Ryan Woods (footballer, born 1993)

After rejecting a trial with Premier League club Aston Villa,[4] Woods began his youth career with local club Walsall, but was released at age 15 and moved to Shrewsbury Town in 2009.[5] He completed a scholarship and signed his first professional contract in May 2012.[6] 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.[7] After six further calls into the squad,[7] 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.[8] 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.[8] He signed a contract extension on 10 June 2013.[9]

Woods made his first senior start for Shrewsbury Town away at Rotherham United on 24 August 2013,[10] playing at right back in the 2–2 draw, owing to a shortage of defenders.[11] 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.[12] Having established himself in the first team, making 43 appearances in all competitions in 2013–14,[12] 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.[13] 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.[14]

Woods had an excellent 2014–15 season, making 51 appearances and helping Shrewsbury secure automatic promotion back to League One with second-place finish.[15][16] 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.[17] Woods was nominated for the League Two Player of the Year at the Football League Awards,[18] but lost out to Danny Mayor of Bury.[19] Woods began the 2015–16 season as an ever-present and following vice-captain Connor Goldson's departure,[20] he captained Shrewsbury for the first time in a 1–1 draw away with Oldham Athletic on 22 August 2015.[21] 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.[20][22] He made 103 appearances and scored one goal during his three years as a professional with Shrewsbury Town.[2]

On 1 September 2015, Woods moved to Championship side Brentford on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee,[22] rumoured to be £1 million.[23] He made his debut 11 days later, away to Leeds United, as a 74th-minute substitute for Maxime Colin.[20] Two minutes after coming on, he turned over possession to Mirko Antenucci, who then scored the equaliser in a 1–1 draw.[24] After the appointment of interim manager Lee Carsley later that month,[25] Woods became a regular starter.[26] 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.[20][27] 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.[28] He finished the 2015–16 season with 42 appearances and two goals.[20]

After beginning the 2016–17 season as an ever-present in central midfield, Woods signed a new four-year contract on 31 August 2016.[29] He made 45 appearances during the season and won the club's Players' Player of the Year award.[30] Aside from a short period out of the team due to a personal issue,[31] 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.[32] 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.[33][34] Woods finished the 2017–18 season with 40 appearances, one goal and was voted the club's Supporters' Player of the Year.[33][35]

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.[36] He made his debut for Stoke on 1 September 2018 against West Bromwich Albion.[37] Woods began his Stoke career well under Gary Rowett and was made stand-in captain in the absence of Ryan Shawcross.[38] However his form dropped off by December as Stoke were struggling to put a run of wins together.[39][40] Woods rarely featured in the second half of the campaign now under the management of Nathan Jones as Stoke finished in 16th position.[41][42]

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.[43] Woods returned to the side under new manager Michael O'Neill in November 2019 starting in five consecutive games.[44] However he lost his place in the team again and was linked with a move away from the club in the January transfer window.[45]

On 17 January 2020 Woods signed on loan with Millwall for the remainder of the 2019–20 season.[46]