Midfielder, Ryan Howley has signed a new two-year contract at Coventry City until June 2025.
Having graduated through Coventry’s youth ranks, Howley made his first senior appearance for the Sky Blues in August 2021, as Mark Robins’ team lost 2-1 at home to Northampton Town in the First Round of last season’s Carabao Cup.
Howley went on to make his league debut in a 2-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest later that season in April 2022, and also picked up the Championship Apprentice of the Season award at the EFL Awards later that month.
The 19 year-old made five further first-team appearances this season as the Robins eventually missed out on promotion, albeit heartbreakingly on penalties to Luton in the Play-Off Final.
Coventry have now swooped to tie Howley down for two more seasons with a fresh two-year contract, keeping him at the club until June 2025.
Speaking about his decision to sign a new contract after making seven appearances in total across the last two seasons, Howley described the opportunity to stay as “a really good feeling.”
Howley has spent the off-season reflecting on his progress which saw him make his first league start for the club in a 4-0 win away at Huddersfield in March, which he rated as his “highlight” of the season as he acknowledged that Robins “is not the sort to throw a player in for the sake of it.”
The 19 year-old proceeded to explain what advice Robins gave him ahead of that match, as he said: “Ahead of the game, the Gaffer told me that I have earned my chance to make my first start by being ready. I took it and we got the win.”
Howley is therefore targeting further first-team game time next season, as he explained: “The big thing I need now is more game time. My aim for the new season will be to break into the first team and play on a more regular basis.”
“Getting to the Play-Off Final is not easy and there is so much quality in there,” added Howley as he spoke about his midfield competition from players like Gustavo Hamer, Liam Kelly, Callum O’Hare, Kasey Palmer, Jamie Allen Ben Sheaf and Josh Eccles.
Howley complimented those seven players further as he continued: “The work that those players put in is incredible. They never miss. It’s great competition for me and it’s tough but I enjoy it. They are all really good players.”