Connor Roberts: Burnley and Wales Right-Back

The Welsh defender rose through Swansea City’s academy, represented his country at major tournaments and built a respected football career through energy, loyalty and hard work.

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Introduction

Connor Roberts is a Welsh professional footballer who plays mainly as a right-back or wing-back. He is best known for representing Swansea City, Burnley, Leeds United and the Wales national team.

Roberts developed through Swansea City’s academy before becoming an important first-team player. He later joined Burnley and represented Wales at UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

As of August 2026, Connor Roberts is 30 years old and remains connected with Burnley. He returned to football in 2026 after a long injury absence and joined the club’s preparations for the 2026–27 season.

Connor Roberts Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Full Name	Connor Richard John Roberts
Known As	Connor Roberts
Date of Birth	23 September 1995
Age	30 years old as of August 2026
Birthplace	Neath, Wales
Nationality	Welsh
Profession	Professional footballer
Main Position	Right-back
Other Position	Wing-back
Preferred Foot	Right
Height	Around 1.75 metres
Current Club	Burnley
National Team	Wales
Former Clubs	Swansea City, Yeovil Town, Bristol Rovers, Middlesbrough and Leeds United

Connor Roberts’ Age and Date of Birth

Connor Roberts was born on 23 September 1995 in Neath, Wales.

He is 30 years old as of August 2026 and will celebrate his 31st birthday in September 2026.

Roberts grew up in South Wales and developed a strong connection with Swansea City from a young age. He supported the club before eventually becoming one of its senior players.

Early Life

Football became an important part of Connor Roberts’ life when he was young.

He joined the Swansea City academy at the age of nine and progressed through the club’s youth system. He spent many years learning the technical, physical and mental parts of professional football.

Roberts was also interested in other sports while growing up. This active childhood helped him develop the fitness and stamina that later became important parts of his playing style.

He studied design and technology at school and developed an interest in woodwork. This creative hobby remained part of his life even after he became a professional footballer.

Swansea City Academy Career

Connor Roberts developed through Swansea City’s academy and represented the club at different youth levels.

He played for the under-18 and development teams before moving into senior football. However, he first needed experience away from Swansea before earning a regular place in the first team.

Roberts’ journey shows how young footballers often need patience and loan opportunities before becoming established professionals.

His academy development is similar to the journey of other young Welsh players, including Joel Colwill, who also progressed from youth football into the professional game.

Loan Spell at Yeovil Town

Roberts joined Yeovil Town on loan for the 2015–16 season.

The move gave him his first major experience of senior professional football. He became an important player for Yeovil and regularly competed against older and more experienced opponents.

Roberts played more than 50 matches in all competitions during the season. His performances were recognised when he received several awards at Yeovil’s end-of-season ceremony.

The loan helped him improve his defending, confidence and understanding of professional football.

It also showed Swansea City that he could perform consistently at senior level.

Bristol Rovers Loan

In 2016, Roberts joined Bristol Rovers on loan.

The spell was shorter and less successful than his time at Yeovil Town. He made only a small number of appearances before returning to Swansea City.

Although he did not play regularly, the experience helped Roberts understand how quickly situations can change in football.

Middlesbrough Loan

Roberts later joined Middlesbrough on loan during the 2017–18 season.

He received limited first-team opportunities and made only a few appearances. The loan was ended early because he was not playing regularly.

However, returning to Swansea created an important opportunity.

Soon after returning, Roberts was brought into Swansea City’s senior squad and began a new stage of his career.

Swansea City First-Team Debut

Connor Roberts made his senior Swansea City debut in January 2018 during an FA Cup match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

He later made his Premier League debut as a substitute against Newcastle United.

After Swansea City were relegated from the Premier League, Roberts became an important member of the club’s Championship squad.

He was used as both a right-back and wing-back. His energy allowed him to defend while also supporting attacking moves.

Becoming a Swansea City Regular

Roberts became a regular Swansea City player during the seasons that followed.

He was known for running continuously along the right side of the pitch. He supported teammates in attack, delivered crosses and worked hard to recover his defensive position.

Roberts made 152 senior appearances for Swansea City and scored 11 goals before leaving the club in 2021.

His career at Swansea was special because he had supported the team as a child and joined its academy at nine years old.

He progressed from being a young fan to becoming a first-team player who represented the club more than 150 times.

Swansea City Awards

The 2020–21 season was one of Connor Roberts’ strongest campaigns at Swansea City.

He scored five goals, created several assists and helped Swansea reach the Championship play-off final.

At the end of the season, Roberts received three important club awards:

Swansea City Supporters’ Player of the Year
Swansea City Away Player of the Year
Swansea City Disabled Supporters’ Association Player of the Year

These awards showed how strongly Swansea supporters valued his consistency, passion and effort.

Connor Roberts’ Transfer to Burnley

Connor Roberts joined Burnley from Swansea City in August 2021.

The move ended his long connection with his childhood club, but it gave him another opportunity to play Premier League football.

His first months at Burnley were difficult because injuries and illness delayed his progress.

Once he became available, Roberts began earning more playing time and became an important member of the squad.

Burnley Career

Roberts played an important role as Burnley competed in both the Premier League and Championship.

One of his most successful seasons came in 2022–23 when Burnley won the Championship title and earned promotion to the Premier League.

The team played attractive and controlled football throughout the season.

Roberts contributed with his defensive work, forward movement, crossing and tactical understanding.

