Sil Laurentius Swinkels (born 6 January 2004) is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a defender EFL League One club Bristol Rovers, on loan from Premier League club Aston Villa. Swinkels is a product of the Aston Villa and Vitesse Arnhem academies and has played for the Netherlands internationally at youth levels up to under-18.
Early life
Swinkels was born in Sint-Oedenrode in the south of the Netherlands in 2004.[3]
Club career
Youth career
Having played youth football for Dutch sides RKSV Rhode, Helmond Sport, Brabant United and Vitesse Arnhem, 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]
Senior career
On 24 September 2024, Swinkels made his first appearance for the senior Aston Villa team for the first time since 2021 during a 2–1 away victory against Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Cup.[11]
On 28 November 2024, Swinkels signed another contract extension with Aston Villa.[12]
On 3 February 2025, Swinkels signed for EFL League One club Bristol Rovers on loan until the end of the season.[13] Swinkels made his English Football League debut on 11 February 2025, scoring a 91st minute equaliser in a match against Stockport County.[14]
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.[15] He scored his first goal at youth international level for Netherlands U18s, on 28 March 2022, in a 4–1 away victory over Germany.[16]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 11 February 2025[17]
| 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[a] | 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 | ||
| 2024–25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Bristol Rovers (loan) | 2024–25 | League One | 1 | 1 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 1 | ||
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
Honours
Aston Villa U18s
Aston Villa U21s
- Birmingham Senior Cup: 2023-24[18]
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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ "Wycombe Wanderers 1-2 Aston Villa". Aston Villa Football Club. 24 September 2024.
- ^ Townley, John (28 November 2024). "Aston Villa confirm new contract for defender". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ "Sil Swinkels joins Bristol Rovers on loan". Aston Villa Football Club. 3 February 2025. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
- ^ "Swinkels heads home to earn late draw against Stockport". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 11 February 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
- ^ "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.
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