit EFL Trophy". yorkshirepost.co.uk. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
13. "Bantams defender joins Fylde on loan". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
14. "Defender French learns from Fylde loan spell - with help from former Bantam star". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
15. "Bantams young guns earn shot as Liverpool beckon in cup". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
16. "UPDATED: French and Mottley-Henry leave Valley Parade". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
17. "High profile takeover at Wrexham had pulling power for French". The Leader.
18. "Eastleigh 1-1 Wrexham". BBC Sport.
19. "Tyler signs". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
20. "Stranraer v Dundee". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
21. "Dundee v Forfar Athletic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
22. Cran, George. "Dundee star Tyler French in 'I'll be back stronger' vow from hospital after injury at St Mirren". The Courier. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
23. "Dundee back in Premiership after eight-goal epic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
24. petermceleny (15 August 2023). "Dundee B 0 - 0 East Fife". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
25. "Tyler French joins on loan - Greenock Morton FC". 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
26. "Dundee Utd knocked off top after draw with Morton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
27. Cairns, Craig (23 September 2023). "Dougie Imrie gives update after Dundee loanee Tyler French is stretchered off for Morton". The Courier. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
28. "McGregor goal gives Airdrie win over Morton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
29. "Squad Update 2024". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
30. "Welcome Tyler French". www.suttonunited.net. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
31. "Tamworth 1-1 Sutton United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
32. "2015/16 season". A.F.C. Sudbury. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
33. "2016/17 season". A.F.C. Sudbury. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
34. "2017/18 season". A.F.C. Sudbury. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
35. "2018/19 season". A.F.C. Sudbury. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
36. "Games played by Tyler French in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
37. "Games played by Tyler French in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
38. "Games played by Tyler French in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
39. "Games played by Tyler French in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
40. "Games played by Tyler French in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 July 2023.