{{short description|English footballer}} {{Use British English|date=July 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Joe Ralls | image = Joe Ralls 05042025 (1).jpg | image_size = 220 | caption = Ralls with Cardiff City in 2025 | fullname = Joseph William Ralls<ref name="Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13">{{Cite news |title=Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13 |url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/4e/bd/0,,10794~179534,00.pdf |publisher=The Football League |date=18 May 2013 |page=11 |access-date=30 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802074454/http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/4e/bd/0%2C%2C10794~179534%2C00.pdf |archive-date= 2 August 2014}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|10|12|df=y}}<ref>{{Hugman|25040|access-date=12 October 2017}}</ref> | birth_place = Aldershot, England | height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}<ref>{{cite book|editor1-first=Glenda|editor1-last=Rollin|editor2-first=Jack|editor2-last=Rollin |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 |year=2012 |publisher=Headline |location=London |isbn=978-0-7553-6356-8 |page=448 |edition=43rd}}</ref> | position = Midfielder | currentclub = Plymouth Argyle | clubnumber = 32 | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Badshot Lea | youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Aldershot Town | youthyears3 = 2008–2010 | youthclubs3 = Farnborough | youthyears4 = 2010–2011 | youthclubs4 = Cardiff City | years1 = 2011–2025 | clubs1 = Cardiff City | caps1 = 384 | goals1 = 32 | years2 = 2013–2014 | clubs2 = → Yeovil Town (loan) | caps2 = 37 | goals2 = 3 | years3 = 2025– | clubs3 = Plymouth Argyle | caps3 = 10 | goals3 = 1 | nationalyears1 = 2012 | nationalteam1 = England U19 | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | club-update = 24 January 2026 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = }} '''Joseph William Ralls''' (born 12 October 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for {{English football updater|PlymoutA}} club Plymouth Argyle.
After playing at youth level for local teams Aldershot Town and Farnborough, Ralls joined the youth academy at Cardiff City after being spotted by scouts from the club. He made his professional debut for the ''Bluebirds'' in August 2011 before joining Yeovil Town on a season-long loan deal for the 2013–14 season to gain experience. After fourteen years with Cardiff, he departed the club following the conclusion of the 2024–25 season.
==Career== ===Cardiff City=== Ralls began his career at Badshot Lea,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/why-i-love-game-joe-ralls |title=Why I Love the Game {{!}} Joe Ralls |publisher=Cardiff City F.C. |date=14 April 2020 |access-date=10 April 2024}}</ref> before later joining Aldershot Town,<ref name="firstcontract">{{cite news |title=Ralls signs professional terms |url=http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10335~2467313,00.html |publisher=Cardiff City F.C |date=30 September 2011 |access-date=10 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001024913/http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10335~2467313%2C00.html |archive-date= 1 October 2011}}</ref> where he played one game for the first-team in an Aldershot Senior Cup tie against Bagshot at the age of just 15 after a number of senior players were rested, before joining Farnborough under-16s.<ref name="Snatched">{{cite news |title=How Cardiff City snatched starlet Joe Ralls away from Fulham |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-football/2011/08/31/how-cardiff-city-snatched-starlet-joe-ralls-away-from-fulham-91466-29332601/ |newspaper=South Wales Echo |author=Terry Phillips |date=31 August 2011 |access-date=31 August 2011}}</ref> After he was spotted by Cardiff City scouts along with Jordan Carter, a small compensation was paid by Cardiff to sign the two players. He had previously agreed to play in a trial match for Premier League club Fulham, although this was postponed before he joined Cardiff.<ref name="Snatched"/> He also attracted interest from Everton and Notts County.<ref name="Lookingback">{{cite web |url=http://www.ytfc.net/news/article/20140526-greenwhite-ralls-1571713.aspx |title=GREEN & WHITE LOOKING BACK – JOE RALLS |publisher=Yeovil Town F.C. |date=26 May 2014 |access-date=4 November 2016 |archive-date=5 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105032507/http://www.ytfc.net/news/article/20140526-greenwhite-ralls-1571713.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref> Then Cardiff academy manager Neal Ardley has stated that he had to convince other staff at the club about Ralls after he declared his intention to offer him a contract.<ref name="Stunned">{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/neal-ardley-reveals-stunned-response-9830546 |title=Neal Ardley reveals stunned response from Cardiff City coaches when he declared: 'I'm going to sign Joe Ralls' |publisher=WalesOnline |date=10 August 2015 |access-date=19 May 2016}}</ref> Following his departure from the club, Farnborough youth coach Aidan Whelan commented "We realised from when he first joined us that he has a real talent. He was head and shoulders above players at the same age level".<ref name="Snatched"/>
