Ryan McLean
English footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ryan McLean (born 3 May 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for National League North club Buxton.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 3 May 2000[1] | ||
| Position | Winger[1] | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Buxton | ||
| Number | 17 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Shrewsbury Town | |||
| AFC Telford United | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2021 | Newcastle Town | 31 | (17) |
| 2021 | → Hereford (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Hereford | 81 | (13) |
| 2023–2025 | AFC Wimbledon | 8 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → Kidderminster Harriers (loan) | 10 | (0) |
| 2025 | → Yeovil Town (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2025– | Buxton | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 00:50, 20 August 2025 (UTC) | |||
Career
Youth
McLean played youth football for Shrewsbury Town before being released aged 15, before going on to feature for AFC Telford United youth sides.[2]
Non-League
McLean joined his local club Allscott Heath, playing in the West Midlands (Regional) League,[3] before moving to Market Drayton Town, followed by Northern Premier League Division One South East club Newcastle Town.[2][4]
In February 2021, McLean stepped up two divisions to join National League North club Hereford on loan for the remainder of the season. He only made one substitute appearance at Hereford before COVID-19 halted their season.[5]
In June 2021, McLean joined Hereford permanently for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-year contract with the club.[6]
AFC Wimbledon
Despite being offered a contract extension with Hereford, McLean signed for AFC Wimbledon in June 2023, for an undisclosed fee.[7][8] Upon turning professional with Wimbledon he was able to quit his job in IT recruitment.[9] In his first professional appearance, McLean scored in stoppage time during an EFL Cup first round match against Coventry City, securing a win for Wimbledon and earning the team a second round fixture at Chelsea.[10]
On 24 October 2023, McLean joined National League club Kidderminster Harriers on loan until January. He was named as a substitute that same evening in their league fixture away to Altrincham, but did not feature.[11][12] He made his first start in an FA Cup first round fixture against Fleetwood Town, assisting Kidderminster's only goal of the game in a 2–1 defeat.[13] In April 2024, McLean suffered an ACL injury in the Dons penultimate match of the season.[14]
On 4 March 2025, McLean joined National League side Yeovil Town on loan for the remainder of the season.[15] He was not offered a new contract at the end of the 2024–25 season and left the club upon expiry of his contract on 30 June 2025.[16]
Return to non-League
In July 2025, he signed for National League North club Buxton.[17]
Career statistics
- As of match played 19 August 2025
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Newcastle Town | 2019–20[18] | NPL Division One South East | 24 | 10 | 0 | 0 | — | 5[a] | 4 | 29 | 14 | |
| 2020–21[19] | NPL Division One South East | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 | — | 2[b] | 1 | 10 | 9 | ||
| Total | 31 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 39 | 23 | ||
| Hereford (loan) | 2020–21[1] | National League North | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Hereford | 2021–22[1] | National League North | 41 | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | 1[b] | 1 | 45 | 7 | |
| 2022–23[1] | National League North | 40 | 7 | 4 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 44 | 8 | ||
| Total | 81 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 89 | 15 | ||
| AFC Wimbledon | 2023–24[20] | League Two | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3[c] | 1 | 13 | 2 |
| 2024–25[21] | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 2 | ||
| Kidderminster Harriers (loan) | 2023–24[1] | National League | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[b] | 1 | 12 | 1 | |
| Yeovil Town (loan) | 2024–25[21] | National League | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| Buxton | 2025–26[22] | National League North | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Career total | 139 | 30 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 162 | 41 | ||
- One appearance in FA Trophy; three appearances, three goals in Staffordshire Senior Cup; one appearance in Integro League Cup
- Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
- Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy