Tyrese Campbell had big shoes to fill as he started his football trip. His father, Kevin Campbell, was a renowned striker for Arsenal and Everton. The young forward began at Manchester City’s academy and later made a £1.75 million switch to Stoke City. He has scored an impressive 50 goals in 205 games in all competitions.
Campbell spent six productive years at Stoke City and scored 31 goals in 146 appearances. He now spearheads Sheffield United’s attack after joining the Blades in August 2024. His impact was immediate. Campbell became the team’s leading scorer with 10 goals in just 27 games. His stellar performances help drive Sheffield United’s campaign for Premier League promotion, and he stands out as one of English football’s bright prospects.
Early Beginnings: From Manchester City Academy to Stoke City
Tyrese Campbell’s football story began in Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester. Football runs deep in his blood – his father Kevin Campbell was a prolific striker who lit up the Premier League with Arsenal, Everton, Nottingham Forest, and West Bromwich Albion.
Growing up as Kevin Campbell’s son
Football became Tyrese’s natural calling from day one. “My first memory of football is probably going to Everton games and watching him play, thinking to myself, ‘This is what I want to do, I want to be like my dad,'” Campbell recalls. His early years at Cheadle Hulme School balanced education with his growing football dreams.
Yet Tyrese wanted to make his own mark. “My dad had his career and this is mine now. I have to get on with it and do the best I can do,” he states. This mindset shaped his future choices.
Development at Manchester City’s youth system
Tyrese’s talent shone brightly at Manchester City’s academy. He achieved something remarkable – 49 goals in a single season at under-16 level. “Nobody had done that at City at that age before,” Campbell proudly notes.
His time at City put him alongside Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho, who joined in March 2015. This exceptional group dominated youth football and claimed the National Premier League title at under-14 level.
Why he chose Stoke City over staying at Man City
Manchester City offered him a professional contract, but Tyrese made a surprising choice to leave in 2016. The news stunned the club: “Players might have dropped it in to get a better deal, but I don’t think the staff ever took it seriously that I would leave,” he explains.
His move to Stoke City came down to what mattered most. He needed a clear path to first-team football: “I didn’t really see a pathway at Man City… I couldn’t see how I’d fit in and where my first team minutes would come from”. “Mark Hughes was a big factor in choosing Stoke”. The location worked perfectly too – “It’s not too far away from where I live – I can travel in, travel back”.
Manchester City received a tribunal fee worth up to £1.75 million for Campbell’s transfer. The deal included £750,000 upfront, plus extra payments based on appearances and potential England caps.
“I hope I opened other players’ eyes to seeing the opportunities that are out there,” Campbell reflects. “If you look at [Jadon] Sancho now, he’s smashing it, and if he’d stayed at City I don’t think he’d have got that chance to express himself”.
Breaking Through at Stoke City: First Team Journey
“Campbell is a strong forward who wins his duels and carries the ball incredibly well, taking on defenders and progressing play towards goal.” — Potterlytics, Stoke City analytics blog
Tyrese Campbell showed early promise in Stoke City’s youth setup before his path to first-team football opened up under manager Paul Lambert in early 2018. His rise through Stoke’s ranks demonstrates a young player’s drive to succeed at professional level.
Professional debut under Paul Lambert
Lambert noticed Campbell after the young striker scored a hat-trick in a PL2 match against Fulham. “He’s been training with us, he’s doing all the right things and he’s certainly in my thoughts for the games we have coming up,” Lambert told Stoke’s official website. This faith led to Campbell’s professional debut on February 24, 2018 in a 1-1 draw at Leicester City in the Premier League.
Lambert blocked a possible loan move to Coventry City and said: “I want to watch him from now until the end of the season to see how he does”. Campbell went on to make several substitute appearances as Stoke faced relegation from the top flight.
Loan spell at Shrewsbury Town
Campbell caught Shrewsbury Town’s eye after scoring twice against them in an FA Cup match. He joined the League One side on loan for the rest of the season on January 31, 2019.
Campbell scored five goals in 15 appearances during his Shrewsbury stint, helping the club stay in League One. His strong performances earned him the EFL Young Player of the Month award for February 2019.
“It’s great to feel part of a team,” Campbell said about his loan experience. “Here I’m constantly around it and that’s what I want”.
Michael O’Neill’s impact on his development
Michael O’Neill’s arrival at Stoke in November 2019 changed Campbell’s career path. Rangers and Celtic showed interest in signing Campbell, but O’Neill saw his talent during a training session. “Tyrese is the best finisher at the club,” O’Neill’s assistant told him.
Campbell went on to score vital goals against Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town. These performances convinced him to sign a new contract with Stoke instead of moving to Scotland.
“The only thing that was stopping me from signing it before was playing time, but now I’m getting that,” Campbell explained about his decision. “The manager was honest and told me his plans for me”.
Overcoming Career Setbacks: Injury Struggles and Recovery
“What a game. Missing this feeling.” — Tyrese Campbell, Stoke City striker
Tyrese Campbell was hitting his stride at Stoke City when his promising career hit a major setback. His performance was impressive with six goals and seven assists in just 16 Championship games until December 2020, when his world turned upside down.
The devastating knee injury of 2020
On December 8, 2020, Campbell’s career took a dramatic turn. He landed awkwardly in the second half of Stoke’s home defeat against Cardiff City and suffered a serious knee injury. Manager Michael O’Neill described it as “a cruel blow for us but even more so for Tyrese, a young man with a great future”. The injury was so severe that the 20-year-old would miss the rest of the 2020/21 season. His recovery would be a complex process.