After Cardiff were left with a depleted squad due to international call-ups prior to a Football League Cup tie against Oxford United on 10 August 2011, manager Malky Mackay approached Ardley to enquire which players in the academy set-up would be ready to step into the first-team for the match. Ardley recommended Ralls, Deji Oshilaja and Mamadou Diallo to Mackay and Ralls and Oshilaja were eventually named on the substitutes bench for the match. Mackay later revealed that he knew very little about Ralls prior to his inclusion in the match.<ref name="Snatched"/> Ralls was brought on after 67 minutes in place of Andrew Taylor to make his professional debut at the age of 17 as Cardiff went on to win 3–1 in extra-time.<ref name="Cardiffdebut">{{cite news |title=Oxford Utd 1 – 3 Cardiff |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/14383989.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 August 2011 |access-date=10 August 2011}}</ref> He was handed his first start in the second round of the competition against Huddersfield Town 13 days later, playing 81 minutes before being replaced by Peter Whittingham.<ref name="Firststart">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14539104 |title=Cardiff City 5–3 Huddersfield Town |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 August 2011 |access-date=1 November 2016}}</ref>
His progression into the first-team saw him handed his first professional contract by the club on 30 September 2011, later commenting "It's a fantastic feeling to have signed professionally with a club like Cardiff City".<ref name="firstcontract"/> Ralls made his league debut just 48 hours after signing the contract, being brought on after just 10 minutes of a match against Hull City following an injury to forward Kenny Miller, scoring a stunning volley for his first senior goal as Cardiff went on to lose 2–1.<ref name="firstgoal">{{cite news |title=Hull 2–1 Cardiff |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15045293 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 October 2011 |access-date=1 October 2011}}</ref> His first league start came on 10 December in a goalless draw at Millwall,<ref name="Leaguedebut">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/16015832 |title=Millwall 0–0 Cardiff |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 December 2011 |access-date=22 June 2012}}</ref> going on to finish his first season in the first-team squad having made 14 appearances in all competitions.<ref name="Games played by Joe Ralls in 2011/2012">{{Soccerbase season|61254|2011|name=Joe Ralls|access-date=22 November 2013}}</ref>
====Loan to Yeovil Town==== Following Cardiff's promotion to the Premier League at the end of the 2012–13 season, Ralls was made available for loan due to the lack of first-team opportunities available in the top tier, joining newly promoted Championship club Yeovil Town on loan on 14 August until January 2014 to gain experience.<ref name="Experience">{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-midfielder-joe-ralls-5734719 |title=Cardiff City midfielder Joe Ralls joins Yeovil Town on loan |publisher=WalesOnline |date=15 August 2013 |access-date=1 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="Yeovilloan">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23715305 |title=Wayne Hennessey: Wolves keeper's injury halts Yeovil loan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 August 2013 |access-date=15 August 2013}}</ref> He made his debut for the club on 17 August after coming on as a substitute in place of Kevin Dawson during a 2–0 defeat to Burnley.<ref name="Lookingback"/><ref name="Yeovildebut">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23644641 |title=Burnley 2–0 Yeovil Town |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 August 2013 |access-date=1 November 2016}}</ref> He scored his first goal for the ''Glovers'' in his fourth appearance for the club on 14 September, netting his team's only goal in a 1–1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday,<ref name="firstyeovilgoal">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23999421 |title=Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 Yeovil Town |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 September 2013 |access-date=4 November 2016}}</ref> the first goal the team had scored since Ed Upson's winning goal on the opening day of the season a month previously.<ref name="Lookingback"/>
