{{Short description|Welsh footballer (born 2000)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Use British English|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Niall Huggins | image = | caption = | fullname = Niall Joseph Huggins<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed |url=http://www.premierleague.com/news/1869523 |access-date=10 January 2021 |website=premierleague.com |publisher=Premier League }}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|12|18|df=y}} | birth_place = York, England | height = {{convert|1.73|m|order=flip}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Niall Huggins |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe617867/niall-huggins/ |access-date=10 January 2021 |website=worldfootball.net }}</ref> | position = Right-back | currentclub = Wycombe Wanderers (on loan from Sunderland) | clubnumber = 23 | youthyears1 = 2007–2009 | youthclubs1 = Heworth | youthyears2 = 2009–2020 | youthclubs2 = Leeds United | years1 = 2020–2021 | clubs1 = Leeds United | caps1 = 1 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2021– | clubs2 = Sunderland | caps2 = 22 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2025– | clubs3 = → Wycombe Wanderers (loan) | caps3 = 14 | goals3 = 1 | nationalyears1 = 2019–2023 | nationalteam1 = Wales U21 | nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | club-update = 07:41, 17 March 2026 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = }} '''Niall Joseph Huggins''' (born 18 December 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a full-back for {{English football updater|WycombeW}} club Wycombe Wanderers on loan from {{English football updater|Sunderld}} club Sunderland and the Wales national team.
==Early life== Huggins was born in York and grew up in Fulford, on the outskirts of York.<ref name="sw">{{soccerway|niall-huggins/592311|accessdate=10 January 2021}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=Appleyard |first=Ian |date=18 May 2017 |title=York teenagers land two year scholarships at Championship club Leeds United |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/football/15293678.york-teenagers-land-two-year-scholarships-at-championship-club-leeds-united/ |access-date=10 January 2021 |website=York Press}}</ref> He attended Fulford School in Fulford.<ref name="auto" />
==Club career== ===Leeds United=== After winning his division with under-8s junior side Heworth, he joined Leeds United's academy in 2009, alongside Kain Rogerson and future professional Jack Clarke.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 May 2009 |title=Talented U8s take title glory |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/4336983.talented-u8s-take-title-glory/ |access-date=10 January 2021 |website=York Press}}</ref><ref name="auto" /> He graduated through their academy and, alongside Clarke, signed a two-year scholarship with Leeds United in May 2017.<ref name="auto" /> Upon signing his scholarship deal with Leeds United, he stated that he was "looking forward to the next two years", adding that he will be "working hard and putting all my effort into, hopefully, getting a 'pro' deal at the end of it".<ref name="auto" /> Following his two-year scholarship, he signed a year-long professional contract with Leeds in May 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 May 2019 |title=Niall Huggins agrees professional contract |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/academy/25000/niall-huggins |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812204233/https://www.leedsunited.com/news/academy/25000/niall-huggins |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 August 2019 |access-date=10 January 2021 |website=leedsunited.com |publisher=Leeds United F.C.}}</ref> In December 2020, he signed a contract lasting until the end of the 2022–23 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rayner |first=Stuart |date=4 December 2020 |title=Wales Under-21 international Niall Huggins latest youngster added to Leeds United's future plans |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-add-niall-huggins-latest-their-future-plans-3057302 |access-date=10 January 2021 |website=The Yorkshire Post}}</ref> Huggins made his professional debut as a 54th-minute substitute for Ezgjan Alioski in a 4–2 defeat at Arsenal on 14 February 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sobot |first=Lee |date=14 February 2021 |title=Arsenal 4 Leeds United 2: First-half Gunners blitz costs Whites as Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang nets treble |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/arsenal-4-leeds-united-2-first-half-gunners-blitz-costs-whites-pierre-emerick-aubameyang-nets-treble-3134576 |access-date=14 February 2021 |website=Yorkshire Evening Post |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sobot |first=Lee |date=14 February 2021 |title=Spotlight on Niall Huggins as versatile Leeds United youngster makes his Whites debut against Arsenal |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/spotlight-niall-huggins-versatile-leeds-united-youngster-makes-his-whites-debut-against-arsenal-3134595 |access-date=14 February 2021 |website=Yorkshire Evening Post |language=en}}</ref>
===Sunderland=== On 20 August 2021, Huggins joined EFL League One side Sunderland on a four-year deal.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |date=20 August 2021 |title=Niall Huggins: Sunderland sign full-back from Leeds United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58286991 |access-date=23 August 2021 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Matty |date=20 August 2021 |title=Niall Huggins signs a four-year deal at Sunderland |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/19528698.niall-huggins-signs-four-year-deal-sunderland/ |access-date=23 August 2021 |website=The Northern Echo |language=en}}</ref> It was reported by BBC Radio Leeds that he joined the club on a free transfer, but the deal included a sell-on fee.<ref name="auto1" />
On 4 October 2023, Huggins scored his first professional goal for Sunderland against Watford in a 2–0 home win.
