{{Short description|Scottish footballer (born 2001)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Aaron Pressley | image = Aaron Pressley 02052026 (2) (cropped).jpg | caption = Pressley in 2026 | full_name = Aaron Alex Pressley<ref>{{Cite web |title=2019/20 Premier League squads confirmed |url=http://www.premierleague.com/news/1335777 |access-date=29 January 2020 |website=www.premierleague.com |date=3 September 2019 |language=en}}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2001|11|7|df=y}} | birth_place = Edinburgh, Scotland | height = 1.93m<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aaron Pressley |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/profile/aaron-pressley |url-status=dead |access-date=4 November 2022 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb |archive-date=31 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731230753/https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/profile/aaron-pressley }}</ref> | position = Forward | currentclub = Walsall | clubnumber = 19 | youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2013 | youthclubs1 = Heart of Midlothian | youthyears2 = 2013–2020 | youthclubs2 = Aston Villa | years1 = 2020–2023 | clubs1 = Brentford | caps1 = 2 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2021–2022 | clubs2 = → AFC Wimbledon (loan) | caps2 = 21 | goals2 = 2 | years3 = 2023 | clubs3 = → Accrington Stanley (loan) | caps3 = 22 | goals3 = 6 | years4 = 2023–2025 | clubs4 = Stevenage | caps4 = 25 | goals4 = 2 | years5 = 2025 | clubs5 = → Barrow (loan) | caps5 = 21 | goals5 = 4 | years6 = 2025– | clubs6 = Walsall | caps6 = 39 | goals6 = 7 | club-update = 20:35, 4 May 2026 (UTC) | nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 = Scotland U16 | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 = | nationalyears2 = 2017–2018 | nationalteam2 = Scotland U17 | nationalcaps2 = 7 | nationalgoals2 = 0 }}
'''Aaron Alex Pressley''' (born 7 November 2001) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a forward for {{English football updater|Walsall}} club Walsall.
Pressley is a product of the Aston Villa and Heart of Midlothian academies and he began his professional career with Brentford in 2020. After failing to break into the first team squad, he transferred to Stevenage in 2023 and Walsall in 2025. Pressley was capped by Scotland at U16 and U17 level.
== Club career ==
=== Brentford ===
==== 2020–2021 ==== After beginning his career in the Heart of Midlothian and Aston Villa academies, Pressley transferred to the B team at Championship club Brentford on 29 January 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aaron Pressley signs for Brentford B |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2020/january/-aaron-pressley-signs-for-brentford-b/ |access-date=29 January 2020 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> During what remained of the COVID-19-affected 2019–20 season, he scored three goals in six appearances.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brentford B in Focus: Aaron Pressley |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2020/august/brentford-b-in-focus-aaron-pressley/ |access-date=20 August 2020 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> As a result of the EFL permitting 9 substitutes to be named in matchday squads partway through the 2020–21 season,<ref>{{Cite news |title=EFL clubs permitted to use five subs |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54989289 |access-date=21 November 2020}}</ref> Pressley was promoted onto the first team substitutes' bench and was named in 15 matchday squads between November 2020 and February 2021.<ref name="Soccerway">{{Soccerway|id=472236|accessdate=30 May 2021}}</ref> He made three substitute appearances during the period,<ref name="LeavesBrentford">{{Cite web |title=Aaron Pressley joins Stevenage |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/brentford-b-team-aaron-pressley-joins-stevenage |access-date=2 August 2023 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> but was not involved in Brentford's promotion-winning playoff campaign at the end of the season.<ref name="Soccerway" /> Pressley top-scored with 19 goals in 26 B team appearances during the 2020–21 season and was voted the team's Players' Player of the Year.<ref name="POTY">{{Cite web |title=Aaron Pressley wins Brentford B Player of the Year for 2020/21 season |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2021/may/aaron-pressley-win-brentford-b-player-of-the-year-for-202021/ |access-date=24 May 2021 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Aaron Pressley on injury return |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/aaron-pressley-on-injury-return |access-date=23 November 2022 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> In May 2021, he signed a new two-year contract, with a one-year option.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aaron Pressley signs new Brentford B contract |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2021/may/aaron-pressley-signs-new-brentford-b-contract/ |access-date=25 May 2021 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>
