Aaron Paul Morley (born 27 February 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Wycombe Wanderers on loan from fellow EFL League One club Bolton Wanderers.
 Morley playing for Rochdale U18s in 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Aaron Paul Morley[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 27 February 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Bury, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Wycombe Wanderers (on loan from Bolton Wanderers) | ||
| Number | 28 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Manchester City | |||
| Bolton Wanderers | |||
| –2016 | Rochdale | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2022 | Rochdale | 93 | (6) |
| 2022– | Bolton Wanderers | 99 | (8) |
| 2024– | → Wycombe Wanderers (loan) | 11 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:12, 10 November 2024 (UTC) | |||
Career
editEarly career
editMorley started his career in the academy of Manchester City and then later, the academy of Bolton Wanderers, before signing for the academy of Rochdale.[3]
Rochdale
editAfter progressing through Rochdale's academy he first featured for the senior team during the 2016–17 pre-season campaign.[4] After being named as an unused substitute regularly in League One, Morley made his competitive debut in a 2–1 EFL Trophy victory over Notts County on 4 October 2016.[5]
He made his league debut four days later in a 3–0 win over Southend United.[6] Morley also had a five-minute cameo in Rochdale's 2–0 FA Cup victory over Maidstone United, playing as a left-winger rather than his preferred central role.[7]
Morley made a further three appearances for the club during the season – in two EFL Trophy matches and one league fixture.[2]
On 1 March 2017, he signed his first professional contract with the club following his 17th birthday.[8]
He was offered a new contract by Rochdale at the end of the 2018–19 season.[9]
On 28 June 2019, Morley signed a new three-year contract with Rochdale.[10]
Bolton Wanderers
editOn 11 January 2022, it was announced Morley had re-signed for Bolton Wanderers, having previously played in the Bolton Wanderers academy as a child, and signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with EFL League One team.[3] He signed for an undisclosed fee[3] which reported by The Bolton News to be around £100,000.[11] He made his debut on 15 January in a 2–0 home win against Ipswich Town. On 2 April, he started in the 2023 EFL Trophy Final which Bolton won 4–0 against Plymouth Argyle.[12] On 28 December 2023, he signed a new contract until 2027.[13]
On 23 August 2024, Morley joined fellow League One side Wycombe Wanderers on a season-long loan deal.[14]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 27 April 2024
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Rochdale | 2016–17[15] | League One | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 2017–18[16] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018–19[17] | League One | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2019–20[18] | League One | 23 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2[a] | 0 | 32 | 5 | |
| 2020–21[19] | League One | 44 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 50 | 2 | |
| 2021–22[20] | League Two | 21 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 2 | |
| Total | 93 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 121 | 9 | ||
| Bolton Wanderers | 2021–22[20] | League One | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 1 |
| 2022–23[21] | League One | 41 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8[b] | 2 | 50 | 6 | |
| 2023–24[22] | League One | 37 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6[a] | 2 | 49 | 5 | |
| Total | 99 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 120 | 12 | ||
| Career total | 192 | 14 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 26 | 4 | 241 | 21 | ||
- ^ a b c d e Appearances in the EFL Trophy
- ^ Six appearances in the EFL Trophy, two appearances in the League One play-offs
Honours
editBolton Wanderers
References
edit- ^ "EFL Released and Retained List 2017-18" (PDF). English Football League. p. 62. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Aaron Morley". www.rochdaleafc.co.uk. Rochdale A.F.C. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
- ^ a b c "Wanderers Land Midfield Man Morley". www.bwfc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ "Aaron Morley Makes First-Team Debut". Retrieved 15 October 2017.
- ^ "Rochdale 2-1 Notts County: Report". Retrieved 15 October 2017.
- ^ "Rochdale 3-0 Southend United". BBC Sport. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
- ^ "Rochdale 2-0 Maidstone United". BBC Sport. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
- ^ "Aaron Morley Signs First Professional Contract". Retrieved 15 October 2017.
- ^ "Aaron Wilbraham: Rochdale offer forward, 39, new deal". BBC Sport. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ "Aaron Morley Signs New Three-Year Deal". Rochdale AFC. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
- ^ The Bolton News: "Bolton Wanderers snap up Aaron Morley from Rochdale in six-figure deal"
- ^ a b Pilnick, Brent (2 April 2023). "Bolton Wanderers 4–0 Plymouth Argyle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- ^ Aaron Morley: Bolton Wanderers midfielder signs new deal until June 2027
- ^ "Morley makes move to Adams Park". www.wwfc.com. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Aaron Morley in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Aaron Morley in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Aaron Morley in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "Games played by Aaron Morley in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "Games played by Aaron Morley in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ a b "Games played by Aaron Morley in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ "Games played by Aaron Morley in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ "Games played by Aaron Morley in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
