Hubbry Logo
Nick PowellNick PowellMain
Open search
Nick Powell
Community hub
Nick Powell
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Nick Powell
Nick Powell
Nick Powell
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Nicholas Edward Powell (born 23 March 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or left winger for EFL League One club Bradford City.

Key Information

He began his career at Crewe Alexandra, initially as a forward, making his debut at the age of 16. After impressing for Crewe Alexandra during the 2011–12 season, including scoring in their 2–0 victory in the League Two play-off final, he moved to Manchester United in July 2012. Unable to break into the Manchester United first team, however, he went on loan to Wigan Athletic, Leicester City and Hull City before being released in June 2016. He re-joined Wigan Athletic in July 2016. He spent three seasons at the DW Stadium before joining Stoke City in June 2019. He has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21 levels.

Club career

[edit]

Crewe Alexandra

[edit]

Born in Crewe, Cheshire,[2] Powell attended Sandbach School and started his career at home-town club Crewe Alexandra, joining their youth system as a five-year-old.[4] He made his debut for Crewe on 19 August 2010, in a League Two game against Cheltenham Town, which ended in a 3–2 defeat at Whaddon Road. At the age of 16 he came on as a second-half substitute for Clayton Donaldson, becoming the second youngest player ever to appear for Crewe.[5][6]

On 20 August 2011, after only being on the pitch for eight minutes, Powell was sent off for the first time in the 2–0 defeat to Shrewsbury Town, following a poor challenge on Terry Gornell.[7] Powell scored his first senior goal in a 3–1 away win at AFC Wimbledon on 15 October 2011. In January 2012, Powell was awarded the Football League's Young Player of the Month Award for December.[8] He scored his first brace against Gillingham in a 4–3 win on 10 March 2012.[9] On 21 April 2012, he won every award at Crewe's end of season awards ceremony, becoming the first player to win all five, including Goal of the Season (for his 30-yard strike in the 4–3 win at Gillingham), Young Player of the Year and Player of the Year.[10][11]

On 27 May 2012, Powell scored the most important goal of his career so far, a volley from outside the box into the top corner in the 2–0 victory over Cheltenham Town in the 2012 League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium, to win promotion to League One.[12]

Manchester United

[edit]

Powell joined Manchester United from Crewe Alexandra on 2 July 2012 in a deal reported to be worth up to £6 million, depending on future success and appearances.[13] He was allocated the number 25 shirt that had been worn by Antonio Valencia, who took the number 7 shirt. It is also the same shirt number that he had worn at Crewe.[14]

Powell playing for Manchester United in 2012

Powell played his first match for United on 21 July 2012 coming on as a second-half substitute in a pre-season friendly against Ajax Cape Town in South Africa.[15] Four days later, he made his first start for Manchester United in a pre-season friendly match against Shanghai Shenhua.[16] He made his Premier League debut against Wigan Athletic in a 4–0 win on 15 September 2012, coming on as a substitute for Ryan Giggs in the 71st minute, and scoring his first goal for United in the 82nd minute after receiving a pass from Javier Hernández.[17]

On 2 September 2013, Powell joined Wigan Athletic on a season-long loan,[18] following in the footsteps of fellow Manchester United player Tom Cleverley who had been on loan at the club. Powell then went on to score Wigan's first ever European goal, against NK Maribor on 3 October 2013, and later added the third goal in a 3–1 victory for his side.[19] Powell then increased his European tally to three with a right-footed equaliser in Wigan's home tie against Rubin Kazan. On 15 December 2013, Powell scored an overhead kick in a 3–2 win over Bolton Wanderers. On 14 January 2014, Powell scored twice against Milton Keynes Dons in the FA Cup, overcoming the 1–0 deficit to help Wigan win 3–1.

Powell was given the number 22 for the 2014–15 season. He started the first game of the season in a League Cup match against Milton Keynes Dons which United lost 4–0. He was later substituted for James Wilson.[20]

On 2 September, he was loaned to newly promoted Premier League team Leicester City for the rest of the season, with Tom Lawrence also making the move but on a permanent basis.[21] On 1 November, Powell made his Leicester debut against West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League, coming on as a second-half substitute for Danny Drinkwater on 81 minutes in a 0–1 home defeat.[22] On 27 December, it was reported that Leicester City had opted to terminate Powell's loan early due to the player showing a lack of commitment to training.[23]

On 23 November 2015, Powell made his first appearance in 2015, playing 55 minutes in an under-21 game against Norwich City, having been sidelined by serious hamstring problems for around nine months.[24][25][26]

Powell was included in United's Champions League squad for their crucial group game against VfL Wolfsburg on 9 December 2015, due to a number of injuries. He came on as a replacement for Juan Mata in this game which United went on to lose 3–2. PSV knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League, defeating CSKA Moscow in the other Group B match.[27] He also came on as a second-half substitute in United's next game, a league defeat at Bournemouth,[28] his first league appearance for United in over three years.

