{{Short description|Wales international footballer (born 1990)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Use British English|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Marley Watkins | image = | image_size = | caption = | full_name = Marley Joseph Watkins<ref>{{Hugman|25696|access-date=22 April 2017}}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|10|17|df=y}} | birth_place = Lewisham, England | height = 1.86 m | position = Winger | currentclub = Kilmarnock | clubnumber = 23 | youthyears1 = 1999–2007 | youthclubs1 = Swansea City | years1 = 2008–2011 | clubs1 = Cheltenham Town | caps1 = 26 | goals1 = 1 | years2 = 2010–2011 | clubs2 = → Bath City (loan) | caps2 = 22 | goals2 = 3 | years3 = 2011–2012 | clubs3 = Bath City | caps3 = 37 | goals3 = 5 | years4 = 2012–2013 | clubs4 = Hereford United | caps4 = 34 | goals4 = 5 | years5 = 2013–2015 | clubs5 = Inverness Caledonian Thistle | caps5 = 59 | goals5 = 8 | years6 = 2015–2017 | clubs6 = Barnsley | caps6 = 76 | goals6 = 15 | years7 = 2017–2018 | clubs7 = Norwich City | caps7 = 24 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2018–2021 | clubs8 = Bristol City | caps8 = 27 | goals8 = 3 | years9 = 2020 | clubs9 = → Aberdeen (loan) | caps9 = 9 | goals9 = 2 | years10 = 2021 | clubs10 = Cardiff City | caps10 = 0 | goals10 = 0 | years11 = 2021–2023 | clubs11 = Aberdeen | caps11 = 47 | goals11 = 4 | years12 = 2023– | clubs12 = Kilmarnock | caps12 = 81 | goals12 = 19 | nationalyears1 = 2017–2018 | nationalteam1 = Wales | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | club-update = 20 May 2026 | nationalteam-update = 16 June 2018 (UTC) }} '''Marley Joseph Watkins''' (born 17 October 1990) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for {{Scottish football updater|Kilmarno}} club Kilmarnock. He has attained two caps for the Wales national team.
==Personal life== Born in Lewisham in London, Watkins grew up in Swansea in Wales. Through his parents, he qualified to play for Wales and France.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.ctfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10434~1577368,00.html |title=Marley Watkins signs contract at Robins |publisher=Cheltenham Town F.C. |date=3 March 2009 |access-date=25 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319010615/http://www.ctfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10434~1577368,00.html |archive-date=19 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He is the grandson of the writer Gwen Watkins and the Welsh poet Vernon Watkins.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40041499|title=Ethan Ampadu: Exeter City youngster included in Wales squad|date=25 May 2017|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>
==Club career== Watkins started his career as a youth player at Swansea City but was released and he joined Cheltenham Town in 2008. On 9 August 2008, he made his first senior appearance for the club, playing in the last ten minutes of a 4–2 defeat at Northampton Town. In doing so, he became Cheltenham Town's youngest ever league player. He scored his first professional goal after coming on as a substitute against Northampton in the 2009–10 season.
In September 2010, Watkins joined Conference National side Bath City on loan.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/bathcitynews/Bath-City/article-2681564-detail/article.html |title=One in, one out at Bath City |newspaper=The Bath Chronicle |date=23 September 2010 |access-date=23 September 2010}}</ref> He subsequently signed for Bath on a permanent basis in January 2011, after his successful loan spell.
At the start of the 2012–13 season, Watkins signed a one-year deal at Hereford United. Watkins enjoyed a successful start to his Hereford career by winning a 'Player of the Month' award in his first month at the club. He ultimately played 34 league games and scored five goals in his season at Hereford.
In June 2013 it was announced that Watkins would be joining Inverness Caledonian Thistle for the 2013–2014 season. He made his Scottish Premiership debut at Celtic Park on 24 August, coming on as a substitute in a 2–2 draw with Celtic.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23737036.stm Celtic 2–2 Inverness CT.]{{dead link|date=September 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} BBC Sport. 24 August 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2013</ref> On 30 May 2015, he opened the scoring for Inverness in the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park, as the club secured a 2–1 victory against Falkirk.<ref name="cup win">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32728510 |title=Inverness CT 2–1 Falkirk |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=30 May 2015 |access-date=4 June 2015 |first=Alasdair |last=Lamont}}</ref> During his time at Inverness, the club reached the final of the 2013–14 Scottish League Cup and in addition to the Scottish Cup win, they finished third in the Scottish Premiership in 2014–15 and qualified for European football for the first time in their history.
On 5 June 2015, Watkins signed for League One club Barnsley. In his first season with Barnsley, the club won the Football League Trophy against Oxford United, and won promotion via the playoffs to gain promotion to the Championship. He scored eight goals and got nine assists in 42 games during his debut season with Barnsley. Additionally, Watkins scored on his Championship debut against Ipswich Town and assisted another with Barnsley losing the game, 4–2.
