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Ethan Robson
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Ethan Robson (born 25 October 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder.
Key Information
He began his career with Sunderland, and spent time on loan with Dundee and Grimsby Town, before joining Blackpool in 2020. After a stint on loan, Robson joined Milton Keynes Dons permanently for two years before signing for Carlisle United in 2024. While signed to Carlisle, Robson had loan spells with Gateshead, Spennymoor Town and South Shields.
Early years
[edit]Robson was born in Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, and attended St Robert of Newminster Catholic School in nearby Washington.[3]
Club career
[edit]Sunderland
[edit]Robson started his career with the youth team at local side Sunderland, joining the club at the age of eight and rose through the ranks to go to a full-time professional with the first team in the summer of 2014.[3]
He featured regularly and captained the development squad and under-23 side before signing a two-year contract extension in April 2016.[4] Robson was named the Premier League 2 Player of the Month for August 2016.[5]
He played three games for the under-21 side in the 2016–17 EFL Trophy, and also appeared as an unused substitute on several occasions for the first team.[6] Robson made his first-team debut in September 2017, when he replaced James Vaughan as a late substitute in the 3–0 defeat to Everton in the EFL Cup.[7] A few days later he made his league debut in the Championship in a home defeat to Cardiff City.[7]
Robson was loaned to Dundee in January 2019.[8] He made 13 appearances in the Scottish Premiership and scored twice.[9] On 2 September 2019, Robson headed out on loan again, this time joining League Two side Grimsby Town, where he played regularly until returning to Sunderland in January 2020.[10][9]
Robson was released by Sunderland when his contract expired at the end of the 2019–20 season, bringing to an end a 16-year spell with the club during which he made just nine league appearances.[11]
Blackpool
[edit]On 6 August 2020, Robson joined League One club Blackpool on a two-year deal with an option of a third.[12] On 11 November 2020, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3–0 EFL Trophy win over Leeds United U21s.[13]
Robson joined League One club Milton Keynes Dons on a season-long loan on 1 July 2021.[14] He made his league debut for the club on 7 August 2021 in a 3–3 draw away to Bolton Wanderers on 7 August 2021.[15] Robson scored his first MK Dons goal in a 1–0 home league win over Portsmouth on 11 September 2021.[16] On 17 January 2022, Robson was recalled early from his loan by Blackpool due to injuries within the squad, amid rumours MK Dons had made two failed bids to sign him permanently.[17] Robson was released from his Blackpool contract in May 2022, at the end of the 2021–2022 season.[18]
Milton Keynes Dons
[edit]On 15 June 2022, Robson's former loan club Milton Keynes Dons announced he would be returning to the club on a permanent basis effective 1 July 2022 following his release from Blackpool.[19] On 17 May 2024, the club said he would be released in the summer when his contract expired.[20]
Carlisle United
[edit]On 25 June 2024, EFL League Two club Carlisle United announced they had signed Robson on a two-year deal.[21] Robson would miss the start of the season with a hamstring injury which was reported to keep him out of action for roughly 3 months.[22]
Gateshead (loan)
[edit]On 27 March 2025, Robson joined National League side Gateshead on loan for the remainder of the season.[23] On 29 March, Robson made his debut for the Tynesiders, starting in a league game away to Barnet.[24] The following week, Robson scored his first goal for Gateshead in a home win over Dagenham & Redbridge.[25]
South Shields (loan)
[edit]On 23 January 2026, Robson joined National League North club South Shields on loan for the remainder of the season.[26] On 9 May 2026, Carlisle announced that Robson would leave in the summer.[27]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of 9 May 2026
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sunderland | 2014–15[28] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015–16[29] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17[6] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18[7] | Championship | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19[9] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 1 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2019–20[30] | League One | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 1 | ||
| Sunderland U21 | 2016–17[6] | — | 3[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||
| 2017–18[7] | — | 3[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||||||
| Total | — | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |||||||
| Dundee (loan) | 2018–19[9] | Scottish Premiership | 13 | 2 | — | — | — | 13 | 2 | |||
| Grimsby Town (loan) | 2019–20[30] | League Two | 16 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 21 | 3 |