On transfer deadline day, 1 February 2016, Powell moved to Hull City on loan until the end of the 2015–16 season.[29] He made his debut on 20 February 2016 in the FA Cup fifth round match at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal that ended in a 0–0 draw.[30]

In June 2016, Powell was released by Manchester United,[31] and in July 2016 was variously reported to be set to sign for Wolverhampton Wanderers.[32]

Wigan Athletic

[edit]

On 12 July 2016, Powell returned to Wigan Athletic on a free transfer, signing a three-year contract.[33] On 13 August 2016, Powell scored in his first appearance of the season, in a 3–0 home win against Blackburn Rovers.[34] His first season was seemingly ended prematurely by injury during a January 2017 FA Cup game against Nottingham Forest,[35] but Powell returned to first-team action three months later, coming on as a substitute and scoring an injury-time winner against Rotherham United.[36] On 13 April 2017, Powell scored an 11-minute hat-trick for Wigan, who were 2–0 down in the second half against Barnsley, earning his side a 3–2 home win.[37] Powell continued his scoring momentum four days later, netting from the bench in Wigan's 2–1 away defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on 17 April 2017.[38] Despite scoring five goals in three consecutive substitute appearances, Powell's exploits weren't enough to help Wigan avoid relegation to EFL League One.[39]

Powell opened his account for the 2017–18 campaign on 5 August 2017, scoring from close range in Wigan's 1–0 opening day victory at Milton Keynes Dons.[40] Powell claimed a second-half brace the following week, scoring a header and converting a penalty as Wigan cruised to a 4–1 home win against Bury.[41] Powell scored 15 goals during the season helping the Latics win the League One title.[42] In April 2018 he was nominated for the EFL League One Player of the Season award but he missed out to Blackburn Rovers' Bradley Dack.[43][44]

Powell began the 2018–19 season well scoring in the first three matches against Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday.[45] Powell scored eight goals in 32 matches as Wigan secured Championship survival, finishing in 18th position.[46][47] Wigan manager Paul Cook revealed in June 2019 that Powell had turned down the offer of a new contract and instead agreed one with Stoke City.[48]

Stoke City

[edit]

On 25 June 2019, Powell joined Championship side Stoke City.[49][50] Powell made his debut on the opening day of the 2019–20 season against Queens Park Rangers but was unable to finish the match due to injury.[51] He didn't return to the side until the end of the September against Nottingham Forest by which time Stoke had failed to register a victory and were bottom of the table.[52] Michael O'Neill was appointed Stoke manager in November and Powell became a key member of his team as Stoke's results began to improve and the team move away from the foot of the table.[53] He scored his first goal for the club on 1 January 2020 in a 5–2 victory against Huddersfield Town.[54] Powell scored twice in a 5–1 win against relegation rivals Hull City on 7 March 2020 just before the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[55] The season returned in June and Powell scored a 93rd-minute equaliser in the first match of the restart away at Reading.[56] He came in for criticism in the next match against Middlesbrough after picking up two yellow cards within a minute.[57] Powell ended the campaign with five goals from 30 appearances as Stoke avoided relegation and finished in 15th position.[58]

The continuing COVID-19 pandemic meant all of Stoke City's 2020–21 matches were played behind closed doors, but Powell enjoyed a productive year, making 42 league and cup appearances, top-scoring with 12 Championship goals while also making three assists. In May 2021, he won the club's end-of-season Player of the Year award with almost 60% of the votes.[59] He started the 2021–22 season with six goals in 10 first team appearances before suffering a fibula injury ruling him out for eight weeks.[60] In March 2022, after a somewhat lacklustre return to the first team, Powell was sidelined for another six weeks with a new quad muscle injury.[61] He returned for the final two matches of the season as Stoke finished in 14th.[62] At the end of the season Powell signed a one-year contract extension.[63][64] In 2022–23 Powell scored four goals in 26 appearances and was released at the end of the season.[65][66]

Stockport County

[edit]

Following his release by Stoke, Powell joined League Two side Stockport County on a three-year contract,[67] and helped the club to the 2023–24 League Two title and promotion to League One.[68]

Bradford City

[edit]

On 18 August 2025, Powell signed for Bradford City following a mutual agreement to terminate his contract with Stockport County.[69]

International career

[edit]

