Rico Browne
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rico Franklin Browne[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 28 December 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Manchester, England | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Walsall | ||
| Number | 33 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Elche | |||
| 2016–2023 | Birmingham City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2024 | Birmingham City | 0 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → Rushall Olympic (loan) | 18 | (1) |
| 2024– | Walsall | 0 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Tamworth (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2019 | Saint Kitts and Nevis U17 | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7:55, 16 January 2025 (UTC) | |||
Rico Franklin Browne (born 28 December 2003) is a professional footballer who plays for Walsall, as a defender.[2] Born in England, he is a former youth international for Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Club career
[edit]Born in Manchester,[1] Browne played for the youth teams of Elche and Birmingham City, joining the latter in 2016.[3] He went up all their youth categories, going on to captain their U21 side.[4] On 27 June 2022, he signed his first professional contract with Birmingham until 2024.[5] He spent the 2023–24 season on loan with Rushall Olympic in the National League.[6] His Rushall Olympic manager Liam McDonald said of Browne, "I've managed a lot of defenders over the years that have gone on and played Championship football but Rico [Browne] is up there with the best I've had."[6] Browne was offered a new contract by Birmingham in May 2024, but rejected it.[7]
Browne signed for Walsall in September 2024, after going on a trial with them.[8][9][10][11] He moved on loan to Tamworth in October 2024, for one month.[12][13] He returned to Walsall on 11 November, following five first-team appearances for Tamworth, including a 1–0 cup upset over EFL League One side Huddersfield.[14] On 12 November 2024, he made his Walsall debut in a 3–0 win over Shrewsbury in the EFL Trophy, which Walsall coach Darren Byfield said that he should be "proud" about.[15]
International career
[edit]Born in England, Browne is of Kititian descent. He played for the Saint Kitts and Nevis U17s in 2019.[16] He was called up to the senior Saint Kitts and Nevis national football team for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[17]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of 14 January 2025
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Birmingham City | 2023–24[18] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rushall Olympic (loan) | 2023–24[1] | National League North | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 | |
| Walsall | 2024–25[19] | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Tamworth (loan) | 2024–25[1] | National League | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Career total | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 1 | ||
- ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Rico Browne at Soccerway. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ Rico Browne at Soccerbase
- ^ "Tottenham rekindle interest in Rico Browne".
- ^ Browne, Alex (16 April 2024). "Manchester United target Rico Browne has agreed new deal at Birmingham City".
- ^ Dick, Brian (27 June 2022). "Blues teens sign professional deals amid links with Tottenham and West Ham". Birmingham Live.
- ^ a b Bennett, George (19 November 2024). "Walsall defender Rico Browne tipped to thrive by former boss". www.expressandstar.com.
- ^ Alex Dicken (18 May 2024). "Birmingham City release 14 players and offer two senior stars new contracts". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "Saddlers snap up Rico Browne". Walsall F.C. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ "Rico Browne: Walsall sign defender after deal agreed with Birmingham". BBC Sport. 19 September 2024.
- ^ Dicken, Alex (20 September 2024). "Birmingham City agree compensation package as defender completes transfer". Birmingham Live.
- ^ Bennett, George (19 September 2024). "Walsall sign former Birmingham City defender Rico Browne". www.expressandstar.com.
- ^ "Rico Browne joins Tamworth on loan". Walsall F.C. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ Bennett, George (1 November 2024). "Mat Sadler pleased with Walsall loanee Rico Browne's progress". www.expressandstar.com.
- ^ "Rico Browne returns from Tamworth loan". 11 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ Bennett, George (15 November 2024). "Walsall defender Rico Browne told to be "proud" after impressing on his debut". www.expressandstar.com.
- ^ Sarkar, Abhishek (7 April 2023). "Manchester United target Birmingham City's 19-year-old sensation Rico Browne".
- ^ "Birmingham City's Rico Browne to rep St Kitts in Gold Cup qualifiers | Loop Caribbean News". Loop News.
- ^ "Games played by Rico Browne in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ "Games played by Rico Browne in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- 2003 births
- Living people
- English people of Saint Kitts and Nevis descent
- English men's footballers
- Saint Kitts and Nevis men's footballers
- Men's association football defenders
- Saint Kitts and Nevis men's youth international footballers
- National League (English football) players
- Elche CF players
- Birmingham City F.C. players
- Rushall Olympic F.C. players
- Walsall F.C. players
- Tamworth F.C. players
- English expatriate footballers
- English expatriate sportspeople in Spain
- Expatriate footballers in Spain