Tyreik Wright

Tyreik Wright

Personal information
Full name	Tyreik Samuel Wright [1]
Date of birth	(2001-09-22) 22 September 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth	Ovens, County Cork, Republic of Ireland
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) [2]
Position(s)	Winger, wing back
Team information
Current team	Bradford City
Number	17
Youth career
2006–2018	Lakewood Athletic
2018–2021	Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2023	Aston Villa	0	(0)
2021	→ Walsall (loan)	16	(0)
2021–2022	→ Salford City (loan)	16	(1)
2022	→ Colchester United (loan)	9	(1)
2022–2023	→ Bradford City (loan)	15	(4)
2023–2024	Plymouth Argyle	11	(0)
2024	→ Bradford City (loan)	14	(2)
2024–	Bradford City	13	(0)
International career‡
	Republic of Ireland U17
	Republic of Ireland U18
	Republic of Ireland U19
2021–	Republic of Ireland U21	15	(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:54, 27 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:18, 27 September 2022 (UTC)

Tyreik Samuel Wright (born 22 September 2001) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger and wing back for Bradford City.

Wright is a product of the Aston Villa Academy, having signed as a junior from Irish youth side Lakewood Athletic. He has played on loan at League Two sides Walsall, Salford City, Colchester United and Bradford City and has represented the Republic of Ireland at youth levels up to under-21.

Club career

Aston Villa

Wright is from Ovens, County Cork and began his career with local club Lakewood at the age of 5, before signing for English club Aston Villa in July 2018. ^[3]

He moved on loan to Walsall on 13 January 2021. ^{[4] [5]} On 23 January, Wright made his professional debut in a 3–1 away league victory against Port Vale. ^[6]

On 6 July 2021, Wright was amongst several Academy players who were given new professional contracts, ^[7] and on 17 August, Wright joined Salford City in League Two on a season-long loan. ^{[8] [9]} He made his Salford City debut the same day, as a substitute in a 2–1 defeat to Crawley Town. ^[10] On 28 August, he scored his first professional goal in Salford's 3–0 home win against Newport County, opening the scoring in the first minute of his side's first win of the season. ^[11] He was recalled from his loan on 14 January 2022. ^[12]

On 31 January 2022, he moved on loan to Colchester United. ^[13] He made his Colchester United debut on 5 February, in a 1–0 away victory over Leyton Orient. ^[14] On 12 February, Wright scored his first goal for Colchester, in a 2–2 League Two draw against Carlisle United. ^[15]

On 1 September 2022, Wright returned to League Two when he joined Bradford City on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season. ^{[16] [17]} After two substitute appearances, he made his full debut on 17 September, scoring one goal and setting up another in a man-of-the-match display. ^[18] In October 2022 local media said that his "form continues to impress". ^[19]

Plymouth Argyle

On 9 January 2023, Aston Villa recalled Wright from his Bradford City loan. ^{[20] [21]} Later that day he signed for Plymouth Argyle. ^{[22] [23]}

In January 2024 he returned on loan to Bradford City. ^{[24] [25] [26]} His versatility was welcomed by Bradford manager Graham Alexander, ^[27] whilst Wright said he was looking forward to loving football again, ^[28] and that he wanted to score a goal in front of the Valley Parade Kop. ^[29] He suffered an injury in his first match back for the club, lasting 60 minutes. ^{[30] [31]} He scored his first goals for the club following his return on 9 March 2024, two goals in a 3–0 away victory at Accrington. ^{[32] [33]} However, he was injured again in that match. ^[34]

Towards the end of the season, Alexander suggested that they would try and keep Wright, ^[35] whilst Wright himself said he did not know what next season would bring. ^[36] After the end of his loan, Bradford City said they wanted to bring him on loan back for the 2024–25 season. ^[37]

Bradford City (permanent)

Wright returned to Bradford City in July 2024, signing a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee. ^[38] He said that he was "absolutely buzzing" about the transfer. ^[39] After training he did play in the opening pre-season match on account of fitness, ^[40] but made his debut in a behind-closed-doors friendly a few days later, playing 45 minutes. ^[41] Wright later described the pre-season as the most difficult of his career. ^[42]