==== 2021–22 season and AFC Wimbledon loan ==== In July 2021, Pressley joined League One club AFC Wimbledon on loan for the duration of the 2021–22 season.<ref name="AFCWLoan">{{Cite web |title=Aaron Pressley joins AFC Wimbledon on loan |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2021/july/aaron-pressley-joins-afc-wimbledon-on-loan/ |access-date=16 July 2021 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> Prior to being sidelined for 9 weeks with a hamstring injury suffered in a mid-December 2021 training match,<ref name="Brace">{{Cite web |last=Brace |first=Jack |date=19 April 2022 |title=Exclusive: Aaron Pressley discusses Wimbledon loan, injury, learning from Ivan Toney and the challenges of League One |url=https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/04/01/1107092-exclusive-aaron-pressley-discusses-wimbledon-loan-injury-learning-from-ivan-toney-and-the-challenges-of-league-one.html |access-date=9 May 2022 |website=Vavel |language=en}}</ref> he had made 25 appearances and scored four goals.<ref name="Soccerbase2122" /> As part of his return to fitness,<ref>{{Cite web |title="I want to show the things that I have been able to do in the B Team" |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2022/february/i-want-to-show-the-things-that-i-have-been-able-to-do-in-the-b-team/ |access-date=15 February 2022 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> Pressley was named in Brentford B's 2022 Atlantic Cup squad and made one appearance at the tournament.<ref name="TheJourney">{{Cite web |title=Aaron Pressley – The Journey |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/aaron-pressley-the-journey |access-date=28 December 2022 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> Following his return to the AFC Wimbledon squad in late February 2022, Pressley made two substitute appearances before suffering a reoccurrence of the injury,<ref name="Soccerway" /> which ended his season and he returned to Brentford for surgery and rehabilitation.<ref name="TheJourney" /> In his absence, the Dons were relegated to League Two.<ref name="AFC Wimbledon">{{Fchd|id=AFC-WIMB|name=AFC Wimbledon}}</ref>
==== 2022–2023 and Accrington Stanley loan ==== Pressley returned to match play with the B team in mid-November 2022 and on 4 January 2023,<ref name="TheJourney" /> he joined League One club Accrington Stanley on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pressley makes Accrington loan switch |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/aaron-pressley-joins-accrington-stanley-on-loan-from-brentford |access-date=4 January 2023 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> On his second appearance, Pressley's two goals and performance in a EFL Trophy quarter-final penalty shoot-out win over Lincoln City saw him win the competition's Player of the Round award.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Accrington Stanley's Aaron Pressley awarded Papa Johns Trophy Player of the Round |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2023/february/accrington-stanleys-aaron-pressley-awarded-papa-johns-trophy-player-of-the-round/ |access-date=11 February 2023 |website=www.efl.com |date=10 February 2023 |language=en-gb}}</ref> He ended his spell with 27 appearances and eight goals,<ref name="Soccerbase2223" /> but was unable to prevent the club's relegation to League Two.<ref>{{Fchd|id=ACCRINGS|name=Accrington Stanley F.C.}}</ref>
The one-year option on Pressley's Brentford contract was exercised at the end of the 2022–23 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brentford B squad update |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/brentford-b-team-brentford-b-squad-update |access-date=1 June 2023 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> During the 2023–24 pre-season, he was included in the first team's 2023 Premier League Summer Series squad and made a substitute appearance in the opening match versus Fulham.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Squads for Premier League Summer Series announced |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/3595353 |access-date=19 July 2023 |website=www.premierleague.com |date=19 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fulham v Brentford, 2023/24 {{!}} Summer Series |url=https://www.premierleague.com/match/94727 |access-date=30 July 2023 |website=www.premierleague.com |language=en}}</ref> On 2 August 2023, Pressley departed the club.<ref name="LeavesBrentford" />
