Kyle Bartley

Kyle Louis Bartley (born 22 May 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Leeds United on loan from Swansea City.
Bartley started his career with Arsenal, making his debut in 2009. He spent some of the 2009 season and the first half of the 2010 season with Sheffield United in the Football League Championship. He then spent the second half of the 2010 season with Scottish Premier League club Rangers and returned to them for the 2011–12 campaign. He signed for Swansea in 2012, and spent the first half of the 2013–14 season on loan to Championship club Birmingham City. He has also represented England at under-16 and under-17 level.

Arsenal

Early career

Born in Stockport, Greater Manchester, Bartley began his career with Bolton Wanderers and signed for Arsenal on 31 July 2007. He captained Arsenal reserves and was also part of the team that won both the Premier Academy League and the FA Youth Cup in 2009.

2009–10 season

Bartley playing for Sheffield United in 2010

Bartley made his professional début for Arsenal on 9 December 2009, in a Champions League match in an away defeat against Olympiacos. Bartley signed a three-month loan deal with Sheffield United in February 2010 to act as defensive cover. He played regularly during his time at Bramall Lane and returned to Arsenal at the end of the campaign having played 14 times.

2010–11 season

On the eve of the following season, Bartley returned to Sheffield United on a season-long loan deal. In late September, Bartley suffered a broken cheekbone in a clash with Nottingham Forest striker Dele Adebola. After a month out, he returned and was ever-present until the January transfer window, when the "Blades" signed Neill Collins. Bartley feared losing his place in the team and asked to leave. His request was accepted and Bartley moved on loan to Scottish Premier League club Rangers on the last day of the transfer window. He made his debut for Rangers on 12 February 2011 in a 6–0 win over Motherwell at Ibrox. Bartley kept his place in the side, and he scored his first senior goal in a 1–0 victory over St Mirren on 6 March 2011.

A knee ligament injury sustained against PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League ruled him out of action for the remainder of the season, seeing him miss Rangers' Scottish League Cupfinal win over Celtic and the run-in to their league title win. He returned to Arsenal at the end of March, but stated he was keen to return to Rangers.

2011–12 season

Bartley was a 74th-minute substitute for Laurent Koscielny in the final round of the Emirates Cup, a pre-season friendly competition. He scored an own goal in the 84th minute, as Arsenal lost the competition to the New York Red Bulls. On 3 August 2011, Bartley signed a new contract with Arsenal. The next day, he rejoined Rangers on loan for the season.

Swansea City

Bartley joined Swansea City on 16 August 2012 for a fee believed to be in the region of £1 million. He signed a three-year contract. He made his debut in the second round of the League Cup on 28 August against Barnsley. Swansea won the game 3–1.

Birmingham City loan

On 2 July 2013, Bartley agreed a season-long loan move to Championship club Birmingham City. Although he had played little senior football over the previous year, and had not had a full pre-season, manager Lee Clark selected him for the opening match, playing alongside fellow loanee Dan Burn and experienced captain Paul Robinson in a three-man defence; Birmingham lost 1–0 at home to Watford. In the next match, Bartley scored his first goal in senior English football, an extra-time winner against Plymouth Argyle in the League Cup. His lack of sharpness and security in defence meant he was left out for the next match in favour of Hayden Mullins, and was selected less than Burn thereafter. He scored twice in a 3–1 win at Huddersfield Town on 9 November – both goals were headers from Jesse Lingard crosses – but was then sent off after receiving a second yellow card for what the referee deemed to be "over-celebrating".

On 29 January 2014, Bartley's season-long loan was cut-short after parent club Swansea City recalled him. Bartley made 19 appearances in all competitions for Birmingham, scoring 5 goals.

Return to Swansea

After impressing new Swansea manager Garry Monk on his return, Bartley was handed a new three-year contract with Swansea until June 2017.

On 24 January 2015, Bartley was sent off in the seventh minute of an FA Cup fourth round match away to Blackburn Rovers for a foul on Joshua King; Swansea lost 3–2 and also had Gylfi Sigurðsson dismissed later on.

Leeds United loan

On 1 July 2016, Bartley joined Championship club Leeds United on loan for the 2016–17 season. The move saw him link up with his former Swansea manager Garry Monk. He was given squad number 5. Bartley made his Leeds debut on 7 August against Queens Park Rangers in a 3–0 defeat. Bartley scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 win against Blackburn Rovers on 13 September 2016.

On 17 September, Bartley Captained Leeds United to a 2–0 victory against Cardiff City.

Bartley has represented England at under-16 and under-17 levels.

As of match played 21 January 2017

Arsenal

• Premier Academy League: 2008–09
• FA Youth Cup: 2008–09