William Robert Wright (born 12 June 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back.
 Wright in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Robert Wright[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 12 June 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | Luton, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.90 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Luton Town | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2015 | Biggleswade United | 21 | (1) |
| 2015–2017 | Hitchin Town | 58 | (7) |
| 2015 | → Bedford Town (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2016 | → Barton Rovers (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2017–2019 | Colchester United | 0 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | → Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) | 34 | (1) |
| 2019–2022 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 101 | (6) |
| 2022–2023 | Gillingham | 34 | (1) |
| 2023–2024 | Crawley Town | 45 | (4) |
| 2024–2026 | Swindon Town | 80 | (8) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18:21, 15 May 2026 (UTC) | |||
Career
editEarly career
editBorn in Luton, Bedfordshire,[2] Wright played youth football for Luton Town, before playing in non-league football for Biggleswade United and Hitchin Town.[3] He spent time on loan at Bedford Town and Barton Rovers, and went on trial with Norwich City.[4]
Colchester United and Dagenham & Redbridge
editHe then signed for Colchester United in summer 2017 where he failed to make an appearance, before moving to Dagenham & Redbridge on loan in July 2018, on a loan deal until 5 January 2019,[5][6] and after 20 appearances for the club, his loan was extended to the end of the season in January 2019.[7] He made a total of 38 appearances for the club across the 2018–19 season.[2]
He joined Dagenham & Redbridge on a free transfer in June 2019.[8] At the end of the 2019–20 season, Dagenham managing director Steve Thompson said that it would be "irresponsible of me to sign any players without knowing that football is going to start" amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and Wright was released by the club in summer 2020 at the expiry of his contract.[9][10] He re-signed for the club on 7 September 2020 however.[11]
He was made club captain in his final season with the club, and made just under 150 appearances in his four seasons at Victoria Road.[12]
Gillingham
editHe moved to League Two side Gillingham on a free transfer in June 2022.[13][14] He made his debut for the Kent side in a 2–0 away loss to AFC Wimbledon on 30 July 2022.[15] He scored twice in 46 appearances over the 2022–23 season for Gillingham.[16]
Crawley Town
editHe signed for fellow League Two side Crawley Town on 1 August 2023, for an undisclosed fee.[17] He made his debut for the club, starting at home to Bradford City and scoring a free kick to give Crawley a 1–0 win.[18] He started all but one of the club's league games across the 2023–24 season, scoring four goals, as Crawley finished 7th in League Two, qualifying for the League Two play-offs,[19][20] and he also started both legs of the club's 8–1 play-off semi-final triumph over Milton Keynes Dons and the 2–0 play-off final win over Crewe Alexandra as the club were promoted to League One.[19][21] Following the end of the season, Wright was offered a new contract by Crawley Town.[22]
Swindon Town
editOn 25 June 2024, Wright agreed to join League Two side Swindon Town from 1 July.[23][24]
He was released upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2025–26 season.[25]
Style of play
editWright can play at either right-back or centre-back.[12] He describes himself as possessing a "good range of passing" and "hardworking, composed, I like to think I'm a leader and I like to take care of the ball in possession".[26] He regularly takes on set-ball duties and has become known for his ability to score from free kicks and to deliver dangerous crosses.[27]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 25 April 2026
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hitchin Town | 2015–16[28] | SL Premier Division | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 10[a] | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
| 2016–17[28] | SL Premier Division | 42 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | 15[b] | 4 | 58 | 11 | ||
| 2017–18[28] | SL Premier Division | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 58 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 4 | 87 | 11 | ||
| Colchester United | 2018–19[2] | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) | 2018–19[2] | National League | 34 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 38 | 1 | |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 2019–20[2] | National League | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 30 | 2 | |
| 2020–21[2] | National League | 31 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 1[c] | 0 | 35 | 1 | ||
