Tyler Roberts Explained

Tyler Roberts
Full Name:Tyler D'Whyte Roberts[1]
Birth Date:12 January 1999
Birth Place:Gloucester, England
Height:1.8m (05.9feet)[2]
Position:Forward, attacking midfielder
Currentclub:Birmingham City
Clubnumber:8
Youthyears1:2006–2016
Youthclubs1:West Bromwich Albion
Years1:2016–2018
Clubs1:West Bromwich Albion
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Years2:2016–2017
Clubs2:Oxford United (loan)
Caps2:14
Goals2:0
Years3:2017
Clubs3:Shrewsbury Town (loan)
Caps3:13
Goals3:4
Years4:2017–2018
Clubs4:Walsall (loan)
Caps4:17
Goals4:5
Years5:2018–2023
Clubs5:Leeds United
Caps5:101
Goals5:9
Years6:2022–2023
Clubs6:Queens Park Rangers (loan)
Caps6:18
Goals6:3
Years7:2023–
Clubs7:Birmingham City
Caps7:17
Goals7:0
Nationalyears1:2015–2016
Nationalteam1:Wales U17
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2015–2016
Nationalteam2:Wales U19
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2016–2017
Nationalteam3:Wales U20
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2017–2018
Nationalteam4:Wales U21
Nationalcaps4:5
Nationalgoals4:1
Nationalyears5:2018–
Nationalteam5:Wales
Nationalcaps5:20
Nationalgoals5:0
Club-Update:20:41, 13 August 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:14:16, 8 May 2024 (UTC)

Tyler D'Whyte Roberts (born 12 January 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for club Birmingham City and the Wales national football team.

Roberts is an academy graduate of West Bromwich Albion and made his professional debut for the club in May 2016. Loan spells in League One with Oxford United, Shrewsbury Town and Walsall followed before he joined Leeds United in January 2018. In the 2019-2020 season, Roberts was a member of the Leeds squad that won the 2019–20 EFL Championship title and promotion to the Premier League under manager Marcelo Bielsa. He spent the 2022–23 season on loan at Queens Park Rangers before joining Birmingham City in June 2023.

He made his senior Wales debut in 2018, having previously represented the nation at various youth levels, and represented Wales at UEFA Euro 2020. A versatile forward, he can play as a striker, winger or attacking midfielder.

Early life

Born in Gloucester to parents of Jamaican and Welsh descent, Roberts moved to Birmingham aged 11.[3] He attended Sandwell Academy in West Bromwich.[4]

Club career

West Bromwich Albion

Having spotted him playing for junior side Tredworth Tigers at a Gloucester Festival, West Bromwich Albion decided to sign Roberts for their academy when he was just seven years old.[5] Having then gone on to represent the club at age group level, Roberts was named on West Brom's bench for the first time on the final day of the 2014–15 season against Arsenal. However, he did not make it on to the pitch.[6] Following Roberts' inclusion in the squad, he was listed by Match of the Day magazine as one of the 20 wonder-kids to look out for in 2016.[7] On 14 January 2016, just two days after his 17th birthday, Roberts turned professional with West Brom, signing a -year contract.[8] He made his Premier League debut for the club on the final day of the 2015–16 season in a 1–1 draw with Liverpool, coming on as a second-half substitute for fellow academy graduate Jonathan Leko. Shortly after coming on, Roberts was booked for a rash challenge on Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.[9] [10] He became only the second player born in 1999 to play in the Premier League, following on from Leko who had done so the month before.

