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Louie Sibley

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Louie Sibley
Louie Sibley warming up
Louie Sibley in 2025
Personal information
Full name Louie Joseph Sibley[1]
Date of birth (2001-09-13) 13 September 2001 (age 24)[2]
Place of birth Burton Upon Trent, England[3]
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[4]
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Bradford City
(on loan from Oxford United)
Number 40
Youth career
2010–2019 Derby County
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2024 Derby County 147 (13)
2024– Oxford United 14 (1)
2025 → Rotherham United (loan) 21 (2)
2026– → Bradford City (loan) 4 (0)
International career‡
2017–2018 England U17 5 (0)
2019 England U18 2 (0)
2019 England U19 1 (0)
2021 England U20 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 2 January 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 17:57, 6 September 2021 (UTC)

Louie Joseph Sibley (born 13 September 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Bradford City, on loan from EFL League One club Oxford United.

Sibley joined Derby County's academy in 2010, making his first-team debut in December 2019, after he was a part of the club's U18 Premier League championship in 2018–19. Sibley played in over 170 first-team matches for Derby and, during the 2023–24 season, helped the club win back promotion the Championship after a two-year absence in League One. Sibley left Derby for Oxford in the summer of 2024.

Early life

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Sibley was born and raised in Burton upon Trent and attended Paulet High School.[5]

Club career

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Derby County

[edit]

Sibley has been with Derby County since he joined the Under-8s academy team. After being named the 2017–18 Academy Player of the Year he signed as a first-year scholar at the beginning of the 2018–19 season,[6] a season which ended in a U18 Premier League title success.[7]

On 12 August 2019 Sibley made his professional debut in the EFL Cup against Scunthorpe United.[8] On 28 August of the same year, Sibley received his first senior start, again in the EFL Cup, against Nottingham Forest, which ended in a 3–0 loss. Sibley made his league debut as a substitute in Derby's 3–0 loss to Reading on 21 December 2019.[9] On 20 June 2020, Sibley scored his first senior hat-trick for Derby on only his second league start, away to Millwall.[10] He ended the 2019–20 season with 5 goals in 11 league matches.

On 17 September 2020, Sibley signed a new deal with Derby to take him through to the end of the 2023–24 season.[11] During the 2020–21 season Sibley was a first-team regular, making 32 appearances with his only goal of the season coming in a 2–2 draw against Brentford[12] as Derby avoided relegation by one point.

The 2021–22 season would be an even tougher one for Derby as they were handed multiple points deductions which totalled 21.[13][14] Injuries limited Sibley's game time and in January 2022, with the club needing to raise funds in administration, Millwall made several bids for Sibley.[15] Sibley stayed at Derby, however, and scored the winning goal in stoppage time in a 1–0 success over Peterborough United on 19 February 2022.[16] This would be Sibley's only Championship goal, as Derby were unable to overcome the deduction and were relegated to League One in April 2022.[17]

During the 2022–23 season, Sibley made a total of 52 appearances, scoring six times, three times in League One, with highlights being the only goal in an EFL Cup win over West Bromwich Albion in August 2022[18] and two goals in a 3–2 league win over Oxford United in March 2023.[19] This was his most productive season in front of goal, though Derby missed out on the League One play-offs by one point at the end of the season.

Sibley was unable to take part in any of the pre-season fixtures ahead of the 2023–24 season or the opening five league matches because of a calf injury.[20] Sibley's first three goals of the season came in the EFL Trophy, once against Lincoln City on 19 September 2023[21] and twice in a 2–1 win at Notts County on 10 October 2023.[22] After this game, Derby head coach Paul Warne described Sibley as the best "finisher" at the club.[23][24] Sibley scored a 90th-minute winner against Stevenage on 17 February 2024.[25] He was credited with two of Derby's three goals against Port Vale on 2 March 2024; however, the EFL later awarded the opening goal of the game as a Kacper Łopata own goal.[26] At the end of the season, Sibley found himself a regular starter at left-wing back.[27] He made 44 appearances for Derby during the season, scoring six goals as Derby secured promotion to the Championship after finishing League One runners-up.[28]

On 18 May 2024, Derby County confirmed that Sibley was in talks to extend his contract, with his deal expiring in June 2024.[29] On 2 July 2024, it was confirmed that Sibley had left Derby after rejecting his contract offer. In total, Sibley made 173 appearances for Derby, scoring 20 goals.[30]

Oxford United

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On 3 July 2024, Sibley joined fellow newly promoted Championship side Oxford United.[31]

On 24 January 2025, Sibley returned to League One, joining Rotherham United on loan for the remainder of the season.[32] He scored inside two minutes on his debut, in a 4–2 defeat at Burton Albion.[33]