Huggins signed a contract extension in October 2024 until the summer of 2026 with an option by the club for an additional year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Huggins signs contract extension |url=https://www.safc.com/news/2024/october/16/huggins-signs-contract-extension/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=www.safc.com}}</ref>
==International career== Huggins qualifies for Wales through his Welsh born father.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davies |first=Mathew |date=15 February 2021 |title=Who is Niall Huggins, the Welsh Leeds starlet who impressed against Arsenal |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-niall-huggins-welsh-leeds-19839499 |access-date=15 February 2021 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}}</ref> Huggins made his debut for the Wales national under-21 side on 9 June 2019 in a 2–1 defeat to Albania.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 June 2019 |title=U21s fall short in Albania despite late comeback |url=http://www.faw.cymru/en/news/u21s-fall-short-albania-despite-late-comeback/ |access-date=10 January 2021 |website=faw.cymru |publisher=Football Association of Wales}}</ref>
In November 2023 Huggins was called up to the senior Wales squad for the first time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67351886|title=Huggins Wales call-up|work=bbc.co.uk}}</ref>
==Style of play== Huggins played as a forward for Leeds' under-18 side, but transitioned to play as a left-back for their under-23 side.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Byrom |first=David |date=4 December 2020 |title=Barry Douglas sends message to Niall Huggins as youngster signs new contract |url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/niall-huggins-leeds-united-contract-19401182 |access-date=10 January 2021 |website=LeedsLive}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 2 December 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"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Leeds United |2020–21<ref name="sb2021">{{soccerbase season|136090|2020|access-date=14 February 2021}}</ref> |Premier League |1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- |Leeds United U21 |2020–21<ref name="sb2021" /> |colspan="3"|— |colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1{{Efn|name=EFLT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}}||0||1||0 |- |rowspan="5"|Sunderland |2021–22<ref name="sb2122">{{soccerbase season|136090|2021|access-date=23 August 2021}}</ref> |League One |2||0||0||0||2||0||0||0||4||0 |- |2022–23<ref name="sb2223">{{soccerbase season|136090|2022|access-date=10 December 2022}}</ref> |Championship |1||0||1||0||0||0||2{{efn|Appearances in Championship play-offs}}||0||4||0 |- |2023–24<ref name="sb2324">{{soccerbase season|136090|2023|access-date=10 August 2023}}</ref> |Championship |19||1||0||0||1||0||0||0||20||1 |- |2025–26<ref name="sb2526">{{soccerbase season|136090|2025|access-date=10 December 2025}}</ref> |Premier League |0||0||colspan="2"|—||1||0||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !22!!1!!1!!0!!4!!0!!2!!0!!29!!1 |- |Wycombe Wanderers (loan) |2025–26<ref name="sb2526" /> |EFL League One |5||0||0||0||1||0||3{{efn|name=EFLT}}||0||9||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !28!!1!!1!!0!!5!!0!!6!!0!!40!!1 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Sunderland''' * EFL League One play-offs: 2022<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61447041 |title=Sunderland 2–0 Wycombe |first=Chris |last=Paddy |website=BBC Sport |date=21 May 2022 |access-date=1 June 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{soccerbase|136090}} *[https://www.soccerassociation.com/cgi-bin/pinfo.cgi?u21%7C%7C326399 Niall Huggins] at SoccerAssociation {{subscription required}}
{{Sunderland A.F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Huggins, Niall}} Category:2000 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from York Category:Welsh men's footballers Category:21st-century Welsh sportsmen Category:Wales men's youth international footballers Category:Wales men's under-21 international footballers Category:English men's footballers Category:English people of Welsh descent Category:Men's association football full-backs Category:Leeds United F.C. players Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players Category:Premier League players Category:English Football League players Category:21st-century English sportsmen