Ronnie Edwards is drawing interest from several Premier League clubs after making an impression with England’s youth teams.
One of England’s most talented young defenders is Ronnie Edwards. For England’s youth teams, he has shown promise; in 2022, he won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship. After losing to Oxford United in the semifinals of the League One play-offs this year, the center defender for Peterborough United was unable to assist his team in winning promotion. Since his contract expires in June 2025, there will undoubtedly be a long line of European clubs vying for his signature this summer.
This season, Edwards has been strongly associated with both West Ham and Crystal Palace; yet, he has not let the rumors to derail him. This season, he participated in 54 games in all competitions for Peterborough and won the EFL League One Young Player of the Season award. This is all the information you require about the young man from Posh who is wanted in England.
Ronnie Edwards’ Career
At nine years old, Edwards enrolled in the Barnet academy, where he spent six years playing for their younger teams. After a successful trial in 2020, he moved to Peterborough United and played just two professional games for the Bees. Edwards made five appearances for Posh in the 2020–21 season, including games in League One against MK Dons and Doncaster Rovers. The young defender made a name for himself in Peterborough’s first team the following season. He was named the team’s Player of the Season after playing 34 games in the Championship. In addition, he contributed to England’s victory at the UEFA European U19 Championship. In the final, Edwards started at center back as the Three Lions defeated Israel 3-1 in overtime.
Edwards played his first season for the England U20 team in 2022–2023. He was included in the team to compete in the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup at the completion of the campaign. Although his team lost to Italy in the round of 16, the Peterborough defender was one of the Young Lions’ most reliable players, starting all four games. After winning the first leg 4-0, Edwards’ team lost to Sheffield Wednesday in the play-offs, bringing an end to his League One season filled with heartache. Personally, though, he participated in 44 games, scoring one goal and providing three assists.
In the most recent season, Edwards only missed one game. But Peterborough fell in the play-offs once more, and they will now have to play League One for another season. The 21-year-old scored twice in the third division, making it his most productive season in front of goal. One of these was a glancing header from a wide free kick in a 1-1 draw against Carlisle United. Edwards was recognized for his year-long efforts by winning the EFL League One Young Player of the Season title, and Posh concluded the season in fourth place.
| Ronnie Edwards’ Senior Career Stats | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Peterborough | 142 | 2 | 2 |
| Barnet | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What Position Ronnie Edwards Plays
Edwards played every game at centre-back for Peterborough in the 2023/24 campaign. When Posh were in the Championship, the young defender broke into the team due to an injury to the captain, Mark Beevers. He impressed in a back five in this division and kept his place in the team ever since. At the back end of the season, Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson largely opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Edwards playing as the left centre-back. He can also play on the other side of the defence, particularly when the manager opts for a back five, as he is predominantly right-footed.
Given that Edwards is 5 feet, 11 inches, his ability to read the game and position himself correctly have been critical to his development. The Peterborough defender was asked about his size in an interview with Sky Sports on 13th March 2024. He said:
“I’m probably not going to grow much more! So you could say that I’m a short centre-half. So it’s been about learning how to use my body, which I’m probably not going to fully do until my mid-20s. That’s one thing that I think I am good at, reading the game and my positioning.”
| Ronnie Edwards’ England Youth Team Stats | ||
|---|---|---|
| Team | Appearances | Debut |
| England U19 | 10 | 6th October 2021 |
| England U20 | 13 | 21st September 2022 |
Ronnie Edwards’ Style of Play
Because of his skill both inside and outside the possession, Edwards has a high rating. Premier League teams will continue to be interested in his long-range passing to Peterborough’s wingers in behind rival full-backs, especially against teams lined up in a low block. He can do this in a back five as well as a back four when driving out of defense to give the wing-backs space to overlap their runs forward. However, Edwards has been praised for his mature decision-making when in possession, as he is at ease choosing the short ball to the central midfielders in the event that a long-range pass is not available. These long-balls are not always on.
Out of possession, Edwards is often praised for timing tackles well and stopping opposition counter attacks. His ability to sniff out danger and step into midfield to make an interception was key to Peterborough’s high-intensity style of play in League One this season. When the full-back has pushed on significantly and the other team attack down the flanks, Edwards is also capable of covering for his teammate and defending out wide due to his pace and confidence in defending one-on-one situations.
Speaking about Edwards’ strengths and future potential in December 2022, Peterborough Chairman Darragh MacAnthony said:
“There is no doubt that Ronnie will play at the very top one day. He’s ice cool and has so much going for him. I know some people like to point out his deficiencies, but show me a 19-year-old who doesn’t have them. Ronnie is as good as they come and it doesn’t matter where he goes he will be a success. The club that tried to buy him the most know they would make £40million-plus on him in a couple of years. Average centre-backs can go for £60million.”
| Ronnie Edwards’ Defensive Actions at Peteborough United | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | Tackles Won | Interceptions |
| 2020/21 | Peterborough United | League One | 4 | 6 |
| 2021/22 | Peterborough United | Championship | 35 | 46 |
| 2022/23 | Peterborough United | League One | 56 | 66 |
| 2023/24 | Peterborough United | League One | 37 | 59 |
Latest Transfer Rumours and Contract News on Ronnie Edwards
Edwards’ contract runs out on 30th June 2025 and with just over a year left on his deal, it is highly likely that he will be sold to the highest bidder this summer. Peterborough have set an extremely high asking price for the young defender, which is the main reason why a deal hasn’t got over the line yet. If Edwards is sold in the summer, it is worth noting that Barnet have a 50% sell-on clause.
It looked as if the 21-year-old would move to the Premier League in January, but bids were rejected from Crystal Palace, West Ham, and Everton. Miguel Delaney reported earlier in 2024 that Edwards’ preference was to go to Palace due to their growing reputation for developing young players from the lower leagues of English football. It is unclear whether the London club and the other two top-flight sides will revive their interest in the centre-back in the coming months. With Peterborough unable to get promoted from League One and only a year left on his contract, though, it is expected that Posh will be looking to sell.
A move away from the third tier outfit for Edwards broke down in the summer of 2023. In an interview with BBC Look East, the highly-rated Peterborough defender said:
“I think everything happens for a reason. It was clearly time for me to stay still. I just have to be the best version of myself and improve. When my time comes, my time comes.”
Peterborough director of football Barry Fry believed that Edwards’ appearance in the Under-20 World Cup in 2023 helped raise the profile of the defender. Following England’s round of 16 exit to Italy, where the centre-back impressed, Fry said: “Every club in the country, and worldwide really, will be watching these England games. It puts values on the players’ heads. We’ve had several bids for Ronnie Edwards that we’ve turned down, but he will go eventually because he’s class.”