Ralls expressed his satisfaction with joining the ''Glovers'', stating "Yeovil has worked out really well and I know I'll improve my game here before I return to Cardiff."<ref name="Lookingback"/> He briefly returned to Cardiff following the expiration of his loan deal following the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjær as Cardiff manager in order for the Norwegian to assess his squad, missing Yeovil's FA Cup victory over Leyton Orient.<ref name="Yeovilextension">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/25697194 |title=Transfer window: Yeovil Town extend Joe Ralls loan from Cardiff |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 January 2014 |access-date=11 January 2014}}</ref> However, with Yeovil keen on extending the loan deal,<ref name="waitinggame">{{cite web |url=http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/yeovil-town-play-waiting-game-pursuit-cardiff/story-20410170-detail/story.html |title=Yeovil Town play waiting game in pursuit of Cardiff City midfielder Joe Ralls and Nottingham Forest striker Ishmael Miller while ruling out move for Plymouth Argyle skipper Conor Hourihane |publisher=Western Morning News |date=7 January 2014 |access-date=4 November 2016}}</ref> on 11 January 2014, Ralls agreed an extension to his loan with Yeovil until the end of the season.<ref name="Yeovilextension"/>
====Return to Cardiff==== [[File:Coady Ralls.jpg|thumbnail|250px|Ralls (right, in blue) on the ball against Conor Coady (left, in yellow) in a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.]] His performances during his loan spell with Yeovil saw Cardiff manager Solskjær to offer Ralls a three-year extension to his contract at the Cardiff City Stadium on his return to the club and was awarded the man of the match award in his first appearance of the 2014–15 season, during a 2–1 victory over Coventry City in the first round of the Football League Cup.<ref name="Starlet">{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-starlet-joe-ralls-7617944 |title=Cardiff City starlet Joe Ralls keen to make a big impact after impressing at Coventry City |publisher=WalesOnline |date=14 August 2014 |access-date=4 November 2016}}</ref> Despite the departure of Solskjær soon after, Ralls continued to thrive under newly appointed Cardiff boss Russell Slade, becoming a regular in the first team during the 2014–15 season, playing mostly as a left-sided midfielder due to intense competition for places in the centre of midfield from Peter Whittingham and Aron Gunnarsson,<ref name="Asset">{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/joe-ralls-now-real-asset-10474406 |title=Joe Ralls now a real asset says Russell Slade after midfielder signs new Cardiff City contract |publisher=WalesOnline |date=20 November 2015 |access-date=4 November 2016}}</ref> altogether playing 31 games and scoring 4 goals, before being handed a new five-year contract with the club set to run until 2020, to which manager Slade stated that he was "delighted" to keep Ralls at the club.<ref name="Asset"/>
At the start of the following season, he was handed the number 8 shirt and started in the left-sided midfield role against Fulham on the opening day.<ref>{{cite news |title=Squad number 2015/16 |url=http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/article/squad-numbers-201516-2598955.aspx |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 August 2015 |access-date=6 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508193934/http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/article/squad-numbers-201516-2598955.aspx |archive-date=8 May 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cardiff 1–1 Fulham |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33744136 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 August 2015 |access-date=8 August 2015}}</ref> Ralls scored his only goal of the campaign in January against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 3–1 win.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–3 Cardiff City |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35269833 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 January 2016 |access-date=16 January 2016}}</ref> Ralls effort throughout the season had earned him the Young Player of the year award, whilst Cardiff just missed out on a play-off place to Sheffield Wednesday.<ref name="Youngplayeraward">{{cite news |title=Cardiff City end of season awards RECAP: Matthew Connolly named Player of the Year |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-end-season-awards-11299527 |work=South Wales Echo |author=Tucker, S, Smith, P |date=7 May 2016 |access-date=7 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Joe Ralls signs fresh Cardiff City contract |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34873834 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 November 2015 |access-date=19 November 2015}}</ref>
[[File:Joe Ralls 2016.jpg|thumb|220px|left|Ralls playing for Cardiff City in 2016.]]
