{{short description|English footballer (born 1999)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Use British English|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Danny Butterworth | image = Dan_Butterworth.jpg | caption = Butterworth in action for Blackburn Rovers (November 2017) | fullname = Daniel James Butterworth<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/efl-professional-retain-list--free-transfers---2018-19.pdf |title=Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2019 |publisher=English Football League |accessdate=23 June 2019}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|9|14|df=y}}<ref name="sw"/> | birth_place = Manchester, England<ref name="sw"/> | height = {{convert|1.81|m|order=flip}}<ref name="sw">{{soccerway|daniel-butterworth/454413|accessdate=7 January 2021}}</ref> | position = Forward | currentclub = Swindon Town | clubnumber = 14 | youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2016 | youthclubs1 = Manchester United | youthyears2 = 2016–2018 | youthclubs2 = Blackburn Rovers | years1 = 2018–2023 | clubs1 = Blackburn Rovers | caps1 = 14 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2022 | clubs2 = → Fleetwood Town (loan) | caps2 = 12 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2022–2023 | clubs3 = → Port Vale (loan) | caps3 = 31 | goals3 = 3 | years4 = 2023–2024 | clubs4 = Carlisle United | caps4 = 31 | goals4 = 4 | years5 = 2024– | clubs5 = Swindon Town | caps5 = 44 | goals5 = 5 | club-update = 20:27, 3 May 2026 (UTC) }} '''Daniel James Butterworth''' (born 14 September 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for {{English football updater|SwindonT}} club Swindon Town.
A former Manchester United trainee, Butterworth joined Blackburn Rovers and went on to make his senior debut for the club in August 2018. He spent the second half of the 2021–22 season on loan at Fleetwood Town and joined Port Vale on loan for the 2022–23 campaign. He joined Carlisle United on a free transfer in July 2023 and then moved to Swindon Town 13 months later.
==Career== ===Blackburn Rovers=== Born in Manchester, Butterworth began his career with the club he supported, Manchester United, before he joined Blackburn Rovers on a scholarship midway through the 2015–16 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Butterworth: I instantly liked this club because of the way they play |url=https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/2022/january/butterworth-interview/ |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=www.fleetwoodtownfc.com |date=31 January 2022 |language=en-gb}}</ref> He turned professional upon signing a two-year contract in October 2017 after he scored 16 goals in 36 appearances for Damien Johnson's development squad.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Grant |first1=Ryan |title=Blackburn Rovers FC |url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2017/october/butterworth-pens-professional-contract/ |access-date=1 September 2022 |date=5 October 2017}}</ref> He made his senior debut at Ewood Park on 28 August 2018, coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute for Danny Graham in a 4–1 victory over Lincoln City in the EFL Cup.<ref>{{cite news |title=Blackburn brush Lincoln aside in cup |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45254601 |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=BBC Sport |date=28 August 2018}}</ref> He signed a new long-term deal in March the following year, keeping him at the club until June 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=Blackburn Rovers FC |url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2019/march/dans-new-deal-delight2/ |access-date=1 September 2022 |date=21 March 2019}}</ref> He made his Championship debut on 22 April, playing the last 14 minutes of a 1–0 home win over Bolton Wanderers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Brereton scores as Rovers beat Bolton |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/47930314 |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=BBC Sport |date=22 April 2019}}</ref> He featured just once in the next two seasons, playing as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat at Stoke City on 19 December 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=Early goal gives Stoke win over Rovers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55283936 |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=BBC Sport |date=19 December 2020}}</ref> Manager Tony Mowbray said that Butterworth "will burst onto the scene in the next year and everyone is going to think 'wow, who's that?'"<ref name="who">{{cite news |last1=Sharpe |first1=Rich |title='Who's that?' - Butterworth ready to 'burst onto the scene' |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18954098.whos----butterworth-ready-burst-onto-scene/ |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=18 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
He made his first start in the English Football League on 19 October 2021, in a 1–0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Report: Queens Park Rangers 1-0 Rovers |url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2021/october/19/report--queens-park-rangers---rovers/ |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=Blackburn Rovers FC |date=19 October 2021}}</ref> On 31 January 2022, he joined League One side Fleetwood Town on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.<ref name="Fleetwood">{{Cite web |url=https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/2022/january/butterworth-signing/ |title=Dan Butterworth joins Fleetwood on loan from Blackburn |publisher=Fleetwood Town FC |date=31 January 2022 |accessdate=1 February 2022}}</ref> He scored his first goal in senior football in a 3–2 defeat at Burton Albion on 12 March, scoring with his first touch after entering the game as a substitute.<ref>{{cite news |title=Burton 3-2 Fleetwood: Oumar Niasse strikes twice in stunning comeback |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/burton-albion-vs-fleetwood-town/448337 |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=Sky Sports |date=12 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref> He made five starts and seven substitute appearances for Stephen Crainey's "Cod Army", helping Fleetwood to retain their third tier status with a 20th-place finish.<ref name="DB21"/>
