The future of English football is in very capable and safe hands regarding its centre-backs.

With the European Championships this summer fast approaching, England boss Gareth Southgate will have a piercing headache trying to pick four or five centre-backs for his 25-man squad for the tournament and given the plethora of options available to him, he is once again in for a tough ask picking his defensive weaponry.

While the likes of Harry Maguire and John Stones have carried the mantle for a few years, there are a few list of names looking to upset that order. Fikayo Tomori, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Lewis Dunk, and Levi Colwill have all emerged as strong contenders for a starting spot in Germany.

There are also potential wildcard options that have undergone tremendous upward trajectories so far this campaign and have exceeded in the England under-21 setup such as Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, Manchester City loanee Taylor Hardwood-Bellis and Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah.

As is the ongoing trend in England, there will certainly be a new bread of gems cropping up the scene over the next year and one player sure to be amongst that pool of talents is Peterborough United’s exceptionally gifted centre-back and leader amongst men, Ronnie Edwards.

This is a 20-year-old defender destined for great things but also possesses a talent and blend of attributes that make him stand out not only amongst his teammates but in the whole of League One.

It’s no mistake to find that Peterborough recently rejected a bid from Premier League clubs West Ham and Crystal Palace, as confirmed by the club’s director of football Barry Fry (BirminghamWorld, 25 January) but they will certainly be back in with another move before long.

Manager Darren Ferguson pointed out in January [Peterborough Telegraph, 12 January] that the ideal scenario for Peterborough would have been a Premier League signing him with the condition of the young defender being loaned back to the club before.

Regarded as one of the most sought-after players outside the Premier League in England and already going on to make under 130 games of senior football and also a 12-time England under-20 international, Edwards is certainly well equipped and suited to make the rare jump from League One straight to the Premier League.

So how has Edwards gotten to this stage? Why is he so highly regarded in the Football League and just how well-suited could he be should he make the swift jump to the English top-flight?

Who is Ronnie Edwards?

Born in Harlow, England, Edwards joined Barnet at the age of nine, and progressed through the club’s academy, captaining the under-18s. Aged sixteen, he made his senior debut when he captained a young Bees side in a Middlesex Senior Cup game against Staines Town in December 2019.

That month saw him make his league debut as a late substitute against Maidenhead United. Five games later, Edwards made the transfer over to Peterborough United in August 2020 for an undisclosed fee after a successful trial before quickly making his debut for the Posh against Burton Albion in the EFL trophy in September 2020.

Edwards made his full league debut for Peterborough in December 2020 in a 1–1 draw away to Milton Keynes Dons but it wasn’t for another two years before going on to become a permanent fixture in the first team during the 2021/22 campaign although the Posh would suffer relegation from the Championship.

However, that season proved every bit a success on an individual level for the talented centre-back winning four awards at the club’s end-of-season awards, including the Player of the Season.

Since then, Edwards hasn’t looked back and has even been rewarded with a swift and deserved emergence on the England youth international scene.

The Harlow-born talent was called up to a training camp with the England U19 national team in May 2021 before receiving an official call-up to the full U19 squad for the friendly Marbella Cup tournament and made his debut during a 3-1 defeat against France.

Edwards was included in the England U19 squad for the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship and was immediately thrust in for his first start in the final showdown against Israel in July 2022 for which the young Lions triumphed 3-1 after extra time.

The new 2022/23 campaign brought even more growth and progression for Edwards, receiving a call-up to the England Under-2o side and making his debut in a resounding 3-0 win over Chile in September 2022.

It wasn’t long before Edwards was entrusted with a key role in another major competition for the England Under-20 side, rewarded with a call-up to the  2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in May 2023.

Edwards would go on to feature prominently throughout the tournament, playing a key role at the heart of the defence in all four games before England were unfortunately knocked out in the round-of-16 tie against Italy.

What is Edwards’ style of play? Why is he highly rated in England?

Edwards possesses all the hallmarks and attributes to be one of the best modern-day centre-backs of his generation if he keeps up his stunning upward trajectory.

Right now, the 20-year-old is showcasing a rare completeness in his game that is very rare to find from such a young player in the EFL League One.

First and foremost, it is important to point out Edwards’ incredible durability.

One of the key components managers look for when signing such a talent is their injury record and squad availability and Edwards is immensely reliable in that area.

Of Peterborough’s 35 Sky Bet League One games so far, at the time of writing, Edwards has featured and started in every game.

He is well on course to play all 46 games showcasing his tremendous presence, reliability and durability, especially in one of the most gruelling divisions in the country. Whenever manager Ferguson needs him, Edwards is there ready and has become one of the first names on the teamsheet.

It’s perfect for any manager when one of his key players are always available but it is an absolute bonus when that availability is backed up with quality and consistency. Edwards has by far and wide been one of the best centre-backs in the division this season.

Previously dubbed a “Rolls-Royce” by the club chairman Fry, Edwards has helped Peterborough to 11 clean sheets so far this season all whilst averaging 1.0 interceptions, 1.2 tackles, 5.2 balls recovered and 4.2 clearances per game in League One. His duel success rate this season makes for tremendous reading, recording a 62% ground duel success rate and also excelling brilliantly in his aerial duels successfully winning 59% [SofaScore].