Powell has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21 levels. On 5 November 2009, he made his debut for the under-16 team in a 2–0 win against Northern Ireland.[70] On 25 August 2010, Powell made his debut against Turkey for the under-17 side. On 28 August 2010, Powell scored a free-kick for the under-17s in a 4–0 win against Australia in the FA Men's under-17 International Tournament.[71] He played in the 2011 UEFA European U-17 Football Championship, with England making it to the semi-final and Powell scoring against France in the group stage. Powell made his under-18 debut in a 3–0 win against Poland on 7 March 2012 at Crewe's Alexandra Stadium.[72] He scored on his under-19 debut against Germany on 6 September 2012. He was called up to the under-21 squad for the first time on 3 October 2012, for the play-off games against Serbia.[73] He made his debut on 13 November, playing the full 90 minutes of a 2–0 win against Northern Ireland at Bloomfield Road.[74]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of 2024–25 season
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Crewe Alexandra 2010–11[75] League Two 17 0 1 0 0 0 — 1[a] 0 19 0
2011–12[76] League Two 38 14 1 0 1 0 — 5[b] 2 45 16
Total 55 14 2 0 1 0 — 6 2 64 16
Manchester United 2012–13[77] Premier League 2 1 0 0 2 0 2[c] 0 — 6 1
2013–14[78] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2014–15[79] Premier League 0 0 0 0 1 0 — — 1 0
2015–16[80] Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 1[c] 0 — 2 0
Total 3 1 0 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 9 1
Wigan Athletic (loan) 2013–14[78] Championship 31 7 3 2 1 0 6[d] 3 — 41 12
Leicester City (loan) 2014–15[79] Premier League 3 0 0 0 0 0 — — 3 0
Hull City (loan) 2015–16[80] Championship 3 0 2 0 0 0 — — 5 0
Wigan Athletic 2016–17[81] Championship 21 6 1 0 0 0 — — 22 6
2017–18[82] League One 39 15 6 0 0 0 — — 45 15
2018–19[46] Championship 32 8 0 0 0 0 — — 32 8
Total 92 29 7 0 0 0 — — 99 29
Stoke City 2019–20[83] Championship 29 5 1 0 0 0 — — 30 5
2020–21[84] Championship 39 12 0 0 3 0 — — 42 12
2021–22[85] Championship 18 6 2 0 1 1 — — 21 7
2022–23[86] Championship 25 4 1 0 0 0 — — 26 4
Total 111 27 4 0 4 1 — — 119 28
Stockport County 2023–24[87] League Two 32 3 2 0 0 0 — 2[e] 0 36 3
2024–25[88] League One 7 0 0 0 0 0 — 2[f] 1 9 1
Total 39 3 2 0 0 0 — 4 1 45 4
Career total 337 81 20 2 9 1 9 3 10 3 385 90
  1. ^ Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Two appearances in Football League Trophy, three in Football League Two play-offs
  3. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Champions League
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy
  6. ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

[edit]

Crewe Alexandra

Wigan Athletic

Stockport County

Individual

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Nick Powell

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Nicholas Edward Powell (born 23 March 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Bradford City in EFL League One. Powell began his career at hometown club Crewe Alexandra, where he made his senior debut at the age of 16 in 2010. He emerged as a key player during the 2011–12 season, scoring 15 goals across all competitions and helping Crewe secure promotion from League Two via the play-offs, where he netted a memorable volley in the final against Cheltenham Town. His performances earned him a £6 million transfer to Manchester United in June 2012, marking him as a highly rated prospect. At Manchester United, Powell made three Premier League appearances and contributed to their 2012–13 title-winning squad, though he did not play enough to receive a winner's medal. He also featured in the 2012–13 FA Cup run, scoring twice en route to the semi-finals. He was part of the squad that won the 2013 FA Community Shield. Over the next few years, Powell gained experience through loan spells at Leicester City (2014–15), and Wigan Athletic (2013–14 and 2015). In 2016, Powell joined Wigan Athletic on a permanent basis, where he played over 100 matches and helped the club win the League One title in 2017–18. He transferred to Stoke City in 2019 for a reported £2 million fee, accumulating nearly 120 appearances in the Championship over four seasons. After his contract expired in 2023, he signed with Stockport County, contributing to their League Two promotion in 2023–24, before moving to Bradford City in August 2025. Powell has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-19, and under-21 levels. In October 2025, he underwent hamstring surgery, ruling him out for the remainder of the year.

Early life

Childhood and family

Nicholas Edward Powell was born on 23 March 1994 in , , . , an industrial town that developed rapidly in the as a major hub for the railway industry, provided the backdrop for Powell's early years, with its history of manufacturing shaping the local working-class community. Powell grew up with his family in this environment. His father played a significant role in his upbringing, helping to keep him grounded even as early successes emerged. This familial support and local culture nurtured Powell's initial interest in the sport, paving the way for his involvement in organized youth football.

Academy beginnings

Powell joined Alexandra's academy at the age of five in 1999, marking the start of his formal involvement in organized football within his hometown club. He advanced steadily through the club's age-group teams, demonstrating early promise that led to his under-16 international debut in November 2009 during a 2–0 victory over . His standout performances extended to youth international level, where he represented at the UEFA Under-17 European Championship in 2011, crediting the experience for honing his skills under competitive pressure. Beginning his academy career primarily as a forward, Powell gradually shifted to an attacking midfield , a transition that allowed him to leverage his vision and technical ability more effectively. This development was influenced by Crewe's esteemed system, spearheaded by long-time manager , whose emphasis on ball control, passing, and tactical intelligence became foundational to Powell's growth.

Club career

Crewe Alexandra

Powell made his senior debut for Crewe Alexandra on 19 August 2010, coming on as a substitute in a 3–2 League Two defeat to Cheltenham Town at the age of 16. Having progressed through the club's academy, which emphasized technical development from an early age, he began to feature more regularly in the first team during the following seasons. The 2011–12 season marked Powell's professional breakthrough, where he made 38 appearances and scored 14 goals in League Two, helping Crewe finish seventh and qualify for the play-offs. A highlight was his brace in a 4–3 victory over Gillingham on 10 March 2012, showcasing his finishing ability. Powell's form continued into the post-season, scoring the opener in the play-off final against Cheltenham Town on 27 May 2012, securing a 2–0 win and promotion to League One. At Crewe's end-of-season awards on 21 April 2012, he achieved a clean sweep, winning Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Goal of the Season, and two supporters' awards, becoming the first player to claim all five. In June 2012, Powell transferred to Manchester United for an initial fee of £3 million, potentially rising to £6 million with add-ons, ending his time at where he had made over 50 first-team appearances.

Manchester United

Nick Powell joined Manchester United from Alexandra on 12 June 2012, signing a four-year contract for an initial fee of £3 million, potentially rising to £6 million depending on future appearances and international success. The 18-year-old midfielder, who had helped win promotion from League Two earlier that year, was immediately included in United's pre-season tour of , making his debut as a substitute in a 1-1 draw against Ajax on 21 July. He started his first match for the club four days later in a 1-0 victory over Shenhua, marking his adaptation to the higher level amid high expectations from manager , who praised Powell's technical ability and vision. In the 2012–13 season, Powell made his competitive debut in the as a second-half substitute against Wigan Athletic on 15 September, scoring United's fourth goal in a 4-0 win at with a powerful 25-yard strike. He also featured in the League Cup, starting in the second-round defeat to MK Dons (0–4) on 25 August and appearing as a substitute in the third-round win over Newcastle United (2–1) on 26 September. Despite these outings, Powell did not make further appearances that season but was part of the squad that clinched the title, United's 13th, with a final-day victory over Aston Villa. Unable to break into the first team under Ferguson's successor , Powell was loaned to Athletic for the 2013–14 season on 2 September 2013. There, he flourished in the , scoring 14 goals in 41 appearances across all competitions, including Wigan's first-ever goal in the Europa League during a 1–0 group-stage win over . His loan was cut short in May 2014 following Wigan's relegation, but the spell highlighted his potential as an attacking midfielder capable of contributing at the elite level. Powell's opportunities at United remained limited under . In October 2014, he joined Leicester City on a short-term loan, making two substitute appearances in the without scoring before returning early in January 2015 due to lack of playing time. Back at , he featured sporadically in the 2015–16 Europa League group stage, including a substitute appearance in a 1–0 win over , but struggled with injuries and form. On 1 February 2016, Powell was loaned to Hull City until the end of the season, where he made four appearances in the as the Tigers fought relegation, but failed to score. In June 2016, following the expiration of his contract, Manchester United released Powell after four years with the club, during which he made just nine first-team appearances and scored one goal. His time at represented a challenging transition from League Two success to the demands of a top club, with loans providing valuable experience but ultimately underscoring his struggle for consistent senior minutes.

Wigan Athletic

Powell joined Wigan Athletic on a three-year on 12 July 2016, becoming a after his Manchester United expired the previous month. The move marked his return to the club where he had previously impressed on in 2013–14, allowing him to establish a permanent presence in the third tier following a period of loans away from . In the 2016–17 League One season, Powell emerged as a key figure in Wigan's promotion push, making 31 appearances and scoring 7 goals as the team clinched the title with 87 points to return to the . His contributions included a stoppage-time winning goal in a 3–2 victory over Rotherham United on 8 April 2017, which helped maintain momentum during the run-in despite an earlier injury setback in the that briefly threatened to end his campaign prematurely. Powell returned from the injury to feature in the season's finale, underscoring his resilience and importance to manager Gary Caldwell's squad. Over the subsequent seasons from 2017 to 2019, Powell faced ongoing struggles with injuries that limited his consistency, resulting in 50 total appearances and 12 goals across the and League One. Wigan suffered relegation from the in 2017–18 before securing immediate promotion as League One champions the following year, with Powell's intermittent availability impacting his overall output during this period of league fluctuations. His contract expired at the end of June 2019, leading to his departure from the club after declining a new offer.

