Ethan Ampadu

Ethan Kwame Colm Raymond Ampadu (born 14 September 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre back or defensive midfielder for EFL Championship club Leeds United and the Wales national team.

Ethan Ampadu
Ampadu with Wales in 2020
Personal information
Full name Ethan Kwame Colm Raymond Ampadu[1]
Date of birth (2000-09-14) 14 September 2000[2]
Place of birth Exeter, England
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[3]
Position(s) Centre-back, defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Leeds United
Number 4
Youth career
2008–2016 Exeter City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Exeter City 8 (0)
2017–2023 Chelsea 3 (0)
2019–2020 → RB Leipzig (loan) 3 (0)
2020–2021 → Sheffield United (loan) 25 (0)
2021–2022 → Venezia (loan) 29 (0)
2022–2023 → Spezia (loan) 31 (0)
2023– Leeds United 6 (0)
International career‡
2015 England U16 2 (0)
2015–2016 Wales U17 6 (0)
2016 Wales U19 3 (0)
2017– Wales 47 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:13, 18 September 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:01, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Ampadu went to Ladysmith Junior School, and joined Exeter City's Academy at the age of 7. Having come up through Exeter City's academy, Ampadu became the youngest player to appear for the first team at age 15. He joined Chelsea in July 2017, where he went out of multiple loans such as German club RB Leipzig, before suffering consecutive relegations at English club Sheffield United and then at Italian sides Venezia and Spezia. In July 2023, Ampadu joined Leeds United on a permanent transfer.[4]

Ampadu is a Welsh international footballer. After playing for England at under-16 level, he played for Wales at under-16, under-17 and under-19 level, before making his senior debut for Wales in November 2017. He was part of the Wales squad that reached the round of 16 at UEFA Euro 2020. He was part of the first Welsh squad to qualify for a FIFA World Cup since 1958.

Club career

Exeter City

Born in Exeter, Devon, Ampadu is the son of former professional footballer Kwame Ampadu.[5] A product of the Exeter City youth academy, appearing for the under-18 squad at the age of 14,[6] he made his senior debut – aged 15 years, 10 months and 26 days – in an EFL Cup first round match against Brentford at St James Park on 9 August 2016, playing the full 120 minutes of a 1–0 victory.[7] He became the club's youngest ever player, breaking an 87-year-old record set by Cliff Bastin, and being named man of the match.[8][9][10] Ampadu's record was beaten by Ben Chrisene in August 2019.[11] A week later, he made his league debut in a 1–0 home defeat against Crawley Town in EFL League Two.[12]

Chelsea
Ampadu with Chelsea in 2017
Ethan Ampadu training before 2019 UEFA Europa League final

On 1 July 2017, Ampadu signed a contract with Premier League club Chelsea. The two clubs had entered negotiations over a compensation fee for the player in an attempt to reach a fee that both found acceptable for the then 16-year-old. Yet, in November 2017, Exeter City chairman Julian Tagg said that, whilst there was still a positive relationship between the two clubs, there was also a "massive disparity" in both clubs' valuation of the player. It was set to go to a tribunal.[13]

On 20 September 2017, Ampadu made his debut for Chelsea in an EFL Cup third round match against Nottingham Forest, coming on in the 55th minute for Cesc Fàbregas.[14] Doing so made him the first player born in the 2000s to play for the Chelsea senior team. At 17 years and six days old, he also became the youngest player to debut for the club in over ten years.[15] On 12 December 2017, he made his Premier League debut for Chelsea, coming on as a substitute against Huddersfield Town in the 80th minute.[16]

In September 2018 he signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea.[17]

In July 2019, new manager Frank Lampard confirmed that Ampadu would spend the 2019–20 season out on loan at another club.[18] In that period, Ampadu joined RB Leipzig on a season-long loan deal.[19]

On 7 September 2020, Ampadu joined fellow Premier League club Sheffield United on a season-long loan.[20] He played 29 games in all competitions for the Blades, who were relegated at the end of the season.[21]

On 31 August 2021, Ampadu joined Italian side Venezia on a season-long loan after signing a new three-year deal with Chelsea.[22] Venezia were relegated at the end of the season.

On 1 September 2022, Ampadu joined Spezia on a season-long loan. Spezia were relegated at the end of the season, making it three consecutive relegations for Ampadu.[23]

Leeds United

On 19 July 2023, Ampadu joined Leeds United on a four-year contract[24] for a reported fee of £7m plus performance-related add-ons.[25] On 6 August 2023, he made his debut for the club in a 2-2 draw against Cardiff City in the EFL Championship.[26]

International career

Ampadu plays internationally for the Wales national football team. He qualifies for Wales through his Welsh mother.[27] He was previously also eligible to represent England, Republic of Ireland and Ghana.[28]

On 26 May 2017, at the age of 16, Ampadu was called into the senior Wales squad ahead of their World Cup qualifier with Serbia.[29] He was called up again on 1 November 2017 for friendlies against France and Panama,[30] and made his debut aged 17 on 10 November 2017 against France at the Stade de France, coming on as a 63rd-minute substitute for Joe Ledley in a 2–0 defeat.[31]

