# Sil Swinkels

Sil Laurentius Swinkels (born 6 January 2004) is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a defender EFL League One club Bristol Rovers, on loan from Premier League club Aston Villa. Swinkels is a product of the Aston Villa and Vitesse Arnhem academies and has played for the Netherlands internationally at youth levels up to under-18.

## Early life

Swinkels was born in Sint-Oedenrode in the south of the Netherlands in 2004.

## Club career
### Youth career

Having played youth football for Dutch sides RKSV Rhode, Helmond Sport, Brabant United and Vitesse Arnhem, he joined Aston Villa's academy in summer 2020.
Swinkels made an unexpected first team debut for Aston Villa when, due to a COVID-19 outbreak, Villa were forced to play an inexperienced squad in an FA Cup third-round tie against Liverpool on 8 January 2021.
On 24 May 2021, Swinkels was part of the Aston Villa U18s team that won the FA Youth Cup, beating Liverpool U18s 2–1 in the final. On 10 August 2021, he signed his first professional contract with Aston Villa.
In March 2023, Swinkels suffered a torn ACL in a Premier League 2 match against Southampton B which he confirmed would result in an extended period on the sidelines. Swinkels eventually returned to football on 8 April 2024, in a 4–0 defeat for Villa U21s against Chelsea U21s. After coming back from injury and playing a part in Aston Villa U21s reaching the Premier League 2 play-offs and winning the Birmingham Senior Cup, on 17 May 2024, Swinkels signed a contract extension with Aston Villa.

### Senior career

On 24 September 2024, Swinkels made his first appearance for the senior Aston Villa team for the first time since 2021 during a 2–1 away victory against Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Cup.
On 28 November 2024, Swinkels signed another contract extension with Aston Villa.
On 3 February 2025, Swinkels signed for EFL League One club Bristol Rovers on loan until the end of the season. Swinkels made his English Football League debut on 11 February 2025, scoring a 91st minute equaliser in a match against Stockport County.

## International career

Swinkels played for Netherlands at the under-15 level. On 6 September 2021, Swinkels made his debut for Netherlands U18 in a 5–0 friendly victory over Italy. He scored his first goal at youth international level for Netherlands U18s, on 28 March 2022, in a 4–1 away victory over Germany.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 1 March 2025
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Aston Villa | 2020–21 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Aston Villa | 2021–22 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Aston Villa | 2022–23 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aston Villa | 2023–24 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aston Villa | 2024–25 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Aston Villa | Total | Total | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Bristol Rovers (loan) | 2024–25 | League One | 4 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 2 |
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

## Honours

Aston Villa U18s
* FA Youth Cup: 2020–21
Aston Villa U21s
* Birmingham Senior Cup: 2023-24