Adam Matthews

Early career

After playing local football, Matthews was taken on trial at Swansea City but suffered a broken arm and was told to come back when he had recovered from the injury. After returning to fitness Matthews attempted to return to Swansea but was told that their youth system was now full.

Cardiff City

Matthews attended a trial at Swansea's South Wales rivals Cardiff City and as the only player of around forty attendants at the trial chosen, signed on academy terms at the age of eight. After making his way through the youth side, signed a professional contract in January 2009. On 21 April 2009 Matthews featured in the full side for the first time, when he was named as a substitute in a 2–2 draw with Charlton Athletic. He went on to make his professional debut at the start of the 2009–10 season when he replaced Paul Quinn during a 1–1 draw with Blackpool on 15 August. Due to injuries in the squad, Matthews was handed consecutive starts in a 3–1 win over Plymouth Argyle followed by a 3–0 win over Bristol City, forcing an own goal from Bristol City captain Jamie McCombe. His performances earned him a regular starting spot in the side, missing two matches in the following two months, including scoring his first senior goal during a 4–0 win over Watford on 3 October 2009 when goalkeeper Scott Loach misjudged Matthews' 50-yard free-kick, allowing the ball to bounce into the net. Prior to the January 2010 transfer window, Matthews was linked with moves to a…

Matthews made his début for the Wales under-17 side on 28 February 2008 in a 1–0 win over Austria and played in two out of the team's three matches during the 2008 UEFA Under-17 Championship elite round. On 15 September 2008, he captained the side for the first time during a 4–1 win over Faroe Islands, the first match during the qualifying round of the 2009 UEFA Under-17 Championship, remaining as captain throughout the remaining matches of the qualifying round. His final appearance for the under-17 side came on 28 March 2009 in a 3–0 defeat against Finland. In July 2008, he was part of the under-19 side that took part in the Milk Cup, featuring in games against Chile and Israel. His next participation at youth level for Wales came when he was called up to the under-21 side for matches against Hungary and Italy, but remained on the bench in both games. On 9 November 2009, Matthews was called up to the Wales senior squad for the first time in his career for a friendly against Scotland at the age of seventeen, but remained on the bench. Four days later, Matthews made his début for the under-21 side when he played 45 minutes in a 2–1 defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina before being substituted due to a foot injury. Matthews made his senior Wales début on 25 May 2011, against Scotland, in the Nations Cup, he came on as 61st-minute substitute for Neal Eardley. After playing in some friendlies, Matthews took part in his first qualifying game for a major tournament on 11 October 2011…

As of match played on 26 June 2026

As a child, Matthews attended Penyrheol Comprehensive School in Swansea and before choosing football, was also a talented rugby player including being followed by the Ospreys rugby union side. Matthews' cousins, Liam and Sam, were both previously members of the academy at Cardiff City.