Zac_Ashworth_headshot_22_23
Ashworth
Zac
Ashworth
Position
Defender
Shoots
Left
Born
06/09/2002
Nationality
Wales
Bio

Zac is currently on loan at Sky Bet League One side Bolton Wanderers for the 2023/24 campaign.

Ashworth secured more senior football during the second half of the 2022/23 season.

After sporadic involvement under Steve Bruce and Carlos Corberán, Zac made the short move to Sky Bet League One side Burton Albion on loan. He became an important player at the Pirelli Stadium, featuring 18 times for the Brewers to help them maintain their third-tier status. The Wales youth international added a further three senior appearances to his Baggies tally prior to his spell away.

Opportunities for international football have also come Ashworth's way following his rise through the youth ranks. His maiden Wales U21 appearance came against Gibraltar in June 2022, with the full-back also featuring in friendly matches later in the 22/23 season.

Like many of his fellow team-mates, Zac was one of a number of academy graduates to get himself involved in the first team. 

The youngster made his maiden senior appearance for the club towards the end of the 2021/22 season, coming off the bench to replace Taylor Gardner-Hickman against Premier League side Brighton during an Emirates FA Cup tie in January 2022. And the defender made two further appearances before the end of the campaign, featuring in his first league game against Reading before another Sky Bet Championship outing against Barnsley on the final day.

Ashworth was pivotal in helping Albion lift the 2022 Premier League Cup. His most notable contribution saw the full-back net a match-winning brace against Derby County to send Richard Beale's youngsters into the last four of the tournament, and the full-back also scored his spot-kick in a decisive penalty shootout to help the Baggies overcome rivals Wolves and win the competition.

While also being a capable defender, Zac's goalscoring touch has been an important factor throughout his youth career at the club, with the youngster bagging more decisive goals in Albion’s 2020/21 FA Youth Cup run. 

A brace from the versatile defender helped the young Baggies see off Basford United 4-0 in the first game of the tournament, before netting a wonderful driven effort to help beat Everton 2-1 in the quarter-finals and send Peter Gilbert’s side to the semis. 

Zac is the son of Albion’s former Sporting and Technical Director, Dan Ashworth, and has spent the entirety of his footballing education with the Baggies since joining the club at the age of 10. 

Standout displays in the 18s matches saw him start two of the final three games of Albion’s 2020/21 PL2 campaign, and the defender has stamped his place in the starting XI under Richard Beale during his first full term with the 23s.