# Ross Sykes

Ross James Sykes (born 26 March 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Belgian Pro League club Union SG.

## Career

Sykes was born in Burnley, Lancashire and attended Unity College in the town. He started his career with local side Burnley, playing for their youth team between the ages of eleven and thirteen before being released. After nearly giving up the game he was persuaded to go on trial at Accrington Stanley by his mother and was later signed up by the club. In May 2016, he signed his first professional contract on a two-year deal, despite being a first-year scholar. He made his senior debut for the club in August 2016, starting in the 3–0 defeat to Crewe Alexandra in EFL Trophy group-stage. Accrington exercised a contractual option at the end of the 2017–18 season to retain him.
On 23 June 2022, Sykes joined Belgian First Division A side Union SG for an undisclosed fee. On 28 February 2024, he scored a goal in stoppage time of 2–0 victory over Club Brugge in the Belgian Cup semi-final second leg, which granted Union SG a 3–2 win on aggregate and qualification to their first final since 1914.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 9 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Europe | Europe | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Accrington Stanley | 2016–17 | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Accrington Stanley | 2017–18 | League Two | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Accrington Stanley | 2018–19 | League One | 20 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 26 | 4 |
| Accrington Stanley | 2019–20 | League One | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 2 | 39 | 3 |
| Accrington Stanley | 2020–21 | League One | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| Accrington Stanley | 2021–22 | League One | 39 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 44 | 3 |
| Accrington Stanley | Total | Total | 101 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 3 | 131 | 11 |
| Southport (loan) | 2017–18 | National League North | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Royale Union Saint-Gilloise | 2022–23 | Belgian Pro League | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 2 |
| Royale Union Saint-Gilloise | 2023–24 | Belgian Pro League | 24 | 4 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 5 |
| Royale Union Saint-Gilloise | 2024–25 | Belgian Pro League | 15 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 1 | — | — | 26 | 3 |
| Royale Union Saint-Gilloise | Total | Total | 59 | 8 | 10 | 1 | — | — | 17 | 1 | — | — | 86 | 10 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 166 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 21 | 3 | 223 | 21 |
* ↑ Includes FA Cup, Belgian Cup
* ↑ Includes EFL Cup
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 Appearances in EFL Trophy
* ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, three appearances in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ One appearance in UEFA Europa League, three appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

## Honours

Union SG
* Belgian Cup: 2023–24