Sil Swinkels
Sil Laurentius Swinkels (born 6 January 2004) is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a defender for Aston Villa.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sil Laurentius Swinkels[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 6 January 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Sint-Oedenrode, Netherlands | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Aston Villa | ||
| Number | 50 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| RKSV Rhode | |||
| Helmond Sport | |||
| Brabant United | |||
| –2020 | Vitesse | ||
| 2020–2021 | Aston Villa | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021– | Aston Villa | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2019–2020 | Netherlands U15 | 2 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Netherlands U18 | 4 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:17, 8 January 2021 (UTC) | |||
Early life
Swinkels was born in Sint-Oedenrode.[3]
Club career
Having played youth football for RKSV Rhode, Helmond Sport, Brabant United and Vitesse, he joined Aston Villa's academy in summer 2020.[3][4]
Swinkels made an unexpected first team debut for Aston Villa when, due to a COVID-19 outbreak, Villa were forced to play an inexperienced squad in an FA Cup third-round tie against Liverpool on 8 January 2021.[5]
On 24 May 2021, Swinkels was part of the Aston Villa U18s team that won the FA Youth Cup, beating Liverpool U18s 2–1 in the final.[6] On 10 August 2021, he signed his first professional contract with Aston Villa.[7]
In March 2023, Swinkels suffered a torn ACL in a Premier League 2 match against Southampton B which he confirmed would result in an extended period on the sidelines.[8] Swinkels eventually returned to football on 8 April 2024, in a 4–0 defeat for Villa U21s against Chelsea U21s.[9] After coming back from injury and playing a part in Aston Villa U21s reaching the Premier League 2 play-offs and winning the Birmingham Senior Cup, on 17 May 2024, Swinkels signed a contract extension with Aston Villa.[10]
International career
Swinkels played for Netherlands at the under-15 level. On 6 September 2021, Swinkels made his debut for Netherlands U18 in a 5–0 friendly victory over Italy.[11] He scored his first goal at youth international level for Netherlands U18s, on 28 March 2022, in a 4–1 away victory over Germany.[12]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 30 November 2021[13]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Aston Villa | 2020–21 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021–22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
- Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
Honours
Aston Villa U18s
- FA Youth Cup: 2020–21[6]
Aston Villa U21s
- Birmingham Senior Cup: 2023-24[14]
References
- "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League Website. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- "Sil Swinkels". www.avfc.co.uk. Aston Villa F.C. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- Droog, Julian (25 July 2020). "Talentvolle verdediger Sil Swinkels (16) uit Sint-Oedenrode naar Aston Villa". Eindhovens Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- Husband, Ben (3 August 2020). "Aston Villa complete deal for highly-rated academy prospect". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- "Aston Villa defender Sil Swinkels full of pride after debut in Liverpool defeat". OneFootball. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- Preece, Ashley (24 May 2021). "Aston Villa vs Liverpool FA Youth Cup final LIVE updates". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- "Aston Villa Academy trio sign pro deals". Aston Villa Football Club. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- Preece, Ashley (22 March 2023). "Aston Villa youngster Sil Swinkels confirms devastating injury". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- "U21s: Aston Villa 0-4 Chelsea". Aston Villa Football Club. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- "Sil Swinkels signs new contract". Aston Villa Football Club. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- "Netherlands U18 vs. Italy U18 - 6 September 2021 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- "GER 1-4 NET | Germany - Netherlands". www.flashscore.co.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- Sil Swinkels at Soccerway. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- "BSC: Aston Villa 9-0 Racing Club Warwick". Aston Villa Football Club. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.