On 1 June 2017, Watkins signed for Championship club Norwich City on a free transfer. He joined the club on 1 July. He scored his first goal for Norwich in an EFL Cup tie against Charlton Athletic on 22 August 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40932109|title=Norwich 4-1 Charlton|publisher=BBC Sport|date=22 August 2017 |access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref>
On 15 June 2018, after one season at Norwich City, Watkins signed for fellow Championship side Bristol City for a fee of £1 million. The move reunited him with Lee Johnson, his manager at Barnsley.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44503178|title=Marley Watkins: Bristol City sign Norwich and Wales forward for £1m|publisher=BBC Sport|date=15 June 2018|access-date=16 June 2018}}</ref>
On 22 August 2020, Watkins signed for Aberdeen on loan until January 2021.<ref>{{cite web|title=Marley Watkins: Aberdeen sign striker on loan from Bristol City|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53875793|website=BBC Sport|date=22 August 2020|access-date=23 August 2020}}</ref> He scored his first goal in a 3–0 away win over Ross County in the Scottish Premiership on 27 September, his first Scottish League goal since 31 January 2015, which, incidentally, was also against Ross County.
In late December 2020, Watkins returned to Bristol City.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/dean-holden-confirms-marley-watkins-4829674|title=Dean Holden confirms Marley Watkins' return from Aberdeen and Bristol City future|website=Bristolpost.co.uk|date=23 December 2020|access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref> In March 2021, Watkins returned to action with ''The Robins'', coming off the bench in their 3–0 away win against Birmingham City.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56302515|title=Birmingham City 0-3 Bristol City|website=BBC Sport|date=13 March 2021|access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref> On 14 May 2021, he was released by Bristol City following the expiry of his contract.
On 10 August 2021, Watkins joined Cardiff City.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58165915 |title=Marley Watkins: Cardiff City sign Wales winger on short-term deal |publisher=BBC |date=10 August 2021 |access-date=10 August 2021}}</ref> On that same day he made his debut and scored twice in a 3-2 EFL Cup win over Sutton United.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58065888 |title=Cardiff 3–2 Sutton United |publisher=BBC |date=10 August 2021 |access-date=10 August 2021}}</ref> However, shortly afterwards, the club confirmed Watkins would not be offered an extension beyond his initial one-month deal.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58251707 |title=Marley Watkins: Cardiff City decide not to keep Wales winger |publisher=BBC |date=17 August 2021 |access-date=20 August 2021}}</ref>
On 26 August 2021, Watkins returned for a second spell with Aberdeen, signing a two-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aberdeen announce return of forward Marley Watkins|url=https://news.stv.tv/sport/aberdeen-announced-return-of-forward-marley-watkins?top|website=news.stv.tv|last=Coyle|first=Andy|date=26 August 2021|access-date=20 September 2021}}</ref> He left in 2023 having scored 4 goals for the club.<ref>{{cite news |title=End of Season update|url=https://www.afc.co.uk/2023/06/13/end-of-season-2022-23-squad-update/|access-date=14 June 2023 |publisher=AFC|date=13 June 2023}}</ref>
On 21 July 2023, Watkins signed a one-year deal with Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock, reuniting with former Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-07-21 |title=Watkins signs for Killie |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cjj1qepq013o |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> On 29 June 2024, Watkins signed a new two-year deal.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/czk04gpp002o| title=Watkins signs two-year deal to stay at Killie| publisher=BBC Sport| date=29 June 2024| access-date=8 April 2025}}</ref>
==International career== Watkins was born in England, and is of Welsh and French descent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insidewelshfootball.co.uk/cardiff-city-opportunity-sign-watkins/|title=Could Cardiff City sign this wantaway Barnsley star this summer?|date=10 May 2017|website=insidewelshfootball.co.uk|access-date=26 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511160010/http://www.insidewelshfootball.co.uk/cardiff-city-opportunity-sign-watkins/|archive-date=11 May 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Watkins was called up to the Wales national team on 25 May 2017, for a match against Serbia on 11 June 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40041499|title=Ethan Ampadu: Exeter City youngster included in Wales squad|date=25 May 2017|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> He made his debut for the side on 14 November 2017, as a substitute during a 1–1 draw with Panama.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41884895 |title=Wales 1–1 Panama |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 November 2017 |access-date=14 November 2017}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{Updated|match played 11 May 2024}}
