He joined Stoke City's academy at 11 and played for Huddersfield Town - he's now retired at 27

Tom Edwards has confirmed his retirement from football at the age of just 27

Former Stoke City, Barnsley and Huddersfield Town defender Tom Edwards has confirmed his retirement at the age of 27.

The full-back signed for the Potters at the age of 11, and came through their academy system to make his first team debut in October 2017.

He started in a 7-2 loss to Manchester City in the Premier League, making six appearances in the division in his first season with the club.

Stoke’s relegation to the Championship led to him playing 40 more times in the league for the club across the next two campaigns.

He had loan spells with Fleetwood Town, New York Red Bulls and Barnsley, as well as Huddersfield, before departing the club in 2024.

Edwards spent the final two years of his career with Salford City, playing 24 times in League Two for the team, helping them finish eighth and fourth in the table.

Tom Edwards confirms retirement two years after Stoke exit

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Edwards has confirmed that he is hanging up his boots at the age of 27 as a result of injury issues, putting an end to a nine-year career as a player.

He has thanked his former teammates and coaches for their role in helping him in his journey, and that he is proud of what he’s been able to accomplish at club and international level.

“Unfortunately, through injury my career has come to end,” wrote Edwards, via Instagram.

“I have been fortunate enough to play for some amazing teams over the years.

“From playing in the Premier League to having the chance to play in New York.

“I also had [a] chance to represent my country which I will be forever grateful for.

“Thank you to all the players & staff I have shared changing rooms with over the years for helping me along the way.

“It’s been a pleasure.”

Following the defeat to Man City, Edwards had to wait another two months before Mark Hughes gave him his next Premier League appearance, starting in a 5-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur.

He also featured in a 3-1 victory over West Brom, a draw with Huddersfield and defeats to Chelsea and Newcastle United.

Stoke went on to finish 19th in the table that season, which led to their relegation to the Championship, with the Potters coming 16th and 15th in Edwards’ two campaigns in the second tier.

Tom Edwards’ Huddersfield Town career

Edwards made the temporary move to Huddersfield during 2023/24, signing for the club in the summer, as he entered the final year of his Stoke contract.

He made just 13 appearances for the Yorkshire outfit, who suffered relegation to League One with a 23rd place finish in the table.

The 27-year-old’s sole highlight with the Terriers came in their 2-1 win against Watford, where he provided an assist to help the team earn three points.

However, he was released by Stoke upon the end of his loan stint, which led to him signing for Salford as a free agent.

Tom Edwards retirement is a real shame

Edwards broke into the Stoke first team from their academy at the age of just 18, earning a handful of appearances at the highest level.

That highlighted the potential that he possessed, but it never quite worked out for him with the Potters, with injuries plaguing his career.

A series of loan spells meant he enjoyed two stints in New York, which was quite an experience for him to have as a player.

And it’s now a real shame that he has been forced to retire at the age of just 27, and he will be left to wonder what might have been had injuries not been such an issue for him.