In a 3-0 win over Blackpool on 20 February, Edwards won a whopping 12 of his 16 aerial duels, also winning 100% of his ground duels. It was a similar story against Cambridge United seven days later, winning 75% of his aerial duels and 66% of his ground duels, once again highlighting his impact and influence in defending.

In one-on-one defensive duels, Edwards positions his body sideways which enables him to keep pace with an attacker, and his tackling, timing and technique are solid enough to come away with the ball more times than not.

In the image above, Edwards stands up well against his opponent, is patient enough to scan and read his next action before timing his intervention, tackling well before coming away with possession, as seen below:

When dealing with his attacking opponents in the wide areas, he positions himself really well to stand up against them and recover the ball through slide tackles or via great strength pace and excellent reading of the game.

Edwards uses his body & strength really well to get in between the ball and the attacker when balls are being played over/through the defensive line.

The 20-year-old wonderkid is an excellent defender but such are the added responsibilities of a centre-back these days, we must take into consideration his abilities on the ball and in possession – a great requirement of a modern-day centre-half.

What most comment on about Edwards’ game is his composure and assuredness in possession, and for damn good reason. He seems unphased by opposition pressure, nor the fact he’s playing in front of thousands of football fans. He has a strong awareness of the space and players around him, which mixes well with his composure and elegance on the ball. 

Edwards is Peterborough’s most progressive as well as their most accurate passer, their most crucial component in how they kick off their attacks. Of Peterborough’s regular starters, he has the most passes per game with 88, at a stunning 91% accuracy [SofaScore]. This says a lot about the trust that his teammates have in his passing ability, and ability to handle pressure at an important third of the pitch.

Premier League clubs and even the top-end clubs in the Championship love a centre-back capable of playing out of pressure and is incredibly adept at building from the back, so it’s of no surprise Edwards is arguably the most coveted talent in the English Football League.

He attempts 7.2 accurate long balls per game, at a tremendous success rate of 68% so he is attempting to force the play forwards at every available opportunity.

These are often a result of a period of passing between the three centre-backs, opening up space in the midfield, and Edwards typically aims these forward passes into the feet of an attacker who has dropped deeper to collect the ball. He has a keen eye for when these moments occur and looks to take advantage when possible.

During the build-up he will make an angle to receive the ball short, showing intelligence in dropping deeper or moving slightly wider to drag an attacker away and create passing lanes centrally.

Although he can take too many touches when receiving, and a strong press could dispossess him, fortunately, he shows strong decision-making with the ball and understands risk to a good level for someone so young.

With more refining and development at a higher level, Edwards could well morph into the next John Stones. Capable of taking up several positions in the build-up to aid his side’s ball progression but also manipulate an opponent’s press to his team’s favour.

It is why when he does eventually move on, his next club must be a top-heavy possession-based side.

Peterborough and Ferguson have nurtured him brilliantly in that respect but playing under top-level coaches with better players could advance his development and attributes as a ball-playing centre-back – an elite and top-quality one – considerably.

Edwards can use both feet when distributing play but there can be a considerable drop off when passing out with his left and developing that characteristic at a better and more developing football club will be mightily beneficial because this is indeed a defender destined for greatness.

Ferguson recently praised his temperament and maturity for his age in January amidst the speculation surrounding his future, stating [Peterborough Telegraph, 12 January]:

“The constant speculation can be frustrating, but I have no concerns about any of it affecting Ronnie. You could tell him five minutes before kick-off there had been a bid for him and it would make no difference to how he played as he’s so level-headed and calm. He has a fantastic temperament.”

In order for Edwards’ huge potential to be fulfilled, the path to get there is of significant importance.

What does the future hold for Edwards?

Here and now, Edwards’ focus must be pushing for a playoff place with Peterborough. At the time of writing, The Posh are currently fifth in League One, but still have an outside chance of automatic promotion with a game in hand on second-placed Derby County, despite being five points away from them.

Should the Posh secure promotion to the English Second Division, it wouldn’t be out of the question for Edwards to remain at the club for next season.

However, his contract comes to a close in June 2025 [Transfermarkt] and given the clamour for his talented services this summer, there’s understandably been no talk or even rumours regarding an extension to his current deal plus Peterborough will be hoping to gain a healthy transfer windfall and the best chance of achieving that is this summer.

As stated previously, Edwards is a talent of such prestigious class and uniqueness and whichever club he ends up next, they have an incredible talent on their hands.

With a number of Premier League sides keeping watch on his progress, a move to the English top flight simply won’t be out of the question. Crystal Palace are one of those clubs interested, given they could well be about to lose Marc Guehi this summer? Will he be a sturdy replacement?

The 20-year-old would certainly fit right in given the Eagles’ exciting model of recruiting top-end talents from the EFL. Edwards will also fit perfectly as one of the progressive and sturdy components in new manager Oliver Glasner’s three-man defensive system.

Whether he’d be an instant starter at Selhurst Park is another matter entirely though, and that’s why the defender and his representatives must plot his path and career trajectory with a fine-tooth comb.

Playing time must be paramount in their decision-making.

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