| Blackpool | 2020–21[31] | League One | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[b] | 1 | 36 | 1 |
| 2021–22[32] | Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 38 | 1 | ||
| Milton Keynes Dons (loan) | 2021–22[32] | League One | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 23 | 1 |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2022–23[33] | League One | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 26 | 1 |
| 2023–24 | League Two | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 0 | |
| Total | 51 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 60 | 1 | ||
| Carlisle United | 2024–25 | League Two | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 2025–26 | National League | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| Total | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | ||
| Gateshead (loan) | 2024–25 | National League | 3 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | ||
| Spennymoor Town (loan) | 2025–26 | National League North | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
| South Shields (loan) | 2025–26 | National League North | 12 | 0 | — | — | 1[c] | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 173 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 24 | 2 | 214 | 12 | ||
- ^ a b c d e f Appearances in EFL Trophy
- ^ Four appearances and one goal in EFL Trophy, one appearance in EFL League One play-offs
- ^ Appearance in National League North play-offs
Honours
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Grimsby Town" (PDF). English Football League. p. 31. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Ethan Robson". 11v11. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ a b "Ethan Robson Profile". Sunderland A.F.C. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ Hunter, James (1 April 2016). "Sunderland hand young talent a two-year contract extension". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ a b "Sunderland's Ethan Robson scoops Premier League 2 Player of Month award for August". Sunderland Chronicle. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Ethan Robson in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Games played by Ethan Robson in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ "Dundee sign Scott Wright, Ryan McGowan, Ethan Robson and John O'Sullivan on loan". BBC Sport. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Games played by Ethan Robson in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ^ "Ethan Robson: Grimsby Town sign Sunderland midfielder on loan". BBC Sport. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
- ^ Smith, Phil (17 June 2020). "Sunderland retained list: Duncan Watmore one of five to leave as Jon McLaughlin, Chris Maguire and Tom Flanagan offered new deals". Sunderland Echo. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ^ Scrafton, Matt (6 August 2020). "Blackpool see off competition from League One rivals to make ex-Sunderland midfielder their sixth summer signing". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ^ "Blackpool 3-0 Leeds United's U21s: Seasiders continue impressive recent form to qualify for knockout stages of EFL Trophy". blackpoolgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ "Ethan Robson Joins MK Dons On Loan" – Blackpool F.C., 1 July 2021
- ^ "Bolton Wanderers 3-3 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ "Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 Portsmouth". BBC. 11 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Blackpool recall Ethan Robson from MK Dons loan spell amid reports of rejected bids". Blackpool Gazette. 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Club Confirms Retained List | News | Blackpool Football Club". www.blackpoolfc.co.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Ethan Robson returns to MK Dons". Milton Keynes Dons. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "MK Dons release five including Warren O'Hora and Dan Kemp". BBC Sport. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "MIDFIELDER SIGNS TWO-YEAR DEAL | Carlisle United Football Club". www.carlisleunited.co.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ "Carlisle United's Ethan Robson and Dylan McGeouch to miss start of season". BBC Sport. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "Ethan Robson joins Gateshead on loan from Carlisle United". gateshead-fc.com. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
- ^ "Barnet 3-1 Gateshead". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
- ^ "National League: Gateshead 2-1 Dagenham & Redbridge". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
- ^ "Ethan Robson signs for Shields". www.southshieldsfc.co.uk. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "FIRST TEAM RETAINED AND RELEASED 2025/26 | Carlisle United Football Club". www.carlisleunited.co.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ^ "Games played by Ethan Robson in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Ethan Robson in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ a b "Games played by Ethan Robson in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