2016–2018: Loans to Oxford United, Shrewsbury Town and Walsall

On 28 July 2016, Roberts joined League One club Oxford United on loan until January 2017.[11] He made his debut for the club on the opening day of the 2016–17 season, coming off the bench for Chris Maguire in a 1–1 draw with Chesterfield.[12] His League Cup debut came the following week when he entered the field of play as an extra-time substitute in Oxford's 1–0 win over Birmingham City. He scored the first goal of his professional career in a 4–2 victory over League Two club Exeter City in the 2016–17 EFL Trophy on 30 August.[13] On 5 November, Roberts made his FA Cup debut and scored in a 5–0 win over Merstham of the Isthmian League.[14] In the second round a month later, he scored the winning penalty in a shootout against Southend United.[15]

In December, Oxford manager Michael Appleton lodged a request to West Brom to extend Roberts' loan,[16] but on 17 January 2017, he joined another League One club, Shrewsbury Town, on loan until the end of the season.[17] He made his debut four days later, starting in a 1–0 league win over Oldham Athletic.[18] Roberts' first goal for the club, and his first in league football, opened the scoring in a 2–1 win over Bury on 4 February.[19] He suffered a hamstring injury in a 2–1 defeat to Millwall on 4 April that put an end to his stint at Shrewsbury.[20] He ended the campaign with four goals and two assists for the club as they narrowly avoided relegation, and won the club's Young Player of the Year award.[21]

On 25 August 2017, Roberts left West Brom on loan once again, joining League One side Walsall for the season.[22] The following day, he scored one goal and assisted another on debut against Bradford City, helping Walsall come from 3–0 down to earn a 3–3 draw.[23] He went on to score five goals in 17 appearances before being recalled by West Brom at the half-way mark of the season.[24]

Leeds United

Transfer

Roberts' return to West Brom was short-lived, however, as the arrival of Daniel Sturridge on loan from Liverpool limited his first team chances further.[25] As a result, on the final day of the January 2018 transfer window, he signed for Championship club Leeds United on a four-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee,[26] reported at the time as £2.5 million[27] and later reported as potentially rising to £4 million depending on clauses. Roberts had arrived at the club with a minor knock, and looked set to make his debut in the middle of February.[28] However, on 14 February, new manager Paul Heckingbottom confirmed that he had cracked his shin bone when he returned to training and would be out for several weeks, but ultimately missed the remainder of the season.[29] [30]

2018–19 season

After spending several months on the sidelines, Roberts made his unofficial debut as a second-half substitute during a pre-season friendly against Southend United.[31] His full debut followed on 14 August when he started an EFL Cup fixture against Bolton Wanderers.[32] In September, he made his league debut in a 1–1 draw with Millwall and three days later scored his first two goals for the club in a 3–0 victory over Preston North End.[33] [34] Playing in an attacking midfielder position, he assisted Patrick Bamford twice in a 4–0 victory over his former club, West Bromwich Albion, on 1 March, and received the man of the match award.[35] [36]

He was one of three players nominated for the club's Young Player Of The Season award alongside Jamie Shackleton and Jack Clarke, but lost out to Clarke.[37]

Roberts scored three times in 32 games in all competitions as Leeds finished the regular season in third place; they dropped out of the automatic promotion places with three games left after a defeat to 10-man Wigan Athletic on 19 April.[38] They qualified for the play-offs, but Roberts missed the final games of the season due to injury as his team let slip a 2–0 lead to lose 4–3 on aggregate to sixth-placed Derby County in the semi-final.[39] [40]

2019–20 season

Roberts ended up missing all the 2019–20 pre-season games and the start of the new season after undergoing knee surgery during May 2019.[41] He returned from injury against Charlton Athletic on 28 September 2019, before scoring his first goal of the season against Queens Park Rangers in a 2–0 win on 2 November 2019.[42] However, Roberts picked up an injury against Reading on 26 November,[43] which kept him out of the side for a month; he returned as a substitute in Leeds' 5–4 win against Birmingham City on 29 December,[44] but picked up a hamstring injury in the same game.[45] The injury kept him out of the team until early February 2020, when he returned as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 defeat at home to Wigan Athletic.[46] On 29 February, Roberts came on as a 67th-minute substitute for Bamford with Leeds 2–0 ahead at Hull City and scored the last two goals of the 4–0 win.[47] Following the suspension of the Championship season, Roberts appeared in eight of the club's final nine games, scoring once, as they were promoted to the Premier League.[48]

2020–21 season

Roberts made his first appearance of the 2020–21 Premier League on the opening day, coming on as a substitute in the 4–3 loss to reigning champions Liverpool at Anfield.[49] [50] His first goal of the season did not come until stoppage time of the visit to Southampton on 18 May to complete a 2–0 win.[51]

