Cian Ashford

Cian Ashford
Personal information
Full name Cian Ty Ashford
Date of birth (2004-09-24) 24 September 2004
Place of birth Rhondda, Wales
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
Cardiff City
Number 45
Youth career
2010–2022 Cardiff City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Cardiff City 71 (8)
International career‡
2019 Wales U15 2 (1)
2019–2020 Wales U16 3 (1)
2021–2022 Wales U18 4 (0)
2023– Wales U21 12 (3)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22 August 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 15:19, 31 March 2026 (UTC)

Cian Ty Ashford[2] is a Welsh footballer who plays as a forward for EFL Championship club Cardiff City. He is a Wales Under-21 international.

Career

Ashford joined the Cardiff City academy at the age of six, signing a first professional contract with the club in June 2023.[3] He had first caught the eye of the first-team in November 2020, when he was called up to first-team training by then manager Neil Harris, impressing with three goals in a 4v4 match with the senior squad.[4]

In August 2023, Ashford made his senior debut for Cardiff City in the EFL Cup against Colchester United.[5] In January 2024, he signed a new contract to keep him at the club until June 2027.[6] On 10 April 2024, he made his league debut for Cardiff in a 1–0 victory over Birmingham City.[7] Following the match, he was described as "the future for Cardiff" by teammate Jamilu Collins.[8] In his third league appearance for the club, he scored his first senior goal, a 96th minute winner from twenty-five yards against promotion hopefuls Southampton.[9]

International career

Ashford made his Wales under-21 debut on 24 October 2023 in the UEFA European Under–21 qualifier against Czech Republic as a 91st-minute substitute, immediately scoring the equalising goal in the 1–1 draw.[10]

Career statistics

As of match played 13 December 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cardiff City 2023–24[11] EFL Championship 511030—91
2024–25[12] EFL Championship 2822110—313
2025–26[13] EFL League One 173104120244
Career total 506418120648

References

  1. ↑ https://uk.soccerway.com/players/cian-ashford/684642/
  2. ↑ https://uk.soccerway.com/players/cian-ashford/684642/
  3. ↑ "Cian Ashford agrees first professional contract". www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  4. ↑ Williams, Glen (11 April 2024). "Rising star billed as 'the future for Cardiff City' after debut as Erol Bulut reveals nerves". Wales Online. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  5. ↑ Ashford Cardiff debut
  6. ↑ "Cian Ashford extends contract with the Bluebirds". www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  7. ↑ "Birmingham City 0–1 Cardiff City: Josh Bowler strike deepens Blues' relegation fears". BBC Sport. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  8. ↑ "Ashford hailed as 'the future' after making Cardiff City league bow". BBC Sport. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  9. ↑ "Cardiff City 2–1 Southampton". BBC Sport. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  10. ↑ Ashford Wales-U21 debut
  11. ↑ "Games played by Cian Ashford in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  12. ↑ "Games played by Cian Ashford in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  13. ↑ "Games played by Cian Ashford in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 December 2025.