Stoke City

Powell joined Stoke City on 25 June 2019, signing a three-year contract on a free transfer from Athletic. His prior experience in the with Wigan facilitated a swift adaptation to the Potters' squad. He made his debut for Stoke in the opening 2019–20 match, a 1–2 defeat to Queens Park Rangers on 3 August 2019. Throughout the season, Powell contributed steadily as the team adjusted to life in the second tier under Nathan Jones, scoring five goals in 30 league appearances to help secure a 15th-place finish and avoid relegation. Powell's form peaked during the 2021–22 campaign under Michael O'Neill, where he netted eight goals in 28 league outings despite a mid-season injury that sidelined him for eight weeks. To regain match fitness following , he briefly joined Stoke's U21 side on loan in April 2022. Over his four seasons at Stoke, Powell amassed 119 appearances and 28 goals across all competitions, establishing himself as a key creative presence in midfield. His involvement diminished in 2022–23, limited to 19 league starts amid squad changes and further injury setbacks, during which he scored four goals. Powell was released by Stoke at the end of the 2022–23 season after not being offered new terms, departing the club in June 2023.

Stockport County

In July 2023, Powell signed for Stockport County on a free transfer from Stoke City, agreeing to a two-year contract. His arrival was seen as a major coup for the League Two club, bringing experience from higher divisions to bolster their promotion push. During the 2023–24 League Two season, Powell featured in 37 appearances across all competitions, scoring 3 goals, as Stockport won the title with 92 points to secure automatic promotion to League One. Powell's versatility as an attacking midfielder, combined with his prior Championship experience at Stoke City, offered crucial leadership and creativity to a squad aiming for resurgence in the lower tiers. Powell carried his form into the 2024–25 League One season, making 10 appearances and contributing 1 goal before the club mutually agreed to terminate his contract in August 2025. This period marked a positive resurgence for Powell, as his goals and overall play helped stabilize Stockport's position in the third tier amid a competitive division.

Bradford City

In August 2025, Nick Powell signed a one-year contract with Bradford City following a mutual termination of his agreement with Stockport County, marking his return to League One football. The move brought an experienced attacking midfielder to the squad under manager , who had made Powell his tenth summer signing, with the player expressing enthusiasm for contributing to the club's ambitions at the Stadium. Powell integrated quickly into the team, making his debut as a substitute in the second round against Stoke City on 26 August 2025, followed by substitute appearances in league matches, and earning his first start in the third round against Newcastle United on 24 September 2025, though Bradford suffered a 4-1 defeat in that fixture. Across his initial appearances in the 2025–26 season, he featured in six matches (four league, two ), providing creative presence in midfield without recording any goals or assists, as the team focused on building cohesion for a promotion challenge. As a seasoned , Powell was expected to play a key role in Bradford's promotion push, leveraging his technical skills and experience to support younger members. However, his progress was halted by a injury sustained in October 2025, which is anticipated to sideline him for the remainder of the year. With his running until June 2026, Powell's future prospects at the club will depend on his recovery timeline and ability to regain form upon return, amid Bradford's ongoing efforts in the League One table as of November 2025.

International career

Youth levels

Nick Powell began his international youth career with the England under-16 team, making his debut on 5 November 2009 against and earning multiple caps, including during the 2010 Tournoi de Montaigu. He progressed to the under-17 level in 2010–11, where he secured 14 caps and scored 4 goals, including appearances in the qualification campaign and the tournament itself in , where England reached the last 16. He also featured in the , helping England to the semi-finals and scoring against in the group stage. Following Alexandra's promotion to League One in May 2012, Powell received call-ups to the under-18 squad later that year. At under-19 level during the 2012–13 season, Powell earned 5 caps and netted 2 goals, featuring in UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifiers against opponents such as and . Powell's strong form at accelerated his international opportunities, contributing to his rapid progression through 's developmental system and highlighting his potential as a versatile attacking talent. His experiences across these levels provided crucial exposure to competitive international football, aiding his technical and tactical growth before transitioning to higher categories.

Under-21 level

Powell's involvement with the under-21 team was limited to two caps, earned during his time at Manchester United. His first call-up came on 3 October 2012 for the play-off matches against , though he withdrew due to illness and did not feature. He made his debut on 13 November 2012, starting in a 2–0 friendly victory over at , where he contributed to the early pressure with a flicked header that forced a save. Powell earned his second and final as a substitute in a 5–0 qualifying win against Lithuania on 15 October 2013 at , replacing in the 76th minute. His opportunities for further appearances were curtailed by a series of club loans, beginning with a season-long move to Athletic in 2013, followed by spells at Leicester City and others, which prioritized his senior development. Additionally, recurring injuries, including issues in 2013–14 and a serious problem requiring in 2014–15 that sidelined him for nearly the entire season, further restricted his international availability. Despite his earlier successes at youth levels, such as scoring in the semi-final run, Powell did not progress to senior international honours.

