Björn Hardley
Personal information
Full name Björn Bryan Hardley[1]
Date of birth (2002-12-19) 19 December 2002
Place of birth Tilburg, Netherlands[2]
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Utrecht
Youth career
2008–2013 SV Advendo
2013–2014 RKVV DIA
2014–2019 NAC Breda
2019–2023 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2023 Manchester United 0 (0)
2023– Utrecht 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:34, 26 July 2023 (UTC)

Björn Bryan Hardley (born 19 December 2002) is a Dutch footballer who plays as a defender for Eredivisie club Utrecht.[3]

Club career

Early career

Born in Tilburg, Hardley started his career with local sides SV Advendo and RKVV DIA, before joining NAC Breda in 2014.[4][5] While at NAC, Hardley's performances caught the eye of Manchester United scout Rene Moonen, who invited four other United scouts to watch Hardley in action.[6]

Manchester United

After impressing scouts, Hardley signed a three-year contract with Manchester United in 2019.[4] He progressed through the ranks at United, establishing himself in the under-18 squad before moving to the under-23 side. He made three appearances in the 2021–22 EFL Trophy, scoring once in a 3–2 defeat to Lincoln City.[7]

Having trained with the first team since November 2021, Hardley was added to Manchester United's Champions League squad in early December.[6]

Utrecht

On 20 July 2023, Hardley's departure from Manchester United was confirmed by the club as he had joined with Dutch club Utrecht.[8] He was the second player from Manchester United to join the club in the summer transfer window, following Zidane Iqbal.[9]

International career

Hardley is eligible to represent the Netherlands and Suriname.[10]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 13 December 2022[11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester United U21 2020–21 —————0000
2021–22 —————3[lower-alpha 1]131
2022–23 —————5[lower-alpha 1]050
Total————8181
Career total 000000108181
  1. 1 2 Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy

References

  1. ↑ "Premier League clubs publish 2020/21 retained lists". PremierLeague.com. Premier League. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 Björn Hardley at WorldFootball.net
  3. ↑ "Björn Hardley". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  4. 1 2 "NAC verliest talent aan Manchester United: "Zeven scouts hebben hem bekeken"" [NAC lose talent to Manchester United: "Seven scouts have watched him"]. goal.com (in Dutch). 1 July 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  5. ↑ Blanco, Yadran (8 December 2021). "Manchester United roept talent Bjorn Hardley uit Breda op voor de Champions League" [Manchester United calls up talent Bjorn Hardley from Breda for the Champions League]. bd.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 January 2022. (subscription required)
  6. 1 2 Railston, Steven (8 December 2021). "Who is Bjorn Hardley? Profile of Manchester United's young Champions League squad addition". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  7. ↑ Marshall, Adam (24 August 2021). "Reds lose Papa John's Trophy opener". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  8. ↑ "Hardley transfer confirmed". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  9. ↑ "Manchester United player follows Zidane Iqbal to FC Utrecht as defender completes transfer". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  10. ↑ Krishnan, Joe (30 November 2021). "Introducing Man Utd youngster Bjorn Hardley - part of Cristiano Ronaldo's "winning team"". mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  11. ↑ Björn Hardley at Soccerway. Retrieved 13 December 2022.


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