2021–22 season

In June 2021, Roberts signed a new three-year deal with Leeds to run until the summer of 2024.[52]

Roberts came on as a 76th-minute substitute for Jack Harrison during a 1–0 away defeat at Leicester on 5 March 2022 and almost immediately ruptured a hamstring tendon, but continued to play for the full 90 minutes. He underwent surgery, and was out for the rest of the season.[53] [54]

2022–23 season

Roberts joined Championship club Queens Park Rangers on 6 July 2022 on loan for the 2022–23 season.[55] He scored on his QPR debut in an EFL Cup tie against Charlton Athletic on 9 August,[56] and played regularly up to the end of October. He was affected by a recurrent calf injury that kept him out of Wales' World Cup squad and forced him to miss six QPR matches before the mid-season break for the 2022 World Cup. Although he regained fitness, returned to league action in December, and scored twice away to Reading to earn his side a comeback draw, further injury in January that required treatment back at Leeds put an early end to his season.[57] [58] [59]

Birmingham City

Roberts signed a four-year contract with Championship club Birmingham City in June 2023; the fee was undisclosed.[60]

International career

Youth

Though he represented England, his country of birth, at schoolboy level, Roberts later decided to play for Wales instead, qualifying for selection as two of his grandparents are Welsh.[61]

In 2015, he captained the Wales U16 side to glory in the Victory Shield, scoring in the final against Northern Ireland. The result was Wales' first outright triumph in the competition since the 1948–49 edition.[62] [63] Having trained with the senior side in between, he returned to the U16 side in November the following year and was part of the squad which retained the Victory Shield title.[64]

In May 2017, following the conclusion of the League One season, he was included in Robert Page's squad for the 2017 Toulon Tournament.[65] After making his debut for the side in the tournament opener against Ivory Coast, Roberts made one further appearance, against France, as Wales were eliminated in the group stage.[66] [67] On 1 September 2017, he made his debut for the under-21 side and scored the opening goal in a 3–0 victory over Switzerland.[68] [69]

Senior

In May 2015, Roberts, along with Liverpool winger Harry Wilson, was called up by Wales manager Chris Coleman to train with the senior squad. In March 2017 he was named as a stand-by player for Wales' World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland.[70]

He received his first full call-up in August 2018 when he was named in Ryan Giggs' squad for the nation's UEFA Nations League matches against the Republic of Ireland and Denmark.[71] His debut followed against the former on 6 September, coming on as a second-half substitute for Gareth Bale in a 4–1 victory.[72] The following month, on 16 October 2018, Roberts was handed his first Wales start as the Republic of Ireland were again beaten 1–0 in Dublin.[73] In May 2021 he was selected for the Wales squad for the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 tournament.[74]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
LeagueAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
West Bromwich Albion2015–16Premier League10000010
2016–17Premier League00000000
Total10000010
Oxford United (loan)2016–17League One140312031222
Shrewsbury Town (loan)2016–17League One134134
Walsall (loan)2017–18League One175100010195
Leeds United2018–19Championship2831020313
2019–20Championship2340000234
2020–21Premier League2710010281
2021–22Premier League2310030261
2022–23Premier League00000000
Total10191060001089
Queens Park Rangers (loan)2022–23Championship1831011204
Birmingham City2023–24Championship1702000190
2024–25League One0000100010
Total170201000200
Career total18121811014120324

International

.