Playing style and reception

Playing attributes

Nick Powell primarily operates as an attacking or left winger, demonstrating versatility to deploy as a forward when required. Standing at 183 cm, he possesses the physical attributes to contribute in multiple roles across the frontline, often shifting between central and wide positions depending on tactical needs. His key strengths include powerful long-range shooting, sharp vision for assists, proficiency with both feet, and strong aerial presence. Powell's ability to strike the ball with considerable power from distance has been noted as a standout trait, complemented by his two-footed capability that allows effective play on either flank or centrally. Additionally, his vision enables precise layoffs and key passes, while his height aids in winning aerial duels, making him a threat in set-piece situations. Despite these attributes, Powell has been hampered by injury proneness, which has disrupted his consistency throughout his career, including significant absences due to hamstring issues, knee surgery, and Achilles tendon problems. He has also shown occasional lapses in decision-making under pressure, leading to turnovers in high-stakes moments. Powell's playing style evolved from a goal-scoring forward in his youth days at Crewe Alexandra, where he netted prolifically, to a more creative in his senior career, focusing on assists and playmaking as he adapted to higher levels at clubs like Manchester United and Stoke City.

Career assessment

Nick Powell burst onto the scene as one of English football's most promising young talents when Manchester United signed him from Alexandra in June 2012 for a reported £6 million, earning widespread acclaim as a "wonderkid" with comparisons to club legend . Sir Alex Ferguson, United's manager at the time, praised Powell's vision, temperament, and ambidexterity, predicting he would "fill 's boots" and become a mainstay in the team. This hype was fueled by Powell's standout performances in 's youth setup and his contributions to their 2011–12 League Two promotion via playoffs, where he scored crucial goals, positioning him as the next big thing from United's academy pipeline. However, Powell's trajectory at Manchester United faltered due to limited first-team opportunities under and , compounded by a series of loans to clubs like Wigan Athletic, Leicester City, and Hull City, where he struggled for consistent minutes. Injuries plagued his development, including a severe in 2015–16 that sidelined him for nearly four months and recurring and quad issues that disrupted his momentum across multiple seasons. These setbacks, alongside reports of lapses in during his United tenure, led to perceptions of unfulfilled potential, with Powell eventually being released in 2016 after seven senior appearances for the club, forcing him to rebuild in the lower tiers. Powell's career saw a notable resurgence in the lower leagues, where he contributed to promotions that highlighted his enduring quality and adaptability as a versatile attacking midfielder. He played a key role in Wigan Athletic's 2017–18 League One title win, scoring 15 goals to secure promotion to the , and later helped County claim the 2023–24 League Two championship during his two-year stint there. By 2025, at age 31, Powell had established himself as a respected veteran with over 400 senior appearances, joining in League Two as a in August after his Stockport contract was terminated, bringing experience from nearly 200 games with and Stoke City. In reflections on his journey, Powell has expressed deep regrets about his Manchester United era, admitting in interviews that he "didn't take it seriously" and would "change everything" from that period, including instances where he played video games to escape the pressures of feeling like an outcast. Despite the early promise evaporating, he has voiced appreciation for his career's longevity, emphasizing personal growth and the satisfaction of consistent football away from the spotlight, even as ongoing concerns, such as a recent hamstring in October 2025, continue to test his resilience.