- ^ "Games played by Ethan Robson in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Games played by Ethan Robson in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ "Games played by Ethan Robson in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ "Blackpool sealed a return to the Championship after a six-year absence by beating Lincoln City in the League One play-off final at Wembley". BBC. 30 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
External links
[edit]- Ethan Robson at Soccerbase
Ethan Robson
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life
Birth and upbringing
Ethan Robson was born on 25 October 1996 in Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, England.[1][5] He grew up in Houghton-le-Spring.[6]Education
Ethan Robson attended St Robert of Newminster Catholic School in Washington, Tyne and Wear.[6] His schooling there coincided with the development of his early passion for football, particularly inspired by attending the same institution as Jordan Pickford, the England international goalkeeper who had progressed through Sunderland's academy a few years earlier.[7]Club career
Sunderland
Robson joined the Sunderland academy at the age of eight in 2004, beginning a lengthy association with his boyhood club.[6] He progressed through the youth ranks, initially playing for local side Fullwell Juniors before committing fully to Sunderland's development system.[6] Robson signed his first professional contract with the club in 2013, marking the transition from academy prospect to senior squad member.[8] Robson made his senior debut for Sunderland in September 2017, substituting in an EFL Cup match against Everton.[6] Over the course of his time with the first team, he accumulated nine league appearances in the 2017–18 Championship season, all without scoring, often coming off the bench in brief substitute roles.[9] These outings provided limited opportunities amid competition for midfield places, as Robson primarily featured for the under-23 side, where he served as captain and earned accolades such as Premier League 2 Player of the Month in September 2016.[6] To gain further first-team experience, Robson was loaned to Dundee in the Scottish Premiership in January 2019.[10] During his half-season spell, he made 13 appearances and scored two goals, contributing to the team's efforts in a competitive top-flight environment.[4] Later that year, in September 2019, Robson joined League Two side Grimsby Town on loan until January 2020.[11] He featured in 16 league matches for Grimsby, netting three goals and providing an assist, helping to build his physicality and consistency in senior football.[9] Robson extended his contract with Sunderland in March 2018, committing until 2020.[12] However, he was released by the club upon the expiration of his deal at the end of the 2019–20 season, concluding a 16-year tenure that spanned from academy beginnings to initial senior steps.[13]Blackpool
On 6 August 2020, Ethan Robson joined League One club Blackpool on a free transfer from Sunderland, signing a two-year contract with an option for a further year.[14] The move provided him with his first permanent senior contract outside his boyhood club, allowing him to establish himself in the third tier after loan spells earlier in his career.[14] In the 2020–21 season, Robson became a regular squad member under manager Neil Critchley, making 28 appearances in League One without scoring.[9] His contributions helped Blackpool finish third in the league, qualifying for the play-offs.[9] He featured briefly in the play-off campaign, coming on as a substitute in the final against Oxford United on 21 May 2021 at Wembley Stadium; Blackpool drew 2–2 on the day (3–3 aggregate) before winning 4–3 on penalties to earn promotion to the Championship. Following promotion, Robson's role diminished in the 2021–22 Championship season, where he made just two league appearances as competition for midfield places intensified.[9] Seeking to provide him with consistent game time at a more suitable level, Blackpool loaned him to League One club Milton Keynes Dons on 1 July 2021 for the duration of the campaign. The arrangement was cut short on 17 January 2022 when Blackpool recalled him amid injuries to key midfielders, including Kenneth Dougall and Sonny Carey.[15] Robson made two further league outings upon his return but struggled to reclaim a starting spot.[9] At the end of the season, Blackpool confirmed on 10 May 2022 that Robson would be released upon the expiry of his contract the following month, alongside players including Grant Ward.[16] In total, he recorded 30 league appearances for Blackpool across both divisions, scoring no goals.[9]Milton Keynes Dons
