 Morrison playing forWest Ham United in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ravel Ryan Morrison[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1993-02-02)2 February 1993 (age 32) | ||
| Place of birth | Wythenshawe,Manchester, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Arabian Falcons | ||
| Number | 14 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Fletcher Moss Rangers | |||
| –2010 | Manchester United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2012 | Manchester United | 0 | (0) |
| 2012–2015 | West Ham United | 18 | (3) |
| 2012–2013 | →Birmingham City (loan) | 27 | (3) |
| 2014 | →Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 15 | (6) |
| 2014 | →Cardiff City (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2015–2019 | Lazio | 4 | (0) |
| 2017 | →Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | →Atlas (loan) | 18 | (3) |
| 2019 | Östersund | 6 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Sheffield United | 1 | (0) |
| 2020 | →Middlesbrough (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | ADO Den Haag | 4 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Derby County | 36 | (4) |
| 2022–2023 | D.C. United | 14 | (2) |
| 2024–2025 | Precision | 20 | (9) |
| 2025– | Arabian Falcons | 3 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2008 | England U16 | 1 | (1) |
| 2009 | England U17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2010 | England U18 | 1 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | England U21 | 4 | (2) |
| 2020– | Jamaica | 21 | (2) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 06:42, 23 December 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 15:31, 10 June 2025 (UTC) | |||
Ravel Ryan Morrison (born 2 February 1993) is a professionalfootballer who plays as amidfielder forUAE Second Division League clubArabian Falcons.
Morrison rose through the youth ranks atManchester United where he was considered as one of their most promising talents and touted as awonderkid.[3][4][5] His football career has been hindered by legal issues and disciplinary problems. He made three cup appearances for the Manchester United first-team before joiningWest Ham United in January 2012. Morrison spent the 2012–13 season on loan withBirmingham City, and also played forQueens Park Rangers andCardiff City on loan in 2014, featuring in the QPR side that won the2014 Football League Championship play-off final.
In July 2015, on the termination of his West Ham United contract, he joinedLazio. In 2017, he had a loan spell back at QPR, before spending the 2017–18 season on loan at Mexican clubAtlas. He joined Swedish clubÖstersund in February 2019, before returning to England to joinSheffield United in July 2019. In 2020, he had a loan spell atMiddlesbrough, before leaving Sheffield United on the expiry of his contract.
Born in England, he represented that country atunder-16,under-17,under-18 andunder-21 levels. He qualifies by descent to represent Jamaica, and made his senior international debut for that country in November 2020.
Morrison's first club wasFletcher Moss Rangers.[6] He was first scouted for theManchester United Academy by former United coach Phil Brogan.[7] According toRio Ferdinand, United manager SirAlex Ferguson "thought he was the best player he had seen at that age".[8] Morrison signed on as a first-year scholar in 2009 and turned professional on 2 February 2010, on his 17th birthday.[9]
He made his first team debut in a 3–2League Cup win overWolverhampton Wanderers on 26 October 2010, coming on as asubstitute forPark Ji-Sung.[10] After his debut, Alex Ferguson later revealed Morrison visited his office the following morning. "Another thing about Ravel, which I've always treasured because no other young player who made their debut did it, was after the first game in the first team that he played, the next morning he came to my office and gave me a letter thanking me for giving me his debut. I was gobsmacked, The boy had a good heart."[11]
On 20 April 2011 he scored the opening goal againstChelsea in the semi-final of theFA Youth Cup atOld Trafford, which Manchester United went on to win 4–0.[12] Morrison added two more goals in the secondleg of the Youth Cup final againstSheffield United, a match that Manchester United went on to win 4–1, securing the title 6–3 on aggregate.[13] On 25 October 2011, he came on as a substitute forMame Biram Diouf in a 3–0League Cup win overAldershot Town.[14] He then came on at half-time during United's 2–1 League Cup fifth round loss toCrystal Palace, replacingDimitar Berbatov.[15] On 13 January 2012,Manchester United confirmed that they rejected an offer fromNewcastle United, despite Morrison's contract being due to expire in June 2012.[16]
