Sil Laurentius Swinkels (born 6 January 2004) is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a centre-back for club Sheffield Wednesday. Swinkels has played for the Netherlands internationally at youth levels up to under-18.
Early life Swinkels was born in Sint-Oedenrode in the south of the Netherlands in 2004.
Club career Youth career Having played youth football for Dutch sides RKSV Rhode, Helmond Sport, Brabant United and Vitesse Arnhem, he joined Aston Villa's academy in summer 2020.
Swinkels made an unexpected first team debut for Aston Villa when, due to a COVID-19 outbreak, Villa were forced to play an inexperienced squad in an FA Cup third-round tie against Liverpool on 8 January 2021.
On 24 May 2021, Swinkels was part of the Aston Villa U18s team that won the FA Youth Cup, beating Liverpool U18s 2–1 in the final. On 10 August 2021, he signed his first professional contract with Aston Villa.
In March 2023, Swinkels suffered a torn ACL in a Premier League 2 match against Southampton B which he confirmed would result in an extended period on the sidelines. Swinkels eventually returned to football on 8 April 2024, in a 4–0 defeat for Villa U21s against Chelsea U21s. After coming back from injury and playing a part in Aston Villa U21s reaching the Premier League 2 play-offs and winning the Birmingham Senior Cup, on 17 May 2024, Swinkels signed a contract extension with Aston Villa.
Aston Villa On 24 September 2024, Swinkels made his first appearance for the senior Aston Villa team for the first time since 2021 during a 2–1 away victory against Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Cup. Swinkels was a regular substitute option for Villa in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League and 2024-25 Premier League over the first half of the season but did not appear.
On 28 November 2024, Swinkels signed another contract extension with Aston Villa.
On 3 February 2025, Swinkels signed for EFL League One club Bristol Rovers on loan until the end of the season. Swinkels made his English Football League debut on 11 February 2025, scoring a 91st-minute equaliser in a match against Stockport County.
On 17 July 2025, Swinkels returned to League One, joining Exeter City on a season-long loan deal.
On 4 January 2026, Swinkels was recalled from his loan at Exeter, and immediately loaned out to EFL League Two club Chesterfield for the rest of the season. Swinkels made his Chesterfield debut only one hour after his transfer was announced, playing 90 minutes in a 2–2 draw against Milton Keynes Dons.
Sheffield Wednesday On 2 July 2026, Swinkels joined EFL League One club Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract. He was one of eight players to make their debut against Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup, starting the game in a 1–0 win. He suffered a setback early into the season, with a hamstring injury he picked up in the EFL Cup second round against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with manager Henrik Pedersen ruling him out for three to four weeks.
International career Swinkels played for Netherlands at the under-15 level. On 6 September 2021, Swinkels made his debut for Netherlands U18 in a 5–0 friendly victory over Italy. He scored his first goal at youth international level for Netherlands U18s, on 28 March 2022, in a 4–1 away victory over Germany.
Career statistics
Club
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAston Villa2020–21Premier League00100000102021–2200000040402022–2300000000002023–2400000000002024–2500001020302025–260000000000Total0010106080Bristol Rovers (loan)2024–25League One142––00142Exeter City (loan)2025–26League One70100030110Chesterfield (loan)2025–26League Two220––20240Sheffield Wednesday2026–27League One2000200040Career total4322030110592
Honours Aston Villa U18s FA Youth Cup: 2020–21
Aston Villa U21s Birmingham Senior Cup: 2023-24
References