On 1 September 2022, Butterworth joined League One side Port Vale on loan for the 2022–23 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Port Vale sign McCarron, Politic and Butterworth |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62758848 |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=BBC Sport |date=1 September 2022}}</ref> Manager Darrell Clarke compared him to the club's number nine, James Wilson, for his link up play.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Houghton |first1=Ash |title=Blackburn Rovers striker Dan Butterworth joins the Vale on loan |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/2022/september/Blackburn-Rovers-striker-Dan-Butterworth-joins-the-Vale-on-loan/ |access-date=1 September 2022 |work = Port Vale F.C. |date=1 September 2022 |language=en-gb}}</ref> On 29 October, he scored his first goal for the club to secure a 1–0 victory over Lincoln City at Vale Park.<ref>{{cite news |title=Danny Butterworth {{!}} "Really happy to get my first goal" |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/2022/october/danny-butterworth--really-happy-to-get-my-first-goal/ |access-date=30 October 2022 |work = Port Vale F.C. |date=29 October 2022 |language=en-gb}}</ref> He scored his second league goal of the campaign on 19 November, the club website describing how he "produced a beautiful second half solo goal" to beat Charlton Athletic 1–0.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Charlton boss Ben Garner criticises 'anti-football' Port Vale |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/charlton-ben-garner-port-vale-7842910 |access-date=19 November 2022 |work=StokeonTrentLive |date=19 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Butterworth said after the game that "this is the best I have felt in a long time".<ref>{{cite news |title=Danny Butterworth {{!}} "This is the best I have felt in a long time" |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/2022/november/danny-butterworth--this-is-the-best-i-have-felt-in-a-long-time/ |access-date=19 November 2022 |work = Port Vale F.C. |date=19 November 2022 |language=en-gb}}</ref> Blackburn Rovers released him at the end of his contract after seven years with the club.<ref>{{cite news |title=Butterworth bids farewell |url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2023/may/16/butterworth-bids-farewell/ |access-date=16 May 2023 |work=www.rovers.co.uk |date=16 May 2023 |language=en-gb}}</ref>
===Carlisle United=== On 14 July 2023, Butterworth joined newly-promoted League One side Carlisle United on a free transfer, signing a two-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66199563|title=Dan Butterworth: Carlisle United sign ex-Blackburn Rovers forward|publisher=BBC|date=14 July 2023|accessdate=14 July 2023}}</ref> He scored four goals from 33 games in the 2023–24 season as the club were relegated.<ref name="DB23"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Carlisle relegated after defeat at Northampton |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68696917 |access-date=9 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=6 April 2024}}</ref> He then told manager Paul Simpson he wanted to leave in order to find first-team football.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Colman |first1=Jon |title=Carlisle United attacker Butterworth leaves for League Two rival |url=https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/24551803.carlisle-uniteds-dan-butterworth-joins-swindon-town/ |access-date=30 August 2024 |work=News and Star |date=30 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Upon leaving Brunton Park, he stated that his spell in Cumbria did not go well due to "things behind closed doors".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Colman |first1=Jon |title=Butterworth: 'Things behind closed doors' reason for Blues fate |url=https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/24552089.dan-butterworth-didnt-work-carlisle-united/ |access-date=30 August 2024 |work=News and Star |date=30 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
===Swindon Town=== On 30 August 2024, Butterworth signed for fellow League Two club Swindon Town on a two-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2024/august/30/town-sign-danny-butterworth/|title=Town sign Danny Butterworth|website=swindontownfc.co.uk|date=30 August 2024|accessdate=30 August 2024}}</ref> He said he joined the club because he felt wanted by manager Mark Kennedy.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Acklam |first1=Joe |title=Swindon Town sign Carlisle United man Dan Butterworth |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/24551798.swindon-town-sign-carlisle-united-man-danny-butterworth/ |access-date=30 August 2024 |work=Swindon Advertiser |date=30 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref> He scored his first goal for the "Robins" on 7 September, where his 98th-minute equaliser secured a 1–1 draw at Barrow.<ref>{{cite news |title=Barrow v Swindon Town: League Two |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/ckg2831jnykt |access-date=10 September 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=7 September 2024}}</ref> After Butterworth claimed his fourth goal of the season in a 5–1 win at Carlisle United on 1 February, new manager Ian Holloway said he was "so instrumental when we're attacking.... if he gets more consistent he'll get picked more consistently".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Mike |title=Ready for Swindon challenge |url=https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/ready-for-swindon-challenge |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Valiant's Substack |date=6 February 2025}}</ref> He ended the 2024–25 campaign with six goals in 40 games.<ref name="DB24"/>