In November 2024, Wright was ruled out until the new year following a quad injury. ^[43] In December 2024, his rehabilitation was reported as being ahead of schedule, ^[44] and he returned to training later that month. ^[45]

International career

He has played for the Republic of Ireland at under-17, under-18 and under-19 youth levels. ^{[2] [46]} He made his Republic of Ireland under-21 debut in a 2–1 win over Wales under-21 in March 2021. ^[47] On 3 September 2021, Wright scored his first goal for Ireland under-21 in a 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. ^[48]

He was recalled to the under-21 squad in September 2022, meaning he would miss one Bradford City game. ^[49] He said he hoped to regain his club first-team place upon his return, after scoring one goal and setting up another in a man-of-the-match display. ^[18] Wright missed a penalty as Ireland under-21s lost on penalties to Israel in the European Championship qualifying play-offs. ^[50]

Playing style

Wright is known for his pace. ^[51] His manager at Bradford, Mark Hughes, praised Wright for having "good awareness", noting that he is "calm in possession and keeps the ball". ^[18] His later manager at Bradford, Graham Alexander, said that Wright would primarily play as a wing back for him, rather than his earlier position as a winger. ^{[52] [42]}

Personal life

Wright has also played Gaelic football. ^[51]

Wright is a Manchester United fan. ^[51]

On 24 February 2021, Wright's loan club Walsall and parent club Aston Villa released joint statements condemning racist abuse that he had received on Instagram. The messages were reported to both the social media platform and West Midlands Police's Hate Crime Unit for investigation. ^{[53] [54] [55]} On 27 September 2021, police charged a 17-year-old from the North East with sending the abusive messages under the Communications Act 2003. ^{[56] [57]}

Career statistics

As of match played 26 October 2024

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
Aston Villa U21	2019–20 [58]	—	—		—		—		2 [a]	0	2	0
	2020–21 [6]		—		—		—		3 [a]	0	3	0
	Total		—		—		—		5	0	5	0
Aston Villa	2020–21 [6]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2021–22 [59]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2022–23 [60]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Walsall (loan)	2020–21 [6]	League Two	16	0	—		—		—		16	0
Salford City (loan)	2021–22 [59]	League Two	16	1	1	0	—		1 [a]	0	18	1
Colchester United (loan)	2021–22 [59]	League Two	9	1	—		—		—		9	1
Bradford City (loan)	2022–23 [60]	League Two	15	4	1	0	0	0	1 [a]	0	17	4
Plymouth Argyle	2022–23 [60]	League One	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
	2023–24 [61]	Championship	5	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	7	0
	Total		11	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	13	0
Bradford City (loan)	2023–24 [61]	League Two	14	2	0	0	0	0	1 [a]	0	15	2
Bradford City	2024–25 [62]	League Two	13	0	0	0	0	0	1 [a]	0	14	0
Career total			94	8	2	0	2	0	9	0	107	8

1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Honours

Plymouth Argyle

• EFL League One: 2022–23 ^[63]

