Ryan McLean (born 3 May 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Yeovil Town on loan from EFL League Two club AFC Wimbledon.
Career
Youth
McLean played youth football for Shrewsbury Town before being released aged 15, before going on to feature for AFC Telford United youth sides.[2]
Non-league
McLean joined his local club Allscott Heath, playing in the West Midlands (Regional) League,[3] before moving to Market Drayton Town, followed by Northern Premier League Division One South East club Newcastle Town.[2][4]
In February 2021, McLean stepped up two divisions to join National League North club Hereford on loan for the remainder of the season. He only made one substitute appearance at Hereford before COVID-19 halted their season.[5]
In June 2021, McLean joined Hereford permanently for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-year contract with the club.[6]
AFC Wimbledon
Despite being offered a contract extension with Hereford, McLean signed for AFC Wimbledon in June 2023, for an undisclosed fee.[7][8] Upon turning professional with Wimbledon he was able to quit his job in IT recruitment.[9] In his first professional appearance, McLean scored in stoppage time during an EFL Cup first round match against Coventry City, securing a win for Wimbledon and earning the team a second round fixture at Chelsea.[10]
On 24 October 2023, McLean joined National League club Kidderminster Harriers on loan until January. He was named as a substitute that same evening in their league fixture away to Altrincham, but did not feature.[11][12] He made his first start in an FA Cup first round fixture against Fleetwood Town, assisting Kidderminster's only goal of the game in a 2–1 defeat.[13] In April 2024, McLean suffered an ACL injury in the Dons penultimate match of the season.[14]
On 4 March 2025, McLean joined National League side Yeovil Town on loan for the remainder of the season.[15]
Career statistics
- As of match played 11 March 2025
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Newcastle Town | 2019–20[16] | NPL Division One South East | 24 | 10 | 0 | 0 | — | 5[a] | 4 | 29 | 14 | |
| 2020–21[17] | NPL Division One South East | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 | — | 2[b] | 1 | 10 | 9 | ||
| Total | 31 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 39 | 23 | ||
| Hereford (loan) | 2020–21[1] | National League North | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Hereford | 2021–22[1] | National League North | 41 | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | 1[b] | 1 | 45 | 7 | |
| 2022–23[1] | National League North | 40 | 7 | 4 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 44 | 8 | ||
| Total | 81 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 89 | 15 | ||
| AFC Wimbledon | 2023–24[18] | League Two | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3[c] | 1 | 13 | 2 |
| 2024–25[19] | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 2 | ||
| Kidderminster Harriers (loan) | 2023–24[1] | National League | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[b] | 1 | 12 | 1 | |
| Yeovil Town (loan) | 2024–25[1] | National League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Career total | 134 | 30 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 157 | 41 | ||
- ^ One appearance in FA Trophy; three appearances, three goals in Staffordshire Senior Cup; one appearance in Integro League Cup
- ^ a b c Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
- ^ Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Ryan McLean at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
- ^ a b Drury, Jonny (31 August 2023). "Shrewsbury Town release, amateur football and Stamford Bridge: The incredible rise of winger Ryan McLean". www.shropshirestar.com. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ "From headhunter to headhunted – Dons move allowed winger McLean to quit IT recruitment job". South London News. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ Baggaley, Michael (3 September 2020). "Who is Ryan McLean: All about the 'absolutely rapid' Port Vale trialist". StokeonTrentLive.
- ^ "Bulls sign 'exciting' forward on loan". Hereford Times. 16 February 2021.
- ^ "NEW SIGNING | Ryan McLean Joins On Permanent Deal | Hereford FC - The Official website of Hereford FC". www.herefordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ "Summer revamp gathers pace - signing number four!". www.afcwimbledon.co.uk.
- ^ "AFC Wimbledon sign forwards McLean and Tilley" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Ryan swaps desktop for 'dream' job with the Dons". www.afcwimbledon.co.uk.
- ^ Media, P. A. (9 August 2023). "Carabao Cup roundup: AFC Wimbledon stun Coventry to earn trip to Chelsea". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ "Ryan McLean signs". Official Website of the Harriers - Kidderminster Harriers FC. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ Thorpe, Chris (24 October 2023). "Ryan heads to the Harriers". AFC Wimbledon. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "Fleetwood fight back to avoid Kidderminster upset". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ Brack, Edmund (22 July 2024). "AFC Wimbledon boss asked for Ryan McLean injury update". London News Online. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ^ "Ryan McLean signs on loan". www.ytfc.net. 4 March 2025. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ^ "Newcastle Town | Appearances | Ryan McLean | 2019-2020". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ "Newcastle Town | Appearances | Ryan McLean | 2020-2021". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Ryan McLean in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
- ^ "Games played by Ryan McLean in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
External links
- Profile at AFC Wimbledon
- Ryan McLean at ESPN FC
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