National teamYearAppsGoals
Wales
201840
201930
202040
202140
202210
Total160

Honours

Leeds United

2019–20[75]

Wales U16

2015; 2016

Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/01/2018 and 31/01/2018 . The Football Association . 8 . 17 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180421163358/http://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/january-2018.ashx . 21 April 2018.
  2. Web site: Tyler Roberts . worldfootball.net . 22 March 2020.
  3. News: Ryan . Emma . 17 October 2020 . Leeds United striker Tyler Roberts on how he plans to tackle racism in the game and society . 23 January 2021 . Yorkshire Evening Post.
  4. Web site: Suart . Paul . 31 January 2018 . The lowdown on Tyler Roberts – the £2.5m Leeds United man West Brom let go . 23 January 2021 . BirminghamLive.
  5. News: 14 January 2016 . Tyler Roberts: West Brom give teenager professional contract . 25 April 2016 . BBC Sport.
  6. News: Southcombe . Matthew . Who is Tyler Roberts? Meet the 16-year-old West Brom sensation who has been called up to train with Wales . Wales Online . 26 May 2015 . 20 June 2023.
  7. News: Suart . Paul . West Brom's Tyler Roberts: More recognition for Albion's next big prospect . Birmingham Mail . 7 January 2016 . 20 June 2023.
  8. Web site: 14 January 2016 . Talented Roberts pens pro deal . 23 July 2020 . West Bromwich Albion F.C..
  9. News: White . Jim . 15 May 2016 . West Brom 1 Liverpool 1: Forgettable draw leaves Liverpool's European hopes on the brink . The Telegraph . 15 May 2016.
  10. News: 15 May 2016 . West Brom 1 Liverpool 1 – Report and pictures . Express & Star . Wolverhampton . 15 May 2016.
  11. Web site: 28 July 2016 . West Brom youngster joins the U's . 28 July 2016 . Oxford United F.C..
  12. News: 6 August 2016 . Oxford United 1 Chesterfield 1: Ched Evans cracker earns Spireites a point . The Star . Sheffield . 7 August 2016.
  13. News: Pritchard . David . 30 August 2016 . Small Checkatrade Trophy gate at Oxford United cannot take gloss off Tyler Roberts's first professional goal . Oxford Mail . 31 August 2016.
  14. News: Amofa . Richard . 5 November 2016 . Merstham 0 Oxford United 5: Clinical visitors display class on and off the pitch . The Telegraph . 6 November 2016.
  15. News: Pritchard . David . 7 December 2016 . Tyler Roberts holds his nerve as Oxford United make it third time lucky with shoot-out win over Southend . Oxford Mail . 7 December 2016.
  16. News: Pritchard . David . 8 December 2016 . Oxford United make request to West Bromwich Albion for Tyler Roberts loan extension . Oxford Mail . 13 December 2016.
  17. News: 17 January 2017 . Tyler Roberts: Shrewsbury Town sign West Bromwich Albion striker on loan . 17 January 2017 . BBC Sport.
  18. News: 21 January 2017 . Shrewsbury Town 1 Oldham 0 – Report and pictures . Lewis . Cook . 22 January 2017 . Shropshire Star . https://web.archive.org/web/20170202011307/https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/shrewsbury-town-fc/2017/01/21/shrewsbury-town-1-oldham-0-report/ . 2 February 2017.
  19. News: 4 February 2017 . Paul Hurst hails star Shrewsbury Town striker Tyler Roberts in win over Bury . Shropshire Star . 5 February 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170205181355/http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/shrewsbury-town-fc/2017/02/04/paul-hurst-hails-star-shrewsbury-town-striker-tyler-roberts-in-win-over-bury/ . 5 February 2017.
  20. News: 21 April 2017 . Shrewsbury Town may call on injured Tyler Roberts . Shropshire Star . 24 April 2017.
  21. News: Cox . Lewis . 19 May 2017 . Tyler Roberts will always hold Shrewsbury Town in his heart . Shropshire Star . 23 May 2017.
