Ashley Westwood Bio
Ashley Roy Westwood (born 1 April 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC, where he also serves as captain. Standing at 175 centimetres tall, he has built a reputation as a reliable deep-lying playmaker in English football over more than a decade of senior competition. He is best known for his long spells in the Premier League with Aston Villa and Burnley, as well as his leadership role at Charlotte FC in MLS.
Westwood began his career in the lower tiers of English football before earning moves to top-flight clubs, scoring on his Premier League debut season for Aston Villa and later earning Burnley Player of the Season honours in 2018–19. After departing Burnley in early 2023, he moved to the United States to take on a new challenge in Major League Soccer.
Early Life and Background
Ashley Roy Westwood was born on 1 April 1990 in Nantwich, a market town in Cheshire, England. He grew up in the local community and developed an early interest in football, joining the youth academy at nearby Crewe Alexandra as a teenager. Nantwich remained close to his heart, and he later returned there on loan during his first professional season to play for his hometown club.
Westwood’s first loan spell came at Nantwich Town, a side competing in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, during the 2008 campaign. The experience gave him senior football exposure away from the Football League and helped him develop the physical and tactical foundations that would carry him into a long professional career. His upbringing in Cheshire, a region with a strong non-league football culture, helped shape his grounded approach to the game.
Path to Soccer
Westwood signed his first professional contract with Crewe Alexandra in April 2008, alongside several other young prospects including Luke Murphy, Chris Clements and Luke Danville. After his loan at Nantwich Town, he returned to Crewe and gradually broke into the first team during the 2009–10 season, making 38 league appearances and scoring six goals. His performances that season earned him the club’s Player of the Season award and a new two-year contract.
He continued to progress with Crewe Alexandra over the following campaigns, registering 46 league appearances in 2010–11 with another six goals and signing a contract extension in 2011. By the summer of 2012, following the departure of long-serving defender David Artell, Westwood was named club captain by manager Steve Davis, becoming one of the youngest captains in the Football League at the time. Across five seasons at Crewe, he amassed 128 league appearances, attracting attention from Premier League clubs.
Ashley Westwood Career
Early Career (2008–2012)
Westwood’s first club was Crewe Alexandra, where he developed from academy prospect into first-team regular over five seasons. After starting with a loan at Nantwich Town, he established himself in the Crewe midfield and was rewarded with the captaincy in the summer of 2012. His form in League One and League Two brought him to the attention of clubs in the top flight, and a transfer to Swansea City was discussed before the deal collapsed over the asking price.
With the transfer saga unresolved, Aston Villa moved quickly to sign the midfielder on the final day of the summer 2012 transfer window for a fee believed to be around £2 million. Westwood departed Crewe as one of the most promising English midfielders outside the Premier League, having scored regularly and demonstrated leadership beyond his years.
Aston Villa Breakthrough (2012–2017)
Westwood made his Aston Villa debut on 15 September 2012, coming on as a second-half substitute for Stephen Ireland in a 2–0 home win over Swansea City. Less than two months later, on 3 November 2012, he made his first league start for Villa in a 1–0 away victory at Sunderland, earning praise from the Villa coaching staff for his performance alongside Barry Bannan. In July 2013, he signed a new four-year contract keeping him at the club until the summer of 2017.
He scored his first goal for Aston Villa against local rivals West Bromwich Albion in a 2–2 draw at The Hawthorns, before adding another strike in a 4–1 defeat away to Manchester United at Old Trafford in March 2014. On 3 May 2014, Westwood scored after just 54 seconds against Hull City in a 3–1 home victory that helped ensure Villa avoided relegation. After Villa dropped out of the Premier League in 2015–16, he signed a new five-year contract in August 2015 and remained part of the squad during their return to the top flight in 2018, though he departed before that promotion was achieved.
Burnley Era (2017–2023)
On 31 January 2017, Westwood signed for Premier League club Burnley on a three-and-a-half-year contract with the option of a further year, returning to the top flight six months after Villa’s relegation. He quickly became a key figure in Sean Dyche’s well-organised Burnley side, bringing control and composure to the central midfield. On 10 March 2019, he scored his first goal for the club, opening the scoring direct from a corner kick in a 4–2 defeat by Liverpool at Anfield.
