Ronnie Edwards (footballer)

Ronnie Lee Edwards (born 28 March 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for club Southampton.

He began his career with Barnet before earning a move to Peterborough United in 2020. In his first season, Peterborough won promotion to the Championship. In the following season, Edwards became a regular starter for the club, winning the Player of the Season award. In the 2023–24 season, Edwards was a member of the Peterborough team that won the EFL Trophy as well as winning the League One Young Player of the Season award. His form earned him a £3 million move to Premier League side Southampton.

Edwards has represented England at youth level, winning the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2022. He has also played for England at under-20 level.

Barnet
Edwards joined Barnet at the age of nine, and progressed through the club's academy, captaining the under-18s. Aged sixteen, he made his senior debut when he captained a young Bees side in a Middlesex Senior Cup game against Staines Town on 17 December 2019. Four days later he made his league debut as a late substitute against Maidenhead United. He made five appearances for the Bees in the 2019–20 season.

Peterborough United
He joined Peterborough United after a successful trial against Peterborough Sports in August 2020. He made his debut on 8 September 2020 in the EFL Trophy against Burton Albion.

Edwards made his full league debut on 15 December 2020 in a 1–1 draw away to Milton Keynes Dons.

The 2021–22 season saw Edwards establish himself in the first-team picture. Although the club suffered relegation from the Championship, the season proved a success on an individual level, winning four awards at the club's end of season awards, including the Player of the Season.

Edwards was awarded the EFL Young Player of the Month for January 2024, registering his 100th league start for the club in the same month. He was a member of the Peterborough side that won the 2023–24 EFL Trophy, starting in the final at Wembley Stadium.

Southampton
On 3 July 2024, Edwards joined Premier League club Southampton on a four-year contract for a reported £3 million.

International career
Edwards was called up to a training camp with the England U19 national team in May 2021. In October 2021, he was called up to the full U19 squad for the friendly Marbella Cup tournament and made his debut during a 3-1 defeat against France.

On 17 June 2022, Edwards was included in the England U19 squad for the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. He started in the final as England won the tournament with a 3-1 extra time victory over Israel on 1 July 2022.

On 21 September 2022, Edwards made his England U20 debut during a 3-0 victory over Chile at the Pinatar Arena. On 10 May 2023, Edwards was included in the England squad for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He started all four of their games at the tournament including the round of sixteen defeat against Italy.

Honours
Peterborough United
 * EFL League One second-place promotion: 2020–21
 * EFL Trophy: 2023–24

England U19s
 * UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2022

Individual
 * Peterborough United Player of the Season: 2021–22
 * EFL Young Player of the Month: January 2024
 * EFL League One Young Player of the Season: 2023–24