  22. News: 25 August 2017 . Tyler Roberts: Walsall sign West Bromwich Albion forward on loan . 27 August 2017 . BBC Sport.
  23. News: 26 August 2017 . Walsall 3–3 Bradford . 27 August 2017 . BBC Sport.
  24. News: Suart . Paul . 30 January 2018 . Revealed: The latest on Tyler Roberts' West Brom future amid Leeds and Rangers links . 30 January 2018 . Birmingham Mail.
  25. Web site: Coombs . Dan . 1 February 2018 . West Brom fans react to Leeds United signing Tyler Roberts . 23 July 2020 . HITC.
  26. Web site: 31 January 2018 . Leeds complete Tyler Roberts transfer . 23 July 2020 . Leeds United F.C..
  27. News: Leeds agree deal for West Brom youngster Tyler Roberts . Sky Sports News . 30 January 2018 . 20 June 2023.
  28. News: Wollaston . Steve . 13 February 2018 . Tyler Roberts set for first Leeds United start since signing from West Brom . 28 February 2018 . Birmingham Mail.
  29. News: Leeds United: Summer returns likely for injured Whites pair . Yorkshire Evening Post . 3 April 2018.
  30. News: Urquhart . Joe . 5 May 2018 . Paul Heckingbottom reveals what Tyler Roberts will bring to Leeds United . Yorkshire Evening Post . 18 May 2018.
  31. Web site: Chandler . Louie . 23 July 2018 . Returning Leeds man sends emotional message after tough spell . 23 July 2020 . Football League World.
  32. Web site: Butcher . Will . 15 August 2018 . Leeds fans react to Tyler Roberts' debut against Bolton Wanderers . 23 July 2020 . HITC.
  33. News: 16 September 2018 . Millwall 1 Leeds United 1: Tyler Roberts' killer touch lacking in difficult circumstances at The Den . Yorkshire Evening Post . 23 July 2020.
  34. News: 18 September 2018 . Leeds United 3–0 Preston North End: Tyler Roberts scores twice as leaders win again . 18 September 2018 . BBC Sport.
  35. News: Wilson . Matt . 4 March 2019 . Tyler Roberts pleased to prove himself against West Brom . Express & Star . Wolverhampton . 23 July 2020.
  36. News: Dicken . Alex . 5 March 2019 . 'Special moment' – West Brom fans will hate what this Leeds United player has said . Birmingham Mail . 23 July 2020.
  37. Web site: 28 April 2018 . Player of the Year 2019 winners . 15 May 2018 . Leeds United F.C..
  38. News: 19 April 2019 . Leeds United 1–2 Wigan Athletic: 10-man Latics stun promotion-hunting Whites . 15 May 2019 . BBC Sport.
  39. News: Nicholson . Steve . 9 May 2019 . Leeds United handed double injury blow ahead of play-off clash with Derby County . Derby Telegraph . 23 July 2020.
  40. News: 15 May 2019 . Leeds United 2–4 Derby County (3–4 agg): Jack Marriott scores twice to send Rams to Wembley . Ian . Woodcock . 23 July 2020 . BBC Sport.
  41. News: Hay . Phil . 29 May 2019 . Leeds United's Tyler Roberts misses out on Wales squad after knee operation . Yorkshire Evening Post . 23 July 2020.
  42. News: 4 November 2019 . Leeds 2–0 QPR: United move back to the top of Championship . 23 July 2020 . Sky Sports.
  43. News: Mewis . Joe . 26 November 2019 . Bielsa gives update on Tyler Roberts injury following Reading victory . LeedsLive . 23 July 2020.
  44. News: Sobot . Lee . 4 January 2020 . Marcelo Bielsa keen to protect versatile Leeds United star Tyler Roberts . Yorkshire Evening Post . 23 July 2020.
  45. News: Joe . Urquhart . 4 January 2020 . Marcelo Bielsa reveals four Leeds United changes for Arsenal FA Cup clash and issues Whites injury update . 4 January 2020 . Yorkshire Evening Post.
  46. News: Watach . Nestor . 3 February 2020 . Tyler Roberts evaluates his return to action and role for Leeds going forward . LeedsLive . 23 July 2020.
  47. News: 29 February 2020 . Hull City 0–4 Leeds United: Ayling, Hernandez & Roberts give Whites victory . 23 July 2020 . BBC Sport.