{|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, Scottish Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Football League Cup, Scottish League Cup}} !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4"|Cheltenham Town |2008–09<ref name="MW08">{{soccerbase season|49465|2008|access-date=12 July 2017}}</ref> |League One |12||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||13||0 |- |2009–10<ref name="MW09">{{soccerbase season|49465|2009|access-date=12 July 2017}}</ref> |League Two |13||1||0||0||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="FLT">Appearance in Football League Trophy</ref>||0||14||1 |- |2010–11<ref name="MW10">{{soccerbase season|49465|2010|access-date=12 July 2017}}</ref> |League Two |1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !26!!1!!1!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!28!!1 |- |Bath City (loan) |2010–11<ref name="MW10"/> |Conference Premier |22||3||0||0||colspan="2"|—||2<ref group=lower-alpha name="FAT">Appearances in FA Trophy</ref>||0||24||3 |- |Bath City |2011–12<ref name="MW11">{{soccerbase season|49465|2011|access-date=12 July 2017}}</ref> |Conference Premier |37||5||3||0||colspan="2"|—||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="FAT"/>||0||41||5 |- |Hereford United |2012–13<ref name="MW12">{{soccerbase season|49465|2012|access-date=12 July 2017}}</ref> |Conference Premier |34||5||1||0||colspan="2"|—||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="FAT"/>||0||36||5 |- |rowspan="3"|Inverness Caledonian Thistle |2013–14<ref name="MW13">{{soccerbase season|49465|2013|access-date=12 July 2017}}</ref> |Scottish Premiership |26||1||4||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||33||1 |- |2014–15<ref name="MW14">{{soccerbase season|49465|2014|access-date=12 July 2017}}</ref> |Scottish Premiership |33||7||5||2||1||0||colspan="2"|—||39||9 |- !colspan="2"|Total !59!!8!!9!!2!!4!!0!!0!!0!!72!!10 |- |rowspan="3"|Barnsley |2015–16<ref name="MW15">{{soccerbase season|49465|2015|access-date=12 July 2017}}</ref> |League One |34||5||1||0||2||1||5{{efn|Four appearances and two goals in Football League Trophy, one appearance in League One play-offs}}||1||42||7 |- |2016–17<ref name="MW16">{{soccerbase season|49465|2016|access-date=12 July 2017}}</ref> |Championship |42||10||2||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||45||10 |- !colspan="2"|Total !76!!15!!3!!0!!3!!1!!5!!1!!87!!17 |- |Norwich City |2017–18<ref name="MW17">{{soccerbase season|49465|2017|access-date=12 July 2017}}</ref> |Championship |24||0||0||0||3||1||colspan="2"|—||27||1 |- |rowspan="4"|Bristol City |2018–19<ref name="MW18">{{soccerbase season|49465|2018|access-date=15 December 2018}}</ref> |Championship |16||2||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||17||2 |- |2019–20<ref name="MW19">{{soccerbase season|49465|2019|access-date=19 August 2019}}</ref> |Championship |9||1||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||10||1 |- |2020–21<ref name=MW20>{{soccerbase season|49465|2020|access-date=23 August 2020}}</ref> |Championship |2||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||2||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !27!!3!!1!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!29!!3 |- |Aberdeen (loan) |2020–21<ref name=MW20/> |Scottish Premiership |9||2||1<ref group=lower-alpha>Includes one appearance in the 2019–20 Scottish Cup semi-final which was postponed until October 2020, due to COVID-19</ref>||0||0||0||3{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||13||2 |- |Cardiff City |2021–22<ref name=MW21>{{soccerbase season|49465|2021|access-date=20 September 2021}}</ref> |Championship |0||0||0||0||1||2||colspan=2|—||1||2 |- |rowspan="3"|Aberdeen |2021–22<ref name=MW21/> |Scottish Premiership |21||3||0||0||0||0||0||0||21||3 |- |2022–23<ref name=MW22>{{soccerbase season|49465|2022|access-date=12 September 2023}}</ref> |Scottish Premiership |26||1||1||0||4||0||colspan=2|—||31||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !47!!4!!1!!0!!4!!0!!0!!0!!52!!4 |- |Kilmarnock |2023–24<ref name=MW23>{{soccerbase season|49465|2023|access-date=12 September 2023}}</ref> |Scottish Premiership |36||9||3||2||4||2||colspan=2|—||43||13 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !397!!55!!23!!4!!20!!7!!13!!1!!453!!66 |}
{{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Inverness Caledonian Thistle''' *Scottish Cup: 2014–15<ref name="cup win"/>
'''Barnsley''' *Football League One play-offs: 2016<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36352352 |title=Barnsley 3–1 Millwall |first=Rob |last=Stevens |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 May 2016 |access-date=23 December 2018}}</ref> *Football League Trophy: 2015–16<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35906363 |title=Barnsley 3–2 Oxford United |first=Phil |last=Cartwright |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 April 2016 |access-date=23 December 2018}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase}} {{Kilmarnock F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watkins, Marley}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Lewisham Category:Welsh men's footballers Category:21st-century Welsh sportsmen Category:Wales men's international footballers Category:English men's footballers Category:Welsh people of French descent Category:English people of Welsh descent Category:English people of French descent Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Swansea City A.F.C. players Category:Cheltenham Town F.C. players Category:Bath City F.C. players Category:Hereford United F.C. players Category:Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. players Category:Barnsley F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:Scottish Professional Football League players Category:Norwich City F.C. players Category:Bristol City F.C. players Category:Aberdeen F.C. players Category:Kilmarnock F.C. players Category:21st-century English sportsmen