Butterworth worked hard during pre-season to establish himself as a key player for the new campaign.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Acklam |first1=Joe |title=Butterworth's hard off-season made him a big part of Holloway's plans |url=https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/sport/25440604.danny-butterworth-personal-work-win-swindon-town/ |access-date=30 December 2025 |work=Wiltshire Times |date=4 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref> However, he was sidelined four months after he picked up a hamstring injury in October.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Acklam |first1=Joe |title=Swindon midfielder ruled out for over four months with injury |url=https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/sport/25569819.swindon-towns-danny-butterworth-months-injury/ |access-date=30 December 2025 |work=The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald |date=24 October 2025 |language=en}}</ref> He underwent surgery,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Acklam |first1=Joe |title=Town attacker to do 'all he can' to get back to fitness and help Swindon |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/25593105.danny-butterworth-desperate-help-swindon-town-post-injury/ |access-date=30 December 2025 |work=Swindon Advertiser |date=3 November 2025 |language=en}}</ref> with Holloway explaining that "one of the three strands has completely ruptured, the other two are still intact".<ref>{{cite news |title=Danny Butterworth: Swindon star out for four months with hamstring injury |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cpq17gn4zxgo |access-date=30 December 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=24 October 2025}}</ref> He suffered a setback in his recovery in February.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Acklam |first1=James |title=Butterworth has ultrasound after setback in recovery from injury |url=https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/sport/25828933.danny-butterworth-taken-ultrasound-hamstring-injury/ |access-date=3 May 2026 |work=The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald |date=5 February 2026 |language=en}}</ref> He underwent a second operation the following month.<ref>{{cite news |title=Danny Butterworth undergoes successful hamstring surgery as season ends early • The Moonraker • Swindon Town independent news |url=https://themoonraker.counterpress.media/news/danny-butterworth-undergoes-successful-hamstring-surgery-as-season-ends-early-30162 |access-date=3 May 2026 |work=The Moonraker |date=10 March 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
==Style of play== Butterworth has stated that he likes playing as a number 10, playing alongside a target man and getting into pockets of space.<ref>{{cite news |title=Butterworth: I want to go and prove myself to everybody |url=https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/2022/february/butterworth-pre-shrewsbury-a/ |access-date=1 September 2022 |work=www.fleetwoodtownfc.com |date=3 February 2022 |language=en-gb}}</ref> He is able to shoot with both feet.<ref name="who"/> Speaking in November 2022, Port Vale assistant manager Andy Crosby said that "Dan has incredible talent in possession; he can create chances, he can score, he can play the final pass", though added that he needed to improve other aspects of his game.<ref>{{cite news |title=Andy Crosby {{!}} "I admire our resilience and the togetherness - you don't get that at a lot of football clubs" |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/2022/november/andy-crosby--i-admire-our-resilience-and-the-togetherness---you-dont-get-that-at-a-lot-of-football-clubs/ |access-date=19 November 2022 |work = Port Vale F.C. |date=19 November 2022 |language=en-gb}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 18 October 2025}}
{| 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"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|EFL Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="6"|Blackburn Rovers |2018–19<ref>{{soccerbase season|109839|2018|accessdate=17 January 2020}}</ref> |Championship |1||0||0||0||2||0||colspan=2|—||3||0 |- |2019–20<ref>{{soccerbase season|109839|2019|accessdate=17 January 2020}}</ref> |Championship |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0 |- |2020–21<ref>{{soccerbase season|109839|2020|accessdate=7 January 2021}}</ref> |Championship |1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||1||0 |- |2021–22<ref name="DB21">{{soccerbase season|109839|2021|accessdate=26 February 2022}}</ref> |Championship |12||0||1||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||14||0 |- |2022–23<ref name="DB22">{{soccerbase season|109839|2022|accessdate=26 February 2022}}</ref> |Championship |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !14!!0!!1!!0!!3!!0!!0!!0!!18!!0 |- |Fleetwood Town (loan) |2021–22<ref name="DB21"/> |League One |12||1||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||12||1 |- |Port Vale (loan) |2022–23<ref name="DB22"/> |League One |31||3||1||1||colspan=2|—||2{{efn|name=EFT|Appearances in the EFL Trophy}}||0||34||4 |- |rowspan=3|Carlisle United |2023–24<ref name="DB23">{{soccerbase season|109839|2023|accessdate=26 February 2022}}</ref> |League One |28||4||1||0||1||0||3||0||33||4 |- |2024–25<ref name="DB24">{{soccerbase season|109839|2024|accessdate=26 February 2022}}</ref> |League Two |3||0||colspan=2|—||1||0||0||0||4||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !74!!8!!1!!0!!2!!0!!3!!0!!83!!9 |- |rowspan=3|Swindon Town |2024–25<ref name="DB24"/> |League Two |34||5||2||0||colspan=2|—||4{{efn|name=EFT}}||1||40||6 |- |2025–26<ref>{{Soccerbase season|109839|2025|1 July 2025}}</ref> |League Two |10||0||0||0||0||0||1{{efn|name=EFT}}||0||11||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !44!!5!!2!!0!!0!!0!!5!!1!!51!!6 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !132!!13!!4!!1!!5!!0!!8!!1!!152!!15 |} {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Swindon Town F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Butterworth, Daniel}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Manchester Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. players Category:Fleetwood Town F.C. players Category:Port Vale F.C. players Category:Carlisle United F.C. players Category:Swindon Town F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:21st-century English sportsmen