| 2021–22[2] | National League | 43 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 4[c] | 0 | 49 | 3 | ||
| Total | 135 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 152 | 7 | ||
| Gillingham | 2022–23[16] | League Two | 34 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3[d] | 1 | 46 | 2 |
| Crawley Town | 2023–24[19] | League Two | 45 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8[e] | 0 | 54 | 4 |
| Swindon Town | 2024–25[29] | League Two | 46 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[d] | 0 | 52 | 7 |
| 2025–26[30] | League Two | 34 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[d] | 1 | 43 | 2 | |
| Total | 80 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 95 | 9 | ||
| Career total | 352 | 27 | 23 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 53 | 6 | 434 | 33 | ||
- ↑ One appearance in Southern League Premier Division play-offs, five in Southern Football League Cup, three in Herts Senior Cup, one in Hertfordshire County Cup
- ↑ Two appearances in Southern League Premier Division play-offs, five appearances and one goal in FA Trophy, one in Southern Football League Cup, four appearances and three goals in Herts Senior Cup, three in Hertfordshire County Cup
- 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
- 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
- ↑ 5 appearances in EFL Trophy, 3 appearances in play-offs
Honours
editCrawley Town
References
edit- ↑ "EFL – Squad List 2023/24: Crawley Town – In Squad Players" (PDF). English Football League. p. 108. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "England - W. Wright - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
- ↑ "Dagenham & Redbridge FC | Will Wright Joins the Daggers!". Dagenham & Redbridge FC.
- ↑ "Flown From the Nest - Will Wright". ex-canaries.co.uk.
- ↑ Keating, Ned (25 July 2018). "Daggers bring in Wright on loan from Colchester". Barking and Dagenham Post. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ↑ Ranson, Jacob (5 May 2021). "Dagenham boss McMahon sees Will Wright as a future captain". Barking and Dagenham Post.
- ↑ Ranson, Jacob (8 January 2019). "Daggers extend Wright's loan deal". Barking and Dagenham Post. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ↑ Sessions, George (19 June 2019). "Wright completes permanent switch to Victoria Road". Barking and Dagenham Post. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ↑ Ranson, Jacob (26 June 2020). "Daggers 'cannot sign new players' as contracts end". Barking and Dagenham Post. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ↑ Ranson, Jacob (31 July 2020). "Daggers announced their retained list ahead of the 2020/21 season". Barking and Dagenham Post. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ↑ Ranson, Jacob (7 September 2020). "Daggers announce return of Wright". Barking and Dagenham Post. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- 1 2 "Wright | "The Gaffer became a big pull for me"". Gillingham F.C. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- ↑ "Gillingham bring in Dagenham defender Wright". BBC. 1 June 2022.
- ↑ Power, Lee (2 June 2022). "Departing Wright thanks Dagenham & Redbridge after Gillingham move". Barking and Dagenham Post.
- ↑ "AFC Wimbledon 2-0 Gillingham: Dons off the mark under Johnnie Jackson". Sky Sports. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- 1 2 "Games played by Will Wright in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
- ↑ "Crawley Town sign defender Wright from Gillingham". BBC Sport. August 2023.
- ↑ Aird, Ryan (7 August 2023). "Crawley Town star Wright on dream debut: I couldn't have asked for more". SussexWorld. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Games played by Will Wright in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
- ↑ "League Two 2023/2024 » Results & Standing". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- 1 2 "Crawley Town 2–0 Crewe Alexandra: Line-ups". BBC Sport. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ↑ "2023/24 RELEASED & RETAINED LIST". www.crawleytownfc.com. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ↑ "Town sign Will Wright". www.swindontownfc.co.uk. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ↑ "Will Wright: Swindon Town sign former Crawley Town defender". BBC Sport. 25 June 2024.
- ↑ "Retained List: Men's First-Team". www.swindontownfc.co.uk. 15 May 2026. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
- ↑ "Gills capture the signing of Will Wright". Gillingham F.C. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- ↑ Cawdell, Luke (21 October 2022). "Gillingham defender Will Wright on set-piece duties and winning the respect of his team-mates". Kent Online. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- 1 2 3 "Player Profile". www.aylesburyunitedarchive.com.
- ↑ "Games played by Will Wright in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ↑ "Games played by Will Wright in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2025.