Career statistics

Club statistics

Nick Powell's club career statistics encompass appearances, goals, and assists in domestic leagues and cups. Loans are included under the parent club (e.g., Manchester United). The following table details his performances by season, focusing on league and cup competitions. Data excludes international matches and youth appearances.
SeasonClubLeague (Apps/Goals)Cup (Apps/Goals)Total (Apps/Goals)
2010–11Crewe AlexandraLeague Two (17/0)2/019/0
2011–12Crewe AlexandraLeague Two (38/14)7/245/16
2012–13Manchester UnitedPremier League (2/1)4/06/1
2013–14Manchester United—0/00/0
2013–14Wigan Athletic (loan)Championship (31/7)4/241/12
2014–15Manchester UnitedPremier League (0/0)1/01/0
2014–15Leicester City (loan)Championship (3/0)0/03/0
2015–16Manchester UnitedPremier League (1/0)0/01/0
2015–16Wigan Athletic (loan)Championship (4/0)0/04/0
2015–16Hull City (loan)Championship (3/0)2/05/0
2016–17Wigan AthleticChampionship (21/6)1/022/6
2017–18Wigan AthleticLeague One (39/15)6/045/15
2018–19Wigan AthleticChampionship (32/8)0/032/8
2019–20Stoke CityChampionship (29/5)1/030/5
2020–21Stoke CityChampionship (39/12)3/042/12
2021–22Stoke CityChampionship (18/6)3/121/7
2022–23Stoke CityChampionship (25/4)1/026/4
2023–24Stockport CountyLeague Two (32/3)4/036/3
2024–25Stockport CountyLeague One (42/8)2/144/9
2025–26Bradford CityLeague One (4/0)2/06/0
Club totals (all domestic competitions):
  • Crewe Alexandra: 64 appearances, 16 goals
  • Manchester United (including loans): 61 appearances, 13 goals
  • (including loans): 144 appearances, 41 goals
  • Stoke City: 119 appearances, 28 goals
  • Stockport County: 80 appearances, 12 goals
  • Bradford City: 6 appearances, 0 goals
As of 19 November 2025, Powell has accumulated 474 appearances and 110 goals across all clubs and competitions, with 33 assists recorded.

International statistics

Nick Powell represented at youth international levels from under-16 to under-21, accumulating 16 appearances and 3 goals across these teams, with no senior international caps. The following table summarizes his appearances and goals by age group:
Age GroupAppearances (Goals)
U161 (0)
U176 (1)
U183 (0)
U195 (2)
U211 (0)
Total16 (3)
Powell's under-17 appearances included fixtures in the qualifiers, where he scored in the group stage against , as well as the , in which reached the final. His under-19 involvement featured in the qualifiers, including a match against .

Honours

Club honours

Crewe Alexandra
Football League Two play-offs: 2012 Manchester United
: 2013 Wigan Athletic
: 2017–18 Stockport County
: 2023–24

Individual honours

During his breakthrough season at Crewe Alexandra in 2011–12, Powell achieved a clean sweep of the club's end-of-season awards, becoming the first player to win all five major categories; these included Player of the Year (voted by the Official Supporters' Club), Young Player of the Year (voted by the Alex Trust), Goal of the Season (for his strike against Southend United), Players' Player of the Year, and Supporters' Player of the Year. Powell was named the Player of the Season in 2012. Earlier that season, Powell was named the Football League Young Player of the Month for December 2011, after scoring three goals in four league appearances for in League Two. He also received the Football League Two Apprentice of the Year award in March 2012, recognizing his development as a 17-year-old academy product. At Wigan Athletic in 2018, Powell won the club's Player of the Month award for August, earning 65% of fan votes after contributing two goals and an assist in four Championship matches. During his time at Stoke City, Powell was voted the club's Player of the Year for the 2020–21 season, receiving nearly 60% of supporter votes after scoring 12 goals in the Championship. He also secured the Stoke City Player of the Month award three times that season, including for February 2021 (his second of the campaign, following strong performances with two goals and two assists) and for September 2021 (scoring three goals in four games during a run of three wins and a draw). At Stockport County, Powell won the club's Player of the Month award for February 2024.