Ralls celebrated his 100th appearance for Cardiff, by scoring a spectacular goal from 25 yards out against Fulham in August, also opening his accounts for the 2016–17 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fulham 2 – 2 Cardiff |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/fulham-vs-cardiff/358150 |publisher=Sky Sports Football |date=20 August 2016 |access-date=20 August 2016}}</ref> He was nominated for Player of the Month in January, following impressive performances scoring two against Aston Villa and Reading and seeing Cardiff rise from the relegation battle to mid-table spot.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ralls nominated for Player of the Month |url=http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/ralls-nominated-for-jan-sky-bet-championship-player-of-the-month-3564099.aspx |publisher=Cardiff City Official Sit |date=9 February 2017 |access-date=9 February 2017}}</ref>
In June 2022, Ralls signed a new two-year contract with the club.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/joe-ralls-signs-new-deal |title=Joe Ralls signs a new deal |website=cardiffcityfc.co.uk |date=25 June 2022}}</ref>
On 21 June 2025, Cardiff announced that Ralls would be leaving at the end of the month when his contract expired.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-21 |title=Joe Ralls: Captain leaves Cardiff City while Andy Rinomhota also goes |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cjd2lv20p24o |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref>
===Plymouth Argyle=== On 5 November 2025, Ralls joined League One club Plymouth Argyle on a short-term contract until January 2026.<ref> {{cite web|url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/joe-ralls-signs-argyle|title=Joe Ralls signs for Argyle|website=www.pafc.co.uk|date=5 November 2025|accessdate=5 January 2026}}</ref> On 3 January 2026, he signed a contract extension until the end of the season.<ref> {{cite web|url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/joe-ralls-extends-argyle-contract|title=Joe Ralls extends Argyle contract|website=www.pafc.co.uk|date=3 January 2026|accessdate=5 January 2026}}</ref>
==International career== Ralls received his first international call for the England Under-19s to replace the injured Robert Hall to play Czech Republic in February 2012.<ref>{{cite news |title=Squad named for Czech test |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/mens-u19s/News/Match%20Centre/2012/EnglandvCzechRep/Match-Previews/squad-announcement.aspx |publisher=The Football Association |date=24 February 2012 |access-date=6 February 2012}}</ref> Ralls came on in the games to make his English debut.<ref>{{cite news |title=Malky Mackay thrilled with Joe Ralls' England call-up |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city/cardiff-city-fc/2012/03/03/malky-mackay-thrilled-with-joe-ralls-england-call-up-91466-30448643/? |newspaper=South Wales Echo |author=Terry Phillips |date=3 March 2012 |access-date=3 March 2012}}</ref>
==Style of play== Primarily a central midfielder, Ralls featured frequently at left midfield and left-back during the early stages of his career at Cardiff City and Yeovil, commenting that, although not a natural in either position, he can "do a job there" but admitted that he does "naturally tend to drift inside" when playing out of position.<ref name="Lookingback"/> Ralls has described himself as a box-to-box midfielder that "likes to get forward as much as possible".<ref name="yeovillife">{{cite web |url=http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/ralls-enjoying-moment-time-glovers/story-19712869-detail/story.html |title=Ralls is enjoying every moment of his time with the Glovers |publisher=Somerset Live |date=27 August 2013 |access-date=1 November 2016}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|24 January 2026}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=61254 |title=Joe Ralls |publisher=Soccerbase| access-date = 22 November 2013}}</ref>