On 31 January 2012, Morrison signed forChampionship clubWest Ham United on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[17] A clause in the contract between Manchester United and West Ham United ensured that the Manchester club would receive £25,000 for every game Morrison played for West Ham United.[18] Allowing him to leave Manchester United, manager Sir Alex Ferguson told West Ham United manager,Sam Allardyce of Morrison, "A brilliant footballer. Brilliant ability. Top class ability. Needs to get away from Manchester and start a new life".[19] On 17 March 2012, he made his debut for The Hammers, replacingJack Collison in the 81st minute of the 1–1 draw atLeeds United.[20]
With West Ham manager Sam Allardyce keen for him to gain experience of first-team football, Morrison joined Championship clubBirmingham City on loan for the2012–13 season.[21] He made his competitive debut for the club on 14 August 2012, playing 78 minutes in a 5–1 win overBarnet in theLeague Cup,[22] and kept his place for the opening match of theleague season, a 1–1 draw at home toCharlton Athletic.[23] Problems with Morrison's attitude in training had led managerLee Clark to consider terminating his loan, but he returned to the team in October with an influential performance as Birmingham City narrowly failed to beat league leadersLeicester City.[24] The improvement continued as Birmingham City came back from 3–0 down to draw atMillwall; as theBirmingham Mail's reporter noted, "it wasn't just his elegant, effortless ability on the ball and passing, but work rate, too".[25] He scored his first goal in league football on 17 November 2012, a "spectacular volley" fromNikola Žigić's knockdown, to start Birmingham City's attempted comeback from 3–0 at home toHull City.[26]
Morrison returned to West Ham United from his loan with Birmingham City for the2013–14 season. He was given the squad number 15 with only his first name, "Ravel", listed on the back of his shirt.[27] Morrison scored his first goal for West Ham United on his full debut, in the second round of theLeague Cup, on 27 August 2013, in a 2–1 win againstCheltenham Town.[28] Starting the game againstEverton on 21 September 2013, Morrison scored his first Premier League goal, and West Ham United's first of the game, in a 3–2 home defeat.[29] On 6 October 2013, he scored West Ham's third goal in a 3–0 derby win away againstTottenham Hotspur atWhite Hart Lane.[30] Manager Sam Allardyce said of the goal, "That's a genius goal for me. You'll struggle to see a better goal than that all season".[19] It went on to win the West Ham "Goal of the Season" award.[31]
On 19 February 2014, Morrison's 93-day loan, to commence on 21 February, to Championship sideQueens Park Rangers was announced.[32] Morrison's first goals for Queens Park Rangers came on 8 March 2014. Playing againstBirmingham City he scored both goals in a 2–0 win; the first from a free-kick afterPaul Robinson had fouledKevin Doyle and the second from a cross byJermaine Jenas.[33] Morrison was a member of the Queens Park Rangers side which won the2014 Football League Championship play-off final, 1–0 againstDerby County atWembley on 24 May 2014 when he was an unusedsubstitute.[34]
In the 2013–2014 season Morrison scored 13 goals in 33 starts for clubs and country in all competitions.[35][36] West Ham United managerSam Allardyce said of Morrison in September 2014, "It's not that he has to impress me as a footballer, we know about his talent. It's about playing the talent and himself to a disciplined life in general, is what needs to happen with Rav. If that happens we'd want him here."[37]
On 23 September 2014, Morrison completed a three-month loan move, until 26 December 2014, to Championship sideCardiff City.[38]
He was named Man of the Match byWalesOnline on his first and only start for the club, againstBlackpool, on 14 October 2014.[39] While still on loan with Cardiff City, West Ham United placed Morrison on the transfer list making him available for transfer for a "nominal fee" in theJanuary 2015 transfer window.[40] In December 2014, Morrison returned early to West Ham United from his loan, after Cardiff City managerRussell Slade said Morrison had no future at the club. He had played seven games, one start and six as a substitute, without scoring.[citation needed]
