1. He's an Essex boy
Flynn Downes was a pupil at Brentwood School in Essex, which has a strong reputation for producing footballers and is also the alma mater of former West Ham United players Frank Lampard, Stewart Robson, Elliot and Olly Lee, George Dobson and current first-year professional goalkeeper Jacob Knightbridge, as well as former Millwall striker and current Gillingham manager Neil Harris.
2. He started his career at an early age
Flynn Downes started his junior career as a schoolboy at Ongar Town in Essex before joining Ipswich Town’s Academy at the age of seven in 2006. He spent 15 years with the Suffolk club, coming up through the ranks to make his first-team debut at 18 in an EFL Championship fixture with Birmingham City at Portman Road on the opening day of the 2017/18 season.
3. He has represented his country
Flynn Downes made both his England U19 and U20 debuts against Germany in September 2017 and November 2018 respectively. In total, he has been capped eleven times by his country at age-group level, playing alongside the likes of Mason Mount, Reece James, Eddie Nketiah, Eberechi Eze, Emile Smith Rowe and Jadon Sancho.
4. He won a promotion
Flynn Downes spent the second half of the 2017/18 season on loan at Luton Town, where he made ten appearances and helped the Hatters win promotion from EFL League Two. While at Kenilworth Road, his teammates included former West Ham United players Dan Potts, Olly Lee, Elliot Lee, Pelly Ruddock and Marek Štěch, as well as current Leicester City and England full-back James Justin.
5. He faced the Hammers twice in pre-season matches
Flynn Downes faced West Ham United twice in pre-season matches during his time at Ipswich Town. He started the Hammers' 2-1 win at Portman Road in July 2018 and was in the team again when a Sébastien Haller hat-trick helped the Irons to a 4-1 victory in Suffolk in August 2020. Former Hammer Freddie Sears was on target for Ipswich in the latter fixture.
6. He made history at Ipswich Town
Flynn Downes became Ipswich Town’s youngest-ever captain when he led the Tractor Boys in an FA Cup second-round tie against Coventry City on 1 December 2019, aged 20 years and eleven months. He also wore the captain’s armband at Swansea City, leading the Swans in their FA Cup third-round tie with Southampton in January 2022.
7. He spent last season in South Wales
Flynn Downes ended his 15-year association with Ipswich Town when he joined Swansea City in August 2021, becoming new manager Russell Martin’s second signing. The transfer reunited him with his former Ipswich coach Matt Gill, who had joined Martin’s staff as technical development coach days earlier.
8. He's a pass-master
The 23-year-old completed 92.6% of his 2,465 attempted passes in the EFL Championship last season, giving him the highest pass-completion rate in England's top four divisions in 2021/22, ahead of West Ham United's Declan Rice in second with 91.6%.