References

1. "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League Official Site. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
2. "Profile". Aston Villa Football Club.
3. English, Eoin (13 July 2018). "Ovens teen Tyreik proves he has the 'Wright stuff' as he signs for Villa". Irish Examiner.
4. "Villa loan winger Wright to Walsall". BBC Sport. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
5. Preece, Ashley (13 January 2021). "Aston Villa teenager Tyreik Wright joins Walsall on loan deal". BirminghamLive.
6. "Games played by Tyreik Wright in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
7. "Seven Villa U23s pen new deals". Aston Villa Football Club. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
8. "Wright joins Salford City on loan". Aston Villa Football Club. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
9. "Salford loan in Villa winger Wright". BBC Sport.
10. Richardson, Philip (17 August 2021). "Crawley Town 2, Salford City 1: Hessenthaler header wins it for the Reds against League Two title favourites". Crawley and Horley Observer. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
11. "Salford City 3-0 Newport County: Salford City secured their first league win of the season with a 3-0 victory over Newport County in League Two". BBC Sport. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
12. "Wright returns to Villa". Aston Villa Football Club. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
13. "Colchester add Gbadebo, Hornby & Wright" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
14. "Leyton Orient 0-1 Colchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
15. "Colchester 2-2 Carlisle: Tobi Sho-Silva secures point for Cumbrians in Essex". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
16. "CITY THE WRIGHT MOVE FOR TYREIK". www.bradfordcityafc.com. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
17. "Bradford sign Wright and Pereira on loan" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
18. "Wright braced for stiff City competition as he joins Ireland's Euro bid". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
19. "Bantams winger still feels Wright at home after Swindon sickener". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
20. "WRIGHT RETURNS TO VILLA". www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
21. "Wright's Valley Parade exit confirmed as Villa cut short winger's loan". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
22. "Tyreik Wright Signs | Plymouth Argyle - PAFC". www.pafc.co.uk.
23. "Argyle sign Aston Villa winger Wright" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
24. "Bradford sign Plymouth forward Wright on loan" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
25. "Tyreik Wright makes goal pledge after sealing loan return to Bantams". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 15 January 2024.
26. "Bantams and their Mr Wright can be the perfect match once again". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 15 January 2024.
27. "Bantams boss on how returning Wright can fit into any formation". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 16 January 2024.
28. "Wright ready to "fall back in love" with football on Bantams return". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 19 January 2024.
29. "Scoring at Kop would be just Wright for returning City winger". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 20 January 2024.
30. "City team news: Alexander update on Jake Young and Tyreik Wright". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 8 February 2024.
31. "Bantams boss gives update on Wright, Walker and Richards". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 15 February 2024.
32. "City loanee Wright feels alright again after 'not smiling in any game' in 2023". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 10 March 2024.
33. "The long wait for a City player other than Andy Cook to score a league double". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 11 March 2024.
34. "Bantams winger made of Wright stuff to play through pain". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 14 March 2024.
35. "'They tick a lot of boxes': Will City try to keep Oyegoke and Wright?". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 17 April 2024.
36. "Tyreik Wright: "I don't want to be sitting around on the bench or in the stands"". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 19 April 2024.
37. "Bantams boss won't be hanging on telephone for loan targets". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 22 May 2024.
38. "Tyreik Wright: Bradford City re-sign Plymouth Argyle winger". BBC Sport. 4 July 2024.
39. "Wright buzzing to be back after securing permanent City move". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 4 July 2024.
40. "'We don't want to make same mistake twice': City's cautious stance on Wright". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 8 July 2024.
41. "Wright makes Bradford City return behind closed doors". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 10 July 2024.
42. "'Tough' pre-season was Wright way for Bantams to be prepared". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 7 August 2024.
43. "All gone wrong for Wright as City wideman set to be out until 2025". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 6 November 2024.
44. "'Desperate to stamp his mark': Wright boost as City's injury luck turns". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 9 December 2024.
45. "City team news: Training ground updates on Evans, Benn and Wright". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 18 December 2024.
46. "Tyreik Wright honoured by international call up". www.saddlers.co.uk.
47. "Wales U21 1-2 Republic of Ireland U21" – via www.bbc.com.
48. "Aston Villa teenager delighted with first Ireland U21 goal". The42. 5 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
49. "City loan winger Wright gets international call-up". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
50. "Penalty woe for City winger Wright in Republic of Ireland agony". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
51. "Full speed ahead for Bradford City new boy Wright after winning start". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
52. "'It's a position that really suits his attributes': City boss on Wright's best role". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 5 July 2024.
53. "Club Statement: Tyreik Wright". Walsall F.C. Official Site. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
54. "Club Statement". Aston Villa F.C. Official Site. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
55. Media, P. A. (24 February 2021). "Aston Villa 'appalled' by racist abuse of teenager Tyreik Wright on Instagram". The Guardian.
56. "Teenager charged with racially abusing footballer online | News". West Midlands Police. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
57. "Teen charged with racially abusing Aston Villa's Tyreik Wright". 27 September 2021 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
58. "Games played by Tyreik Wright in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
59. "Games played by Tyreik Wright in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
60. "Games played by Tyreik Wright in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
61. "Games played by Tyreik Wright in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
62. "Games played by Tyreik Wright in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
63. "Plymouth beat Port Vale to win League One title". BBC Sport. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.

External links

• Tyreik Wright at Soccerway