Ryan Woods

Ryan Michael Woods (born 13 December 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Millwall on loan from Stoke City.

Woods began his senior career with Shrewsbury Town and is a product of the Shrewsbury Town and Walsall youth systems. In 2015, after helping Shrewsbury to promotion back to League One, he transferred to Brentford for a fee of £1 million. He became a key member of the Brentford squad helping the team to establish themselves in the Championship. Woods spent four seasons at Griffin Park before joining Stoke City in August 2018.

Shrewsbury Town

After rejecting a trial with Premier League club Aston Villa, Woods began his youth career with local club Walsall, but was released at age 15 and moved to Shrewsbury Town in 2009. He completed a scholarship and signed his first professional contract in May 2012. Woods received his maiden call into the first team squad for a League One match at home to Carlisle United on 15 December 2012 and remained an unused substitute during the 2–1 win. After six further calls into the squad, Woods made his debut as an 89th-minute substitute for Aaron Wildig in a 1–0 home win over Oldham Athletic on 23 April 2013. Four days later he played his only other game of the season, again replacing Wildig for the last six minutes of a 3–2 win against Portsmouth at the New Meadow. He signed a contract extension on 10 June 2013.

Woods made his first senior start for Shrewsbury Town away at Rotherham United on 24 August 2013, playing at right back in the 2–2 draw, owing to a shortage of defenders. He scored his first senior goal – and only Shrewsbury goal – in a 3–2 defeat to Milton Keynes Dons on 11 January 2014, netting in the seventh minute of the game at the Stadium mk. Having established himself in the first team, making 43 appearances in all competitions in 2013–14, it was announced on 13 May 2014 that Woods had triggered a clause in his contract to extend his stay at the club for at least another season, despite the Shrews' relegation to League Two. He won two Player of the Year awards for his performances during the campaign, voted for by the Shrewsbury Town Away Travel Club and the Family Stand supporters.

Woods had an excellent 2014–15 season, making 51 appearances and helping Shrewsbury secure automatic promotion back to League One with second-place finish. It was announced after the season that Woods and teammate Connor Goldson had been awarded places in the League Two PFA Team of the Year. Woods was nominated for the League Two Player of the Year at the Football League Awards, but lost out to Danny Mayor of Bury. Woods began the 2015–16 season as an ever-present and following vice-captain Connor Goldson's departure, he captained Shrewsbury for the first time in a 1–1 draw away with Oldham Athletic on 22 August 2015. Woods' final Shrewsbury appearance came on 29 August in a 1–0 defeat to Burton Albion and he departed the New Meadow three days later on transfer deadline day. He made 103 appearances and scored one goal during his three years as a professional with Shrewsbury Town.

Brentford

On 1 September 2015, Woods moved to Championship side Brentford on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee, rumoured to be £1 million. He made his debut 11 days later, away to Leeds United, as a 74th-minute substitute for Maxime Colin. Two minutes after coming on, he turned over possession to Mirko Antenucci, who then scored the equaliser in a 1–1 draw. After the appointment of interim manager Lee Carsley later that month, Woods became a regular starter. He scored his first Brentford goal with a long-range strike to open a 2–1 win over Reading at the Madejski Stadium on 28 December, assisting Sergi Canós for the winning goal in the second half. On 23 April 2016, he scored from a similar distance in a 4–1 win at Milton Keynes Dons, a result which relegated the opponents. He finished the 2015–16 season with 42 appearances and two goals.

After beginning the 2016–17 season as an ever-present in central midfield, Woods signed a new four-year contract on 31 August 2016. He made 45 appearances during the season and won the club's Players' Player of the Year award. Aside from a short period out of the team due to a personal issue, Woods continued as an ever-present during the early months of the 2017–18 season and scored his first goal of the campaign in a 3–1 victory over Leeds United on 4 November 2017. He received the first red card of his career as a result of "scuffling over the ball" with Sheffield United goalkeeper Jamal Blackman during a 1–1 draw on 30 March 2018. Woods finished the 2017–18 season with 40 appearances, one goal and was voted the club's Supporters' Player of the Year.

Stoke City

On 25 August 2018, Woods joined Championship side Stoke City from Brentford on an initial loan with a view to a permanent switch in January. He made his debut for Stoke on 1 September 2018 against West Bromwich Albion. Woods began his Stoke career well under Gary Rowett and was made stand-in captain in the absence of Ryan Shawcross. However his form dropped off by December as Stoke were struggling to put a run of wins together. Woods rarely featured in the second half of the campaign now under the management of Nathan Jones as Stoke finished in 16th position.

Woods started three matches under Jones at the start of the 2019–20 season under Jones before losing his place in the side by September 2019. Woods returned to the side under new manager Michael O'Neill in November 2019 starting in five consecutive games. However he lost his place in the team again and was linked with a move away from the club in the January transfer window.

On 17 January 2020 Woods signed on loan with Millwall for the remainder of the 2019–20 season.

Although Woods' favoured position is as a central midfielder (being dubbed 'the ginger Pirlo' by the Shrewsbury Town supporters), he can also play in a variety of positions in defence and midfield. During the 2013–14 season he demonstrated his versatility by also playing right back, on the right hand side of midfield and at left back. In January 2015, Four Four Two named Woods as one of the 10 best young players in the Football League. The magazine reported that he demonstrates "an ability to play a range a passes, as well as easily creating space for himself" and quoted Shrewsbury Town manager Micky Mellon as saying "he's the first player on the training pitch and the last off. He's a terrific kid and has some unbelievable ability".

Woods was born in Norton Canes, Staffordshire and grew up in Norton Canes. He supported Walsall as a youngster.

As of match played 6 March 2020

Shrewsbury Town

• Football League Two runner-up: 2014–15

Individual

• PFA League Two Team of the Year: 2014–15
• Brentford Supporters' Player of the Year: 2017–18
• Brentford Players' Player of the Year: 2016–17