Cian Ashford

Cian Ashford is a Welsh footballer who plays as a forward for EFL Championship club Cardiff City. He is a Wales Under-21 international.

Career

Ashford joined the Cardiff City academy at the age of six, signing a first professional contract with the club in June 2023. He had first caught the eye of the first-team in November 2020, when he was called up to first-team training by then manager Neil Harris, impressing with three goals in a 4v4 match with the senior squad.

In August 2023, Ashford made his senior debut for Cardiff City in the EFL Cup against Colchester United. In January 2024, he signed a new contract to keep him at the club until June 2027. On 10 April 2024, he made his league debut for Cardiff in a 1–0 victory over Birmingham City. Following the match, he was described as "the future for Cardiff" by teammate Jamilu Collins. In his third league appearance for the club, he scored his first senior goal, a 96th minute winner from twenty-five yards against promotion hopefuls Southampton.

International career

Ashford made his Wales under-21 debut on 24 October 2023 in the UEFA EURO U21 qualifier against Czech Republic as a 91st-minute substitute, immediately scoring the equalising goal in the 1–1 draw.