{| 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"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="15" valign="center"|Cardiff City |{{center|2011–12<ref name="Games played by Joe Ralls in 2011/2012"/>}} |Championship |10||1||0||0||4||0||colspan=2|—||14||1 |- |{{center|2012–13<ref name="12/13 appearances">{{Soccerbase season|61254|2012|name=Joe Ralls|access-date=22 August 2013}}</ref>}} |Championship |4||0||1||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||6||0 |- |{{center|2013–14<ref name="13/14 appearances">{{Soccerbase season|61254|2013|name=Joe Ralls|access-date=22 November 2013}}</ref>}} |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0 |- |{{center|2014–15<ref name="Games played by Joe Ralls in 2014/2015">{{Soccerbase season|61254|2014|name=Joe Ralls|access-date=13 August 2014}}</ref>}} |Championship |28||2||1||1||2||1||colspan=2|—||31||4 |- |{{center|2015–16<ref name="Games played by Joe Ralls in 2015/2016">{{Soccerbase season|61254|2015|name=Joe Ralls|access-date=10 July 2015}}</ref>}} |Championship |43||1||0||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||44||1 |- |{{center|2016–17<ref name="Games played by Joe Ralls in 2016/2017">{{Soccerbase season|61254|2016|name=Joe Ralls|access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref>}} |Championship |42||6||1||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||44||6 |- |2017–18<ref name="17/18 appearances">{{Soccerbase season|61254|2017|name=Joe Ralls|access-date=29 July 2017}}</ref> |Championship |37||7||2||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||40||7 |- |2018–19<ref name="18/19 appearances">{{Soccerbase season|61254|2018|name=Joe Ralls|access-date=1 August 2018}}</ref> |Premier League |28||0||1||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||29||0 |- |2019–20<ref name=sb1920>{{soccerbase season|61254|2019|access-date=1 August 2019}}</ref> |Championship |27||7||2||0||0||0||2{{efn|Appearances in Championship play-offs}}||0||31||7 |- |2020–21<ref name="20/21 appearances">{{Soccerbase season|61254|2020|name=Joe Ralls|access-date=3 September 2020}}</ref> |Championship |39||5||1||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||40||5 |- |2021–22<ref name="21/22 appearances">{{Soccerbase season|61254|2021|name=Joe Ralls|access-date=1 August 2021}}</ref> |Championship |29||1||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||29||1 |- |2022–23<ref name="22/23 appearances">{{Soccerbase season|61254|2022|name=Joe Ralls|access-date=8 January 2023}}</ref> |Championship |41||1||1||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||43||1 |- |2023–24<ref name="23/24 appearances">{{Soccerbase season|61254|2023|name=Joe Ralls|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref> |Championship |35||1||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||35||1 |- |2024–25<ref name="24/25 appearances">{{Soccerbase season|61254|2024|name=Joe Ralls|access-date=31 December 2024}}</ref> |Championship |21||0||2||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||23||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !384!!32!!12!!1!!11!!1!!2!!0!!409!!34 |- |valign="center"|Yeovil Town (loan) |{{center|2013–14<ref name="13/14 appearances"/>}} |Championship |37||3||1||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||38||3 |- |valign="center"|Plymouth Argyle |2025–26<ref name="25/26 appearances">{{Soccerbase season|61254|2025|name=Joe Ralls|access-date=21 February 2026}}</ref> |League One |10||1||0||0||0||0||1{{efn|name=EFT|Appearances in EFL Trophy}}||0||11||1 |- !colspan=3|Career totals !431!!36!!13!!1!!11!!1!!3!!0!!458!!38 |}
{{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Cardiff City''' *EFL Championship runner-up: 2017–18<ref>{{cite book |editor-first=John |editor-last=Anderson |title=Football Yearbook 2018–2019 |year=2018 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-1-4722-6106-9 |pages=106–107}}</ref>
'''Individual''' *Cardiff City Young Player of the Year: 2014–15<ref name="Youngplayeraward"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *{{Soccerbase}}
{{Plymouth Argyle F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ralls, Joe}} Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Aldershot Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Aldershot Town F.C. players Category:Farnborough F.C. players Category:Cardiff City F.C. players Category:Yeovil Town F.C. players Category:Plymouth Argyle F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:Premier League players Category:England men's youth international footballers Category:21st-century English sportsmen