References

  1. https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/150469/nick-powell
  2. https://www.transfermarkt.us/nick-powell/profil/spieler/134424
  3. https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/teams/mens/nickpowell
  4. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/may/27/cheltenham-crewe-alexandra-league-two
  5. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/18242763
  6. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4688149/2023/07/14/nick-powell-manchester-united/
  7. https://www.transfermarkt.us/nick-powell/erfolge/spieler/134424
  8. https://www.statmuse.com/fc/ask/nick-powell-stats-with-man-united
  9. https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe227231/nick-powell/
  10. https://www.fotmob.com/players/210797/nick-powell
  11. https://www.transfermarkt.us/nick-powell/nationalmannschaft/spieler/134424
  12. https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/25558382.bradford-city-midfielder-nick-powell-hamstring-operation/
  13. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/election-2019-50675172?page=3
  14. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-66480584
  15. https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/nick-powell.html
  16. https://www.sportbible.com/football/football-news/man-utd/nick-powell-man-utd-premier-league-stoke-stockport-527086-20230728
  17. https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/nov/21/nick-powell-manchester-united
  18. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/17665241
  19. https://www.uefa.com/under17/news/0252-0cddb5ce0c28-1a126f41161f-1000--england-s-powell-thankful-for-crewe-pedigree/
  20. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/16561789
  21. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37352197/dario-gradi-youth-development-sir-alex-nick-powell
  22. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/17338430
  23. https://www.player-profiles.co.uk/player-profiles/player-profiles-nick-powell.php
  24. https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/crewe-alexandra/startseite/verein/1042/saison_id/2011
  25. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/17786681
  26. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/18396573
  27. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18796994
  28. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/scored-manchester-united-debut--29120934
  29. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/25633547
  30. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-utd-nick-powell-released-11467745
  31. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23938557
  32. https://wiganathletic.com/news/2016/july/watch-nick-powells-2013-14-wigan-athletic-goals/
  33. https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-utd/transfer-talk/news/powell-returns-to-united-from-leicester-loan_196703.html
  34. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/10173203/nick-powell-forgot-man-utd-were-playing-in-europa-league-and-played-fifa-instead
  35. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3427274/Nick-Powell-cites-personal-reasons-factor-sealing-loan-Hull-Manchester-United-end-season.html
  36. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-utd-news-powell-valdes-11455457
  37. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36779804
  38. https://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/11682/10499859/nick-powell-makes-wigan-athletic-return-on-three-year-deal
  39. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39464914
  40. https://mufclatest.com/where-are-they-now-nick-powell-once-a-generational-talent-but-his-career-did-not-develop-as-it-once-might-have-become/
  41. https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/five-check-in/
  42. https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/stoke-city/appearances/2019-2020/nick-powell/43736
  43. https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/nick-powell/
  44. https://www.transfermarkt.us/nick-powell/leistungsdaten/spieler/134424
  45. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66137004
  46. https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2023/may/10/seven-to-depart-as-potters-pave-the-way-for-summer-reset/
  47. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/powell-stockport-manchester-united-transfer-27280099
  48. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cjdyjm5relyo
  49. https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/news/2025/august/18/powell-picks-city/
  50. https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/news/2025/august/18/powell-excited-to-start-new-chapter-with-city/
  51. https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/news/2025/september/24/team-news-newcastle-united-v-bantams/
  52. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/c79vl4yzww9t
  53. https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/bradford-city-reaction-given-to-nick-powell-situation/
  54. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsSFgpdzpdc
  55. http://www.englandfootballonline.com/matchrsl/MatchRslTmU16pg3.html
  56. https://www.worldfootball.net/team_performance/england-u17-h-team/u17-h-wm-2011-mexiko/nach-toren/
  57. https://www.nqatpod.com/opinion/profile-nick-powell/
  58. https://www.transfermarkt.com/nick-powell/leistungsdaten/spieler/134424/saison/2012/wettbewerb/GBEG
  59. https://www.utdforum.com/forum/threads/nick-powell-a-nice-goal-for-the-england-u19.188604/
  60. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19820612
  61. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/20255047
  62. https://www.skysports.com/football/england-u21-vs-lithuania-u21/teams/283494
  63. https://www.transfermarkt.com/nick-powell/profil/spieler/134424
  64. https://www.whoscored.com/players/90211/show/nick-powell
  65. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2313165-nick-powell-is-manchester-united-prospect-another-ravel-morrison
  66. https://www.transfermarkt.us/nick-powell/verletzungen/spieler/134424
  67. https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/swot-analysis-of-nick-powell-the-newly-signed-starlet-of-man-utd
  68. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/sep/16/alex-ferguson-nick-powell-paul-scholes
  69. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/09/26/nick-powell-manchester-united-s-new-scholes_n_1915515.html
  70. https://www.unitedinfocus.com/news/ex-manchester-united-star-could-have-been-a-world-beater-but-said-he-didnt-take-it-seriously-at-old-trafford/
  71. https://www.theguardian.com/football/football-league-blog/2018/aug/15/nick-powell-wigan-memories-crewe-sir-alex-ferguson-manchester-united
  72. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cd6nzj497dlo
  73. https://www.footballdatabase.eu/en/player/details/114613-nick-powell
  74. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12298565/Nick-Powell-reflects-outcast-Manchester-United.html
  75. https://fbref.com/en/players/05ca4fcb/Nick-Powell
  76. https://www.playmakerstats.com/player/nick-powell/156347
  77. https://www.worldfootball.net/team_performance/manchester-united/eng-fa-community-shield-2013/
  78. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47130248
  79. https://www.stockportcounty.com/news/2024/april/13/countys-going-up
  80. https://efl.com/eflawards
  81. https://talksport.com/football/efl/139823/crewe-wonderkid-man-united-and-arsenal-could-take-punt-173188/
  82. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11750/7589104/powell-bags-apprentice-prize
  83. https://wiganathletic.com/news/2018/september/nick-powell-wins-wigan-athletics-august-player-of-the-month-award---sponsored-by-currys-pc-world-wigan/
  84. https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2021/may/Powell-named-Player-of-the-Year/
  85. https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2021/march/Powell-scoops-second-POTM-award/
  86. https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2021/october/13/powell-scoops-potm-honour/
  87. https://www.stockportcounty.com/news/2024/march/13/nick-powell-wins-februarys-brsk-player-of-the-month-award
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.