Tyler Jay French (born 12 February 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Dundee.
![]() French in July 2019 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Tyler Jay French[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1999-02-12) 12 February 1999 (age 23)[2] | ||
Place of birth | Bury St Edmunds, England | ||
Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Central defender | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Dundee | ||
Number | 4 | ||
Youth career | |||
2014–2015 | Long Melford | ||
2015 | Hadleigh United | ||
2015–2016 | A.F.C. Sudbury | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2016–2019 | A.F.C. Sudbury | 96 | (1) |
2019–2021 | Bradford City | 16 | (0) |
2020 | → AFC Fylde (loan) | 5 | (0) |
2021–2022 | Wrexham | 38 | (0) |
2022– | Dundee | 14 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:00, 12 November 2022 (UTC) |
Born in Bury St Edmunds, French attended Ormiston Sudbury Academy.[3] He grew up supporting Liverpool.[4]
French spent his early career in non-league football with Long Melford, Hadleigh United and A.F.C. Sudbury.[5] He combined his non-league playing career with a part-time job building conservatory bases.[6] In early 2019 he trialled with Football League clubs Barnsley and Charlton Athletic, and was transfer listed by Sudbury in an attempt to move up the league system.[7] He also had trials at Crystal Palace, Leicester City, and Ipswich Town.[8]
Following a successful trial period, he signed a two-year professional contract with League Two club Bradford City in May 2019.[9][10][11] French said that he would be spending the summer before the start of the 2019–20 season training, stating that "I won't have much time off because I want to get myself in the best shape possible for pre-season [...] I've got an off-season [training] programme to help me but I'm quite naturally fit, so hopefully I'll be all right".[6] He scored his first goal for Bradford when he scored in an EFL Trophy tie against Rochdale on 12 November 2019.[12]
In February 2020 he moved on loan to AFC Fylde.[13] He credited his time at Fyle for helping him getting used to a higher level of football.[14]
French was praised by club captain Richard O'Donnell after an impressive performance in the opening day of the 2020–21 season.[15] On 31 January 2021 it was announced that he had left the club.[16]
On 1 February 2021, he signed for Wrexham.[17] He was sent off on his debut for the club a day later.[18]
On 5 July 2022, French joined Scottish Championship side Dundee for an undisclosed fee on a two-year deal.[19] He made his competitive debut for Dundee in an away Scottish League Cup win over Stranraer, starting the match.[20] The following week, French scored his first goal for the club in a 5–1 win over Forfar Athletic.[21]
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
A.F.C. Sudbury | 2015–16[22] | Isthmian League Division One North | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
2016–17[23] | Isthmian League Premier Division | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | 30 | 0 | ||
2017–18[24] | Isthmian League North Division | 40 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | 50 | 0 | ||
2018–19[25] | Isthmian League North Division | 28 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 36 | 1 | ||
Total | 96 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 120 | 1 | ||
Bradford City | 2019–20[26] | League Two | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[lower-alpha 1] | 1 | 6 | 1 |
2020–21[27] | League Two | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
Total | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 25 | 1 | ||
AFC Fylde (loan) | 2019–20[2] | National League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Wrexham | 2020–21[2] | National League | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
2021–22[28] | National League | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
Total | 38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 0 | ||
Dundee | 2022–23[29] | Scottish Championship | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2 |
Career total | 169 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 21 | 1 | 210 | 4 |
Dundee F.C. – current squad | |
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