  48. News: Sobot . Lee . 22 July 2020 . Tyler Roberts issues champions warning as Leeds United await Charlton Athletic . Yorkshire Evening Post . 23 July 2020.
  49. News: McNulty . Phil . 12 September 2020 . Salah hat-trick sinks Leeds in thriller . 23 January 2021 . BBC Sport.
  50. News: McNulty . Phil . 12 September 2020 . Liverpool 4–3 Leeds United: 'Premier League return magnificently chaotic for Marcelo Bielsa's club' . BBC Sport . 23 January 2021.
  51. News: Emons . Michael . 18 May 2021 . Southampton 0–2 Leeds United: Patrick Bamford scores 16th Premier League goal of the season . BBC Sport . 20 June 2023.
  52. Web site: Tyler Roberts signs new contract . Leeds United F.C. . 9 June 2021 . 20 June 2023.
  53. Web site: Leicester City 1—0 Leeds United: Premier League — as it happened . Murray . Scott . The Guardian . 5 March 2022 . 20 June 2023.
  54. News: Tyler Roberts's Leeds United season is over after undergoing surgery on hamstring injury . Cross . Beren . LeedsLive . 7 March 2022 . 20 June 2023.
  55. News: Wales forward Roberts joins QPR on loan from Leeds . BBC Sport . 6 July 2022 . 20 June 2023.
  56. News: Charlton Athletic 1–1 Queens Park Rangers . BBC Sport . 9 August 2022 . 10 August 2022.
  57. News: Leeds United loanee's emotional post after 'frustrating and upsetting' injury setback . Matthew . Hobkinson . LeedsLive . 7 March 2023 . 20 June 2023.
  58. News: Tyler Roberts returns to Leeds United as injury casts doubt on QPR loan spell . George . Bennett . LeedsLive . 9 March 2023 . 20 June 2023.
  59. News: Fit-again Leeds United forward says fond farewell with Elland Road future to be assessed . George . Smyth . Yorkshire Evening Post . 9 May 2023 . 20 June 2023.
  60. News: Tyler Roberts: Birmingham City sign Leeds United and Wales forward for undisclosed fee . BBC Sport . 21 June 2023 . 21 June 2023.
  61. News: Stuart . Paul . 5 January 2016 . Tyler Roberts: The lowdown on West Brom's next great hope . Birmingham Mail . 25 April 2016.
  62. Web site: 21 November 2014 . Wales beat N.Ireland to be Crowned 2014 Victory Shield Champions . 16 May 2016 . Wales Football Association.
  63. News: Jones . Dave . 21 November 2014 . Wales clinch title for the first time since 1948/49 . Daily Post . 16 May 2016.
  64. News: Penman . Andrew . 5 November 2015 . Wales under-16s retain Victory Shield in Newport . South Wales Argus . 17 May 2016.
  65. Web site: 16 May 2017 . Toulon Tournament: Wales U20 without Liverpool's Ben Woodburn and Harry Wilson . 18 May 2017 . BBC.
  66. Web site: Wales U20 2–2 Cote D'Ivoire . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170601021623/http://www.festival-foot-espoirs.com/direct_festival_foot_uk.php?tournoi_id=15 . 1 June 2017 . 16 June 2017 . Foot Espoirs.
  67. Web site: 30 May 2017 . Toulon Tournament: France U20 0–0 Wales U20 . 16 June 2017 . BBC Sport . en-gb.
  68. Web site: Switzerland U21 0–3 Wales U21 . 1 September 2017 . Soccerway.
  69. Web site: 1 September 2017 . Switzerland U21 0–3 Wales U21 . 2 September 2017 . BBC Sport.
  70. Web site: 21 March 2017 . Tyler Roberts: West Brom forward commits international future to Wales . 18 May 2017 . BBC Sport.
  71. Web site: O'Callaghan . Rory . 29 August 2018 . Paul Dummett named in Wales squad to face Ireland and Denmark . 30 August 2018 . Sky Sports.
  72. News: McCarthy . Ger . 6 September 2018 . Ireland v Wales – Moments that mattered . Irish Examiner . 7 September 2018.
  73. News: 17 October 2018 . Ryan Giggs challenges Wales to finish the job against Denmark . South Wales Argus . 17 October 2018.
  74. News: Uncapped Colwill in Wales Euro 2020 squad. BBC Sport .
  75. Web site: 18 July 2020 . Leeds United are champions! . 18 July 2020 . Leeds United F.C..