In May 2021, Ampadu was selected for the Wales squad for the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 tournament.[32] On 20 June, in the 55th-minute of Wales' 1–0 defeat to Italy, he received a straight red card for a late challenge on Federico Bernardeschi, becoming the youngest player to receive one at the European Championships.[33] In November 2022 he was named in the Wales squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[34]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 18 August 2023[35]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Exeter City 2016–17[36] League Two 801020—2[lower-alpha 2]0130
Chelsea 2017–18[37] Premier League 103030000070
2018–19[38] Premier League 0020003[lower-alpha 3]00050
Total 1050303000120
Chelsea U23 2017–18[37] ————5[lower-alpha 2]050
RB Leipzig (loan) 2019–20[39] Bundesliga 3010—3[lower-alpha 4]0—70
Sheffield United (loan) 2020–21[40] Premier League 2503010——290
Venezia (loan) 2021–22[41] Serie A 29010———300
Spezia (loan) 2022–23[42] Serie A 31020——1[lower-alpha 5]1341
Leeds United 2023–24[43] Championship 300010——40
Career total 10001307060811341
  1. Includes FA Cup, DFB-Pokal and Coppa Italia
  2. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  3. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  4. Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  5. Appearance in Serie A relegation play-off

International
As of match played 13 October 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Wales 201720
201840
201970
202070
2021110
202290
202360
Total460

Honours

Chelsea

References
  1. "List of Players Registered as Scholars in Accordance with Rule C.3 Between 01/07/2017 and 31/07/2017" (PDF). The FA. p. 46. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  2. "Ethan Ampadu: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  3. "Ethan Ampadu". Spezia Calcio. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  4. "Ethan Ampadu becomes first summer signing". Leeds United. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  5. "Exeter City 1–0 Brentford". BBC Sport. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  6. "Chelsea teenager Ethan Ampadu to be handed first Wales start – just a year after Exeter bow at 15". Daily Mirror. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  7. "Exeter City 1–0 Brentford". BBC Sport. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  8. @officialecfc (9 August 2016). "15-year-old Ethan Ampadu wins the man-of-the-match award on his full debut for the club. Well done, Ethan!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. "Exeter City vs Brentford: Ethan Ampadu to become Exeter City's youngest ever player". ExeterExpressandEcho.co.uk. 9 August 2016. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016.
  10. Abbandonato, Paul (10 August 2016). "The 15-year-old wonderkid England want to poach has just become big news". Wales Online.
  11. "Ben Chrisene: Exeter City youngster has 'top level' potential after breaking Ethan Ampadu record". BBC Sport. 15 August 2019.
  12. "Exeter City 0–1 Crawley Town". BBC Sport. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  13. Byrom, David (15 November 2017). "What we know so far about the Ethan Ampadu tribunal". devonlive. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  14. "Chelsea 5–1 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  15. "Ethan Ampadu becomes youngest Chelsea player in over a decade". Goal. 20 September 2017.
  16. "Huddersfield Town 1–3 Chelsea". BBC Sport. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  17. "Ethan Ampadu: Chelsea youngster signs new five-year contract". BBC Sport. 19 September 2018.
  18. "Ethan Ampadu: Chelsea defender set to leave on loan". BBC Sport. 16 July 2019.
  19. "Transfermeldung! Ethan Ampadu kommt leihweise zu RB Leipzig" (in German). 22 July 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  20. "United net Wales international". www.sufc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  21. Boczak, Ben (20 June 2021). "Chelsea fans notice what Ethan Ampadu did to Emerson before red card for Wales vs Italy". Football London. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  22. "Ampadu signs new contract and goes on loan". Chelsea F.C. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  23. "Official | Ethan Ampadu is a new Spezia player". Spezia Calcio. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  24. "Ethan Ampadu becomes first summer signing". www.leedsunited.com. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  25. "Ethan Ampadu: Leeds United sign Wales international from Chelsea". www.bbcsport.com. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  26. "Leeds United make a dramatic return to the Championship". 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  27. Abbandonato, Paul (10 August 2016). "The 15-year-old wonderkid England want to poach has just become big news". walesonline.
  28. Rogers, Gareth (7 April 2016). "Why Man Utd target Ethan Ampadu chose Wales over England". WalesOnline.co.uk.
  29. "Ethan Ampadu: Exeter City youngster included in Wales squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  30. Byrom, David (1 November 2017). "Chelsea starlet Ethan Ampadu included in Wales squad for November friendlies". Devon Live. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  31. "France 2–0 Wales". BBC Sport. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  32. "Uncapped Colwill in Wales Euro 2020 squad". BBC Sport.
  33. Peter, Smith (20 June 2021). "Italy 1-0 Wales: Matteo Pessina seals win for hosts but Rob Page's side into Euro 2020 last 16 despite Ethan Ampadu red card". Sky Sports. United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  34. 2022 Wales World Cup squad
  35. Ethan Ampadu at Soccerway. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  36. "Games played by Ethan Ampadu in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  37. "Games played by Ethan Ampadu in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  38. "Games played by Ethan Ampadu in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  39. "Games played by Ethan Ampadu in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  40. "Games played by Ethan Ampadu in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  41. "Games played by Ethan Ampadu in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  42. "Games played by Ethan Ampadu in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  43. "Games played by Ethan Ampadu in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  44. McNulty, Phil (19 May 2018). "Chelsea 1–0 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  45. Bevan, Chris (29 May 2019). "Chelsea 4–1 Arsenal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
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