Rehabilitation process and mental challenges
The recovery trip proved difficult right from the beginning. O’Neill admitted in January 2021, “It’s slow”. Things got more complicated when Campbell tested positive for COVID-19 during his recovery.
Campbell couldn’t drive during his original recovery phase, so he did much of his early rehabilitation at home. Notwithstanding that, he managed to keep a positive mindset throughout this difficult time:
“I’ve never really had an injury like this. No injury comes at a good time but this has been a learning curve for me and I’ve enjoyed the journey,” Campbell reflected. “I’m been learning stuff about myself and my body.”
Return to form and lessons learned
Campbell returned to action against Bournemouth on October 19, 2022, after ten months away from football. He scored five goals in 30 appearances in the 2021/22 season. His form wasn’t immediate, but he understood patience was key.
The 2021/22 season ended with Campbell going through a minor operation. Doctors removed an anchor that had helped the original healing process. This procedure helped reduce an irritation that had subtly held back his progress.
“When I had the original surgery, I had a little anchor put in to help the cartilage grow,” Campbell explained. “Looking back now, with a lot of stuff I did I would feel it but chose to ignore it because I didn’t want to make up any excuses.”
Campbell reached a vital milestone in 2022. He completed his first proper pre-season in three years, marking his full return to fitness.
The Sheffield United Chapter: A Fresh Start
Tyrese Campbell started a new chapter in his career when he joined Sheffield United in Summer 2024. This move came after eight years at Stoke City. Sheffield United and Campbell saw this as their chance to silence critics in the Championship promotion race.
Free transfer after Stoke contract expiration
Campbell’s stats at Stoke speak for themselves – 164 appearances and 36 goals. His contract ended in May 2024, making him a free agent. Rangers, Cardiff City, Preston North End, and QPR showed interest in signing him. However, Campbell chose Sheffield United and signed a three-year deal.
“To be wanted by Sheffield United, as soon as I heard that, it was my goal to be a Sheffield United player,” Campbell stated after joining. This decision followed a tough final season at Stoke where he struggled to get regular game time.
Immediate impact in the Championship
Sheffield United has seen Campbell’s remarkable talent shine through. He has scored 10 goals and added 1 assist in just 28 appearances. His finishing skills stand out with 0.7 non-penalty goals per 90 minutes.
Campbell’s overall performance shows impressive stats:
- 89th percentile for shot-creating actions
- 90th percentile for progressive carries
- 98th percentile for touches in attacking penalty area
“I had a stop-start season last season and didn’t manage to play that many games. I’m just grateful that they took the chance to sign me,” Campbell reflected.
Competition with other strikers at the club
Campbell has performed better than other expensive striker signings at Sheffield United. His seven league goals match Gustavo Hamer’s tally, with no other player scoring more this season.
One analysis noted, “Given Campbell’s current form, he might just have done enough to justify staying in the team as the starting option”. His performance has helped Sheffield United build a three-point lead over Yorkshire rivals Leeds United in their promotion push.
Chris Wilder, the manager, praised Campbell: “We’ve shown him a bit of love, shown him a bit of direction… there’s definitely a talent there”.
Conclusion
Tyrese Campbell’s football story shows how talent, determination, and smart career choices can shape a player’s path. Campbell has created his own unique identity in English football despite his father’s legacy. His courageous decision to leave Manchester City’s academy for Stoke City and his resilience through injuries reveal his strong character.
Campbell continues to excel at Sheffield United, which proves that unconventional choices often bring better results. His impressive tally of 10 goals in 28 appearances demonstrates his strong comeback. Young footballers can learn from Campbell’s trip that success doesn’t always come through big Premier League clubs.
The next chapter of Campbell’s story remains untold. Sheffield United might see even better returns from their investment as Campbell, at 25, approaches his prime years. His experience reminds us that football success often demands bold choices and unwavering persistence when facing obstacles.
FAQs
Q1. How has Tyrese Campbell performed since joining Sheffield United? Since joining Sheffield United in 2024, Campbell has made an immediate impact, scoring 10 goals in 28 appearances. He has become the club’s top scorer and has been crucial in their push for Premier League promotion.
Q2. What challenges did Tyrese Campbell face during his time at Stoke City? Campbell suffered a devastating knee injury in December 2020 that sidelined him for ten months. He underwent a complex rehabilitation process, which included mental challenges and a minor operation to remove an anchor that had aided the initial healing.
Q3. Why did Tyrese Campbell choose to leave Manchester City’s academy? Campbell left Manchester City’s academy for Stoke City in 2016, seeking a clearer pathway to first-team football. He felt that opportunities for playing time at Manchester City were limited and was influenced by then-Stoke manager Mark Hughes.
Q4. Who is Tyrese Campbell’s father and how has it influenced his career? Tyrese Campbell is the son of former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell. Growing up watching his father play shaped his early football memories and career aspirations, though Tyrese has been determined to carve his own path in the sport.
Q5. How has Campbell’s playing style developed at Sheffield United? At Sheffield United, Campbell has shown exceptional all-around play. He ranks highly in shot-creating actions, progressive carries, and touches in the attacking penalty area. His clinical finishing and ability to contribute beyond just scoring have made him a key player for the team.