=== Stevenage === On 2 August 2023, Pressley transferred to League One club Stevenage and signed a two-year contract, with a one-year option, for a compensation fee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stevenage secure Aaron Pressley |url=https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2023/august/aaron-pressley-new-signing-stevenage-fc-football-club-sky-bet-league-one-efl-english-football-league/ |access-date=2 August 2023 |website=www.stevenagefc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> During a 2023–24 season in which he missed three months due to injury,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Report: Stevenage 5–2 Crystal Palace U21 |url=https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2023/november/crystal-palace-match-report-stevenage-fc-football-club-sky-bet-league-one-efl-english-football-league/ |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=www.stevenagefc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 February 2024 |title=Stevenage not expecting any outgoings including Aaron Pressley |url=https://www.thecomet.net/sport/24086857.steve-evans-stevenage-not-expecting-outgoing-deals/ |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=The Comet |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 April 2024 |title=No news behind the news says Evans as squad depth used to its fullest |url=https://www.thecomet.net/sport/24247329.steve-evans-stevenages-squad-ahead-final-three-games/ |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=The Comet |language=en}}</ref> he made 25 appearances and scored four goals.<ref name="Soccerbase2324" /> An ankle injury resulting from an "accidental collision" during a 2024–25 pre-season friendly led to Pressley undergoing surgery.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 August 2024 |title=Alex Revell: Injuries are disappointing but they give others an opportunity |url=https://www.thecomet.net/sport/24506279.stevenage-injury-latest-jamie-reid-taye-ashby-hammond/ |access-date=12 August 2024 |website=The Comet |language=en}}</ref> He returned to match play on 19 October 2024 and made seven appearances before joining League Two club Barrow on loan for the remainder of the season on 9 January 2025.<ref name="Soccerbase2425" /><ref> {{cite web|url=https://www.barrowafc.com/news/2025/january/09/aaron-pressley-signs/|title=Aaron Pressley Signs|website=www.barrowafc.com|date=9 January 2025|accessdate=9 January 2025}}</ref> Pressley ended the 2024–25 season with four goals in 21 appearances and was retained by Stevenage for 2025–26.<ref name="Soccerbase2425" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Stevenage FC Retained List 2024/25 |url=https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2025/may/16/stevenage-fc-retained-list-2024-25/ |access-date=18 May 2025 |website=www.stevenagefc.com}}</ref> Pressley transferred away from the club in June 2025 and ended his two seasons at Broadhall Way with 32 appearances and four goals.<ref>{{soccerbase|125064}}</ref><ref name="SignsWalsall" />
=== Walsall === On 26 June 2025, Pressley transferred to League Two club Walsall and signed a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.<ref name="SignsWalsall">{{Cite web |date=26 June 2025 |title=Saddlers snap up Aaron Pressley from Stevenage |url=https://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/2025/june/26/saddlers-snap-up-aaron-pressley-from-stevenage/ |access-date=26 June 2025 |website=saddlers.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref> He made 41 appearances and scored seven goals during a mid-table 2025–26 season.<ref name="Soccerbase2526" /><ref>{{Fchd|id=WALSALL|name=Walsall F.C.}}</ref>
== International career == Pressley was capped by Scotland at U16 and U17 level.<ref>{{SFA player|id=236352}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title='Wonderkid' Karamoko Dembele's Scotland Under-16 debut on hold |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/wonderkid-karamoko-dembele-s-scotland-under-16-debut-on-hold-1-4273264 |access-date=29 January 2020 |website=www.scotsman.com |date=31 October 2016 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Scotland finish second in the Victory Shield |url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/news/scotland-finish-second-in-the-victory-shield/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930190948/https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/news/scotland-finish-second-in-the-victory-shield/ |archive-date=30 September 2020 |access-date=14 November 2020 |website=www.scottishfa.co.uk}}</ref> In November 2021, he won his maiden U21 call up for a pair of 2023 European U21 Championship qualifiers and remained an unused substitute in both matches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Cup journey continues for number of Bees |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2021/november/international-recap-november-2021/ |access-date=19 November 2021 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>