His strong performances earned him a place in the PFA Championship Team of the Year for the 2022–23 season.

Connor Roberts at Leeds United

In February 2024, Roberts joined Leeds United on loan from Burnley.

Leeds were competing for promotion from the Championship, and the move gave Roberts an opportunity to play regular football during an important part of the season.

He scored a memorable goal against Leicester City as Leeds produced a 3–1 comeback victory.

Roberts helped Leeds reach the Championship play-off final, but the club did not earn promotion.

He returned to Burnley after the loan ended.

Tactical Role at Burnley

Connor Roberts is mainly a right-back, but his role has sometimes changed depending on the team’s tactical system.

In some matches, he has moved into central midfield when Burnley have possession of the ball.

This movement allows other midfielders to move forward and gives the team more control in central areas.

Roberts’ ability to perform different roles shows that he is more than a traditional defender.

He can understand instructions, move into different spaces and support both defence and attack.

Long-Term Injury

Connor Roberts faced one of the biggest challenges of his career when a long-term injury kept him away from Burnley’s senior team during the 2025–26 season.

Missing a full campaign was difficult for the defender.

He had to complete a long recovery programme and gradually rebuild his fitness.

Roberts later returned through Burnley’s development team before joining first-team training again.

According to an official Burnley update, Roberts returned to pre-season work in 2026 and was preparing for the club’s new campaign.

Wales International Career

Connor Roberts represented Wales at youth level before receiving his first senior call-up in 2018.

He made his senior international debut against Uruguay in the China Cup final.

Later in 2018, Roberts scored his first international goal during a 4–1 victory over the Republic of Ireland.

He gradually became an important member of the Wales squad.

UEFA Euro 2020

One of the most famous moments of Roberts’ career came at UEFA Euro 2020.

The tournament was played in 2021 after being delayed.

Roberts scored Wales’ second goal in a 2–0 group-stage victory over Türkiye.

The goal came late in the match and helped Wales move closer to the knockout stage.

It remains one of the most memorable moments of his international career.

Roberts’ tournament ended after he suffered an injury during Wales’ match against Denmark.

FIFA World Cup

Connor Roberts was selected for the Wales squad that competed at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

It was Wales’ first appearance at a World Cup since 1958.

Roberts played in all three group matches as Wales faced the United States, Iran and England.

Although Wales did not progress to the knockout stage, appearing at the World Cup was an important achievement for Roberts and his teammates.

Connor Roberts’ Playing Style

Connor Roberts mainly plays as a right-back but can also operate as a wing-back.

He is known for his stamina and willingness to move up and down the right side of the pitch.

His main qualities include:

Strong stamina
Forward runs from defence
Crossing from wide positions
Long throw-ins
Defensive pressure
Tactical discipline
Commitment throughout the match
Ability to play as a full-back or wing-back

Roberts is not known for giving up easily.

His work rate and energy are important parts of his football identity.

He has said that he wants supporters to remember him as a player who always gave his best.

Connor Roberts’ Height

Connor Roberts is around 1.75 metres tall, which is approximately 5 feet 9 inches.

He may not be one of the tallest defenders, but his speed, fitness and positioning help him compete effectively.

His role usually requires movement, concentration and stamina rather than physical height alone.

Connor Roberts’ Shirt Number

Roberts has commonly worn the number 14 shirt for Burnley and Wales.

Shirt numbers can change between seasons and competitions, but number 14 has become closely connected with his football career.

Personal Life

Connor Roberts has spoken publicly about being married.

However, he generally keeps his private and family life away from public attention.

Reliable public sources do not provide enough consistent information about his wife, wedding or children.

For this reason, private and unconfirmed family details should not be presented as confirmed facts.

Woodworking Hobby

Away from football, Roberts has a strong interest in woodworking and carpentry.

He has made several useful items, including:

Shelves
Gates
Bird boxes
A workbench
Furniture
A tool wall
A bookcase

Roberts studied design and technology at school and continued developing his practical skills after becoming a footballer.

He has also discussed the possibility of working in carpentry or joinery after retiring from professional football.

Woodworking gives him a calm and creative activity away from the pressure of matches and training.

Connection With Swansea City

Swansea City will always be an important part of Connor Roberts’ story.

He supported the club as a child, joined its academy and eventually became a senior first-team player.

His journey from supporter to professional footballer made him popular with many Swansea fans.

Even after leaving the club, Roberts spoke positively about his time there and the people who helped him develop.

Readers interested in another former Swansea City player can also explore the career of Yan Dhanda.

Career Achievements

Connor Roberts’ major confirmed achievements include:

More than 150 appearances for Swansea City
Swansea City Supporters’ Player of the Year
Championship title winner with Burnley
Promotion to the Premier League with Burnley
Selection in the PFA Championship Team of the Year
More than 60 senior appearances for Wales
Goal against Türkiye at UEFA Euro 2020
Selection for the 2022 FIFA World Cup
More than 50 senior appearances during his Yeovil Town loan
Several individual awards during his early career

Why Is Connor Roberts Famous?

Connor Roberts is famous for being a Welsh international footballer who has played in the Premier League, Championship, European Championship and FIFA World Cup.

He is also known for progressing through Swansea City’s academy and becoming a regular first-team player.

His goal against Türkiye at Euro 2020, successful seasons with Burnley and consistent performances for Wales are among the main reasons people search for him.