On 2 January 2026, Sibley joined League One club Bradford City on loan for the remainder of the season.[34]

International career

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Sibley has represented England at U17, U18 and U19 level.[citation needed]

On 6 September 2021, Sibley made his debut for the England U20s during a 6–1 victory over Romania U20s at St. George's Park.[35]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of 2 January 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Derby County 2019–20[36] Championship 11 5 4 0 2 0 0 0 17 5
2020–21[37] Championship 30 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 32 1
2021–22[38] Championship 26 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 28 2
2022–23[39] League One 42 3 4 1 3 1 3[a] 1 52 6
2023–24[40] League One 38 3 2 0 0 0 4[a] 3 44 6
Total 147 13 10 1 9 2 7 4 173 20
Oxford United 2024–25[41] Championship 11 1 1 0 2 0 — 14 1
2025–26[42] Championship 3 0 0 0 2 0 — 5 0
Total 14 1 1 0 4 0 0 0 19 1
Rotherham United (loan) 2024–25[41] League One 21 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 22 2
Bradford City (loan) 2025–26[42] League One 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 182 16 11 1 31 2 8 4 214 23
  1. ^ a b Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Honours

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Derby County

References

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  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Burton Albion" (PDF). English Football League. p. 24. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  2. ^ "View Louie Sibley - Derby County". www.dcfc.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  3. ^ Culley, Jon (8 March 2020). "Louie Sibley makes light of Wayne Rooney's absence to shine in Derby demolition of Blackburn". The Telegraph. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  4. ^ https://www.whoscored.com/players/381128/show/louie-sibley
  5. ^ Watson, Chris (16 November 2017). "Who is the Derby County youngster that helped England beat Germany?". Derbyshire Live. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  6. ^ "View Louie Sibley – Derby County". dcfc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Derby Countys Under 18 Premier League Champions Where are they now". Jobs in Football. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Scunthorpe United vs. Derby County – 13 August 2019". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Reading 3-0 Derby County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Jordan Sibley hat-trick earns Rams comeback victory". BBC Sport. 20 June 2020. Archived from the original on 20 June 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Bird and Sibley sign new long-term contract with Derby County". Derby County F.C. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  12. ^ "Derby County 2–2 Brentford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Derby County: Championship Club formally enter administration". BBC News. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Derby County: Championship bottom club docked nine more points for accounting rule breaches". BBC Sport. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Derby County fans make transfer predictions after Millwall table 'fourth offer'". Derbyshire Live. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Derby County 1–0 Peterborough United". BBC. 19 February 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Queens Park Rangers 1-0 Derby County". BBC Sport. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  18. ^ "Derby County 1-0 West Bromwich Albion". BBC Sport. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  19. ^ "Oxford United 2-3 Derby County". BBC Sport. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  20. ^ "Mendez-Laing, Barkhuizen, Sibley - Derby County injury news ahead of Burton Albion clash". Derbyshire Live. 11 August 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  21. ^ "EFL Trophy Match Report: Derby County 2-0 Lincoln City". Derby County. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  22. ^ "EFL Trophy Match Report: Notts County 1-2 Derby County". Derby County. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  23. ^ "Paul Warne receives Derby County demand after Notts County win in EFL Trophy". Derbyshire Live. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  24. ^ "What Paul Warne said to David McGoldrick as challenge made clear for Derby County ace". Derbyshire Live. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Derby County 1-0 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  26. ^ "Derby County 3-0 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  27. ^ "Leigh Curtis' Derby County player ratings v Cambridge as Rams put one foot in the Championship". Derbyshire Live. 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  28. ^ a b "Breaking: Derby County promoted as duo seal it for Paul Warne's side". Derby Telegraph. 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  29. ^ "Derby County Retained List: 2023/24 Season". Derby County. 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  30. ^ "Player Departure:Sibley moves on following expiry of contract". Derby County. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  31. ^ "Louie Sibley Joins Oxford United". Oxford United F.C. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  32. ^ "SIGNING | SIBLEY SIGNS ON LOAN". www.themillers.co.uk. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  33. ^ ""He will make us better. It's others who have let us down today."". Rotherham Advertiser. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  34. ^ "SIBLEY ARRIVES AS FIRST JANUARY RECRUIT". www.bradfordcityafc.com. 2 January 2026. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  35. ^ "Six at SGP for MU20s". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  36. ^ "Games played by Louie Sibley in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  37. ^ "Games played by Louie Sibley in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  38. ^ "Games played by Louie Sibley in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  39. ^ "Games played by Louie Sibley in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  40. ^ "Games played by Louie Sibley in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  41. ^ a b "Games played by Louie Sibley in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  42. ^ a b "Games played by Louie Sibley in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
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