== Personal life == Pressley is the son of footballer and manager Steven Pressley and the older Pressley worked with his son in the role of Head of Individual Development at Brentford.<ref name="Brace" /> Pressley walked out with his father as a Heart of Midlothian mascot at the 2006 Scottish Cup Final.<ref name="Croser" /> He attended Cramond Primary School and Princethorpe College.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 November 2012 |title=Cramond Primary's fine month is recognised |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/cramond-primary-s-fine-month-is-recognised-1-2630165 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129165738/https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/cramond-primary-s-fine-month-is-recognised-1-2630165 |archive-date=29 January 2020 |access-date=29 January 2020 |website=www.scotsman.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=22 December 2017 |title=Letter From The Headmaster |url=https://flagpole.princethorpe.co.uk/?path=&issue=30 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130064159/https://flagpole.princethorpe.co.uk/?path=&issue=30 |archive-date=30 January 2021 |access-date=25 January 2021 |website=flagpole.princethorpe.co.uk}}</ref> As of February 2021, Pressley was living in Richmond.<ref name="Croser">{{Cite news |last=Croser |first=Graeme |date=21 February 2021 |title=A Chip Off The Old Block |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/siteassets/documents/aaron-pressley.pdf |access-date=4 October 2021 |archive-date=4 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004122320/https://www.brentfordfc.com/siteassets/documents/aaron-pressley.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> When Pressley's former Aston Villa academy teammate Charlie Farr transferred to Brentford early in the 2022–23 season,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charlie Farr joins Brentford B |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/charlie-farr-joins-brentford-b |access-date=5 September 2022 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> he roomed with Pressley.<ref>{{Cite Instagram|postid=CiAAOxcK33A/|user=brentfordbteam|title=@charlfarr ready to work 👊 #BrentfordB #BrentfordFC|date=2 September 2022}}</ref>
== Career statistics == {{Updated|match played 2 May 2026}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup}} ! colspan="2" |League cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup}} ! colspan="2" |Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Aston Villa U21 |2019–20<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=125064|season=2019|access-date=29 January 2020}}</ref> | colspan="7" |— |0 |0 |0||0 |- |Brentford |2020–21<ref name="Soccerbase2021">{{Soccerbase season|id=125064|season=2020|access-date=20 September 2020}}</ref> |Championship |2 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |3 |0 |- |AFC Wimbledon (loan) |2021–22<ref name="Soccerbase2122">{{Soccerbase season|id=125064|season=2021|access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref> |League One |21 |2 |2 |0 |3 |0 |1<ref name="EFLT" group="lower-alpha">Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy</ref> |2 |27 |4 |- |Accrington Stanley (loan) |2022–23<ref name="Soccerbase2223">{{Soccerbase season|id=125064|season=2022|access-date=4 January 2023}}</ref> |League One |22 |6 |3 |0 | colspan="2" |— |2<ref name="EFLT" group="lower-alpha" /> |2 |27 |8 |- | rowspan="3" |Stevenage |2023–24<ref name="Soccerbase2324">{{Soccerbase season|id=125064|season=2023|access-date=2 August 2023}}</ref> |League One |21 |2 |2 |0 |1 |0 |1<ref name="EFLT" group="lower-alpha" /> |2 |25 |4 |- |2024–25<ref name="Soccerbase2425">{{Soccerbase season|id=125064|season=2024|access-date=19 October 2024}}</ref> |League One |4 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |2<ref name="EFLT" group="lower-alpha" /> |0 |7 |0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !25 !2 !3 !0 !1 !0 !3 !2 !32 !4 |- |Barrow (loan) |2024–25<ref name="Soccerbase2425" /> |League Two |21 |4 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |21 |4 |- |Walsall |2025–26<ref name="Soccerbase2526">{{Soccerbase season|id=125064|season=2025|access-date=26 June 2025}}</ref> |League Two |39 |7 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |41 |7 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !130!!21!!11!!0 !4 !0 !6 !6!!151!!27 |} <references group="lower-alpha" />
== Honours == * Brentford B Players' Player of the Year: 2020–21<ref name="POTY" />
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{soccerbase|125064}} *{{SFA player|id=236352}} *{{UEFA player|id=250116193}} *[https://www.saddlers.co.uk/teams/first-team/aaronpressley Aaron Pressley] at saddlers.co.uk
{{Walsall F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pressley, Aaron}} Category:2001 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Edinburgh Category:People educated at Princethorpe College Category:Scottish men's footballers Category:Scotland men's youth international footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Aston Villa F.C. players Category:Brentford F.C. players Category:AFC Wimbledon players Category:Accrington Stanley F.C. players Category:Stevenage F.C. players Category:Barrow A.F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:21st-century Scottish sportsmen