His consistency was recognised at the end of the 2018–19 season, when he was voted Burnley’s Player of the Season by both supporters and players. On 3 October 2020, Westwood scored on his 100th Premier League appearance for the club in a 3–1 defeat at Newcastle United. His time at Turf Moor was interrupted in April 2022, when a serious ankle injury suffered in a collision with Nikola Vlašić during a match against West Ham United at the London Stadium ruled him out for the remainder of that campaign.
Charlotte FC Era (2023–Present)
On 7 January 2023, Westwood signed for Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC on a contract running through 2024, embarking on his first move outside English football. The club handed him the captain’s armband, valuing his leadership and experience in central midfield. He has since served as a senior presence in the Charlotte dressing room as the club continues to build its identity in the Eastern Conference.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although the term driving style is more commonly applied to motorsport, Westwood’s on-field style is that of a deep-lying playmaker, capable of controlling tempo from a withdrawn midfield position and, when required, operating higher up the pitch or at right back. After his move to Aston Villa, he compared himself to former Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick, describing himself as someone who stays out of the limelight, keeps things simple, retains the ball and lays it off to team-mates.
Notable Events and Milestones
Westwood’s most celebrated moments include his role in helping Aston Villa avoid relegation with an early goal against Hull City in May 2014, his unusual direct-from-corner goal at Anfield in March 2019, and being named Burnley’s Player of the Season for 2018–19. His selection as Charlotte FC captain marked a significant milestone as the first major English signing in the club’s short MLS history.
Ashley Westwood Career Wins
Ashley Westwood’s career has been defined more by consistency and longevity than by trophy hauls. He has been recognised with individual awards, including Crewe Alexandra’s Player of the Season for 2009–10 and Burnley’s Player of the Season for 2018–19, and has played in both the Premier League and Major League Soccer at a high level.
Burnley Highlights
Westwood made more than 100 Premier League appearances for Burnley after joining the club in January 2017, scoring his first goal for the side directly from a corner against Liverpool at Anfield in March 2019. He reached his 100th Premier League appearance for Burnley in October 2020, scoring in a 3–1 defeat at Newcastle United. His standing at Turf Moor was confirmed when he was voted both supporters’ and players’ Player of the Season for 2018–19.
Other Wins and Performances
Earlier in his career, Westwood was named Crewe Alexandra’s Player of the Season for 2009–10 after scoring six goals in 38 league appearances. He has also represented English football at various youth levels before establishing himself as a senior professional across the Football League, Premier League and Major League Soccer.
Ashley Westwood Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Westwood’s immediate family is limited. He was born and raised in Nantwich, Cheshire, and began his football journey in the local area before progressing through the Crewe Alexandra academy. Detailed information about his parents and siblings has not been widely published.
Personal Life
Westwood is known to keep much of his personal life out of the public eye. He maintains an active presence on social media, including an Instagram account under the handle linked to his name. As of the most recent verified records, no information about a spouse or children has been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Looking ahead to the 2025 Major League Soccer season, Ashley Westwood is expected to continue in his role as captain of Charlotte FC, providing experience and stability in the middle of the pitch. The club will be aiming to push higher up the Eastern Conference standings after several seasons of consolidation since entering MLS. Westwood’s leadership will remain central to their ambitions.
His familiarity with head coach Christian Lattanzio’s playing style, developed over the previous campaign, should help him dictate tempo and organise the team from a deep-lying position. With his contract having run through 2024, the 2025 season may also bring talks about his future beyond his current deal. His continued fitness following the serious ankle injury suffered at Burnley in 2022 will be closely monitored by both the coaching staff and supporters.
For Westwood personally, 2025 offers the chance to add to an already distinguished career that has spanned the Football League, Premier League and Major League Soccer. Whether extending his playing days in Charlotte or moving into a new chapter, his standing as one of the most experienced English midfielders in MLS appears secure.