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Sil Swinkels
Dutch footballer (born 2004) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Sil Swinkels (born 6 January 2004) is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a centre-back or left-back for Exeter City, on loan from Premier League club Aston Villa. Swinkels is a product of the Aston Villa and Vitesse Arnhem academies and has played for the Netherlands internationally at youth levels up to under-18. Swinkels played on loan for EFL League One side Bristol Rovers in 2025, making his senior league debut and appearing fourteen times.
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Early life
Swinkels was born in Sint-Oedenrode in the south of the Netherlands in 2004.[3]
Club career
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Youth career
Having played youth football for Dutch sides RKSV Rhode, Helmond Sport, Brabant United and Vitesse Arnhem, he joined Aston Villa's academy in summer 2020.[3][4]
Swinkels made an unexpected first team debut for Aston Villa when, due to a COVID-19 outbreak, Villa were forced to play an inexperienced squad in an FA Cup third-round tie against Liverpool on 8 January 2021.[5]
On 24 May 2021, Swinkels was part of the Aston Villa U18s team that won the FA Youth Cup, beating Liverpool U18s 2–1 in the final.[6] On 10 August 2021, he signed his first professional contract with Aston Villa.[7]
In March 2023, Swinkels suffered a torn ACL in a Premier League 2 match against Southampton B which he confirmed would result in an extended period on the sidelines.[8] Swinkels eventually returned to football on 8 April 2024, in a 4–0 defeat for Villa U21s against Chelsea U21s.[9] After coming back from injury and playing a part in Aston Villa U21s reaching the Premier League 2 play-offs and winning the Birmingham Senior Cup, on 17 May 2024, Swinkels signed a contract extension with Aston Villa.[10]
Senior career
On 24 September 2024, Swinkels made his first appearance for the senior Aston Villa team for the first time since 2021 during a 2–1 away victory against Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Cup.[11] Swinkels was a regular substitute option for Villa in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League and 2024-25 Premier League over the first half of the season but did not appear.[12]
On 28 November 2024, Swinkels signed another contract extension with Aston Villa.[13]
On 3 February 2025, Swinkels signed for EFL League One club Bristol Rovers on loan until the end of the season.[14] Swinkels made his English Football League debut on 11 February 2025, scoring a 91st minute equaliser in a match against Stockport County.[15]
On 17 July 2025, Swinkels returned to League One, joining Exeter City on a season-long loan deal.[16]
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International career
Swinkels played for Netherlands at the under-15 level. On 6 September 2021, Swinkels made his debut for Netherlands U18 in a 5–0 friendly victory over Italy.[17] He scored his first goal at youth international level for Netherlands U18s, on 28 March 2022, in a 4–1 away victory over Germany.[18]
Career statistics
Club
- As of end of 2024–25 season[19]
- Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
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Honours
Aston Villa U18s
- FA Youth Cup: 2020–21[6]
Aston Villa U21s
- Birmingham Senior Cup: 2023-24[20]
References
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