Robson joined Milton Keynes Dons on a season-long loan from Blackpool on 1 July 2021.[17] During the 2021–22 League One campaign, he made 18 league appearances and scored 1 goal.[9] His goal came on 11 September 2021 in a 1–0 home victory over Portsmouth, marking his first for the club with a strike in the 72nd minute assisted by Scott Twine.[18] Following his release by Blackpool in June 2022, Robson signed permanently with MK Dons on a two-year deal effective 1 July 2022.[19] In his first permanent season (2022–23 League One), he featured in 18 league matches, scoring 1 goal.[9] That goal arrived on 20 August 2022 in a 1–1 home draw against Accrington Stanley, a superb 25-yard bend into the top corner that earned him the club's Goal of the Month award for August.[20] The following season (2023–24 League Two), Robson appeared in 33 league games, providing 3 assists but no goals, contributing to the team's midfield stability as they finished eighth in the table.[9] Across his permanent spell, he totaled 51 league appearances and 1 goal.[9] Robson was released by MK Dons upon the expiry of his contract on 17 May 2024.[21]Carlisle United
On 25 June 2024, following his release from Milton Keynes Dons, Robson signed a two-year contract with League Two club Carlisle United.[22][23] During the 2024–25 season, Robson made 7 league appearances for Carlisle, primarily as a substitute, while adapting to the team amid injury challenges early in his tenure.[24] On 27 March 2025, he joined National League side Gateshead on loan until the end of the season to gain regular playing time; in his three appearances, he scored once, marking his goal in his second match against Dagenham & Redbridge.[25][26] Returning to Carlisle for the 2025–26 campaign in the National League, Robson featured in three more league matches, scoring his first goal for the club with a free-kick in a 2–0 victory over Woking on the opening day.[27] Overall, he has made 11 appearances (including cup matches) and one goal for the Blues across both seasons.[3] Seeking further opportunities, Robson was loaned to National League North club Spennymoor Town on 10 October 2025 for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.[3][28] As of November 2025, he has made six league appearances for Spennymoor, contributing one goal in competitive fixtures.[29] His loan remains ongoing.International career
Youth levels
Robson did not earn any caps or make appearances for England at youth international levels, including under-21 and below.[1] There are no documented call-ups or training experiences with England youth teams during his early career.[1] Having joined the Sunderland academy at age eight and progressed to a professional contract by 2016, Robson's development emphasized club-level opportunities over potential international exposure.[6]Senior level
Robson has not earned any senior international caps for the England national team as of November 2025.[9] Despite progressing through the youth ranks at Sunderland and accumulating over 170 professional appearances in English domestic leagues, primarily in League One and League Two, he has not been selected for the senior squad.[1] No records indicate any near-misses, such as inclusion in training squads or provisional call-ups, for the England senior team during his career.[30] His professional journey, which has seen him play for clubs like Blackpool, Milton Keynes Dons, and Carlisle United, has been confined to the lower tiers of the English Football League, limiting opportunities for national team consideration.[31] In the broader context of English football, senior international opportunities for players like Robson—those without standout performances in the Premier League or Championship promotion pushes—remain rare, as selectors prioritize higher-profile talents for competitive fixtures and friendlies. His cumulative club experience, exceeding 11,000 minutes in competitive matches, has not yet translated to international recognition.[9]Career statistics
Club statistics
Ethan Robson has accumulated 170 appearances and 10 goals in league competitions throughout his club career as of November 19, 2025.[31][9] His statistics reflect contributions across multiple English Football League divisions, the Scottish Premiership, and lower-tier leagues during loans.[9] The following table provides a breakdown of his league appearances and goals by club:| Club | League/Division | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunderland | EFL Championship | 9 | 0 |
| Dundee (loan) | Scottish Premiership | 13 | 2 |
| Grimsby Town (loan) | EFL League Two | 19 | 3 |
| Blackpool | EFL Championship / League One | 33 | 0 |
| Milton Keynes Dons (loan) | EFL League One (2021–22) | 20 | 1 |
| Milton Keynes Dons | EFL League One (2022–23) | 22 | 1 |
| Milton Keynes Dons | EFL League Two (2023–24) | 34 | 0 |
| Carlisle United | EFL League Two / National League | 11 | 1 |
| Gateshead (loan) | National League | 3 | 1 |
| Spennymoor Town (loan) | National League North | 6 | 1 |
| Career Total | 170 | 10 |
International statistics
Ethan Robson has not represented England at the senior international level, accumulating zero caps and zero goals.[1][9] He also holds zero appearances and goals across all youth international levels for England.[1][32]| International Level | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Senior | 0 | 0 |
| Youth | 0 | 0 |