In January 2015, it was reported that Morrison had signed a pre-contract agreement to joinLazio on a four-year deal at the end of the 2014–15 season.[41] In February 2015, Morrison's contract with West Ham United was terminated early and the player began training with Lazio ahead of his proposed move. By June, various reports in the English media suggested that Morrison had become unsettled in Rome and in turn had instructed his representatives to seek out a move back home. Soon after, it emerged that former club Queens Park Rangers were the lead club to secure Morrison's signature, with the player reportedly keen to return to London, however Morrison himself later denied these claims.[42]
Morrison made his Lazio debut in a 14–0 victory against C.S. Auronzo on 12 July 2015, scoring two goals and providing two assists, with his overall performance "sending the fans into ecstasy".[43][44] He made his competitive debut for Lazio in theUEFA Champions League play-off round second leg match, away toBayer Leverkusen on 26 August 2015. Morrison played the final eight minutes in place ofOgenyi Onazi in a 3–0 loss (3–1 on aggregate).[45] Four days later, he made hisSerie A debut in a 4–0 loss toChievo, coming on at half time in place ofSenad Lulić.[46]
Morrison scarcely featured in Lazio's start to the 2015–16 season, with coachStefano Pioli criticising his effort and inability to speak Italian.[46] In October 2015, he posted a message onTwitter saying solely "January..", leading to more reports of an exit from the club.[46]
On 31 January 2017, Morrison returned to Queens Park Rangers on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season.[47] He made five appearances for them in the Championship, all but one as a substitute, and the West London club did not take the option to sign him for £2 million.[48]
On 31 August 2017, Morrison joinedAtlas on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season.[49] Only one other Englishman had previously played inLiga MX,Chester-bornAntonio Pedroza, who was raised in Mexico and whose father is Mexican.[50]
In February 2019, having returned to Lazio in the previous July, Morrison trained withAllsvenskan sideÖstersund at their pre-season camp in Marbella.[51][52] On 14 February, it was confirmed that he had signed a six-month contract with the club.[53] He scored his first goal for the club on 3 March 2019, in aSvenska Cupen match againstIK Sirius, the first goal of a 3–0 win.[54] In June 2019, Morrison's contract was not renewed due to frequent injury and his salary, despite the manager's praise of him.[55]
In July 2019, managerChris Wilder confirmed that Morrison had begun training with newly promoted Premier League sideSheffield United ahead of the new season, describing the move as being "a good fit for the player and the club".[56] On 16 July, it was confirmed that Morrison had signed a one-year deal.[57]
On 31 January 2020, Morrison signed forMiddlesbrough on loan for the remainder of the 2019–20 season.[58] With one game of the season remaining, it was announced that Morrison had been released by the club, and would return to parent club Sheffield United.[59] Morrison was released by Sheffield United upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2019–20 season.[60]
On 21 September 2020, Dutch clubADO Den Haag announced that they had signed Morrison on a contract until the end of the 2020–21 season.[61] His contract was terminated by mutual consent on 9 January 2021.[62]
After playing in several trial games in pre-season during the summer of 2021, Morrison signed forDerby County on a one-year contract on 7 August 2021.[63] On his debut for Derby he scored in anEFL Cup tie againstSalford City on 10 August 2021.[64] He left the club at the end of the 2021–22 season, the end of his contract.[65]
In July 2022, Morrison signed forMajor League Soccer clubD.C. United on a1+1⁄2-year deal, with an optional additional year.[66][67] He made his debut for D.C. on 31 July againstOrlando City.[68] Morrison scored his first goal on 28 August againstAtlanta United, netting the opening goal for D.C. United in an eventual 3–2 loss.[69] Morrison was left out of D.C. United's MLS squad for the2023 season, resulting in him being unable to play in the competition while still being allowed to train with his teammates.[70]
On 30 September 2024, Morrison joinedUAE Second Division League clubPrecision.[71]
In October 2025, Morrison joined fellow UAE Second Division League clubArabian Falcons.[72]
Morrison was capped by England atunder-16,under-17,under-18 andunder-21 levels.[73] Morrison is also eligible to play for Jamaica and, in November 2012, he was reported to be considering representing them at international level.[74] He made his England under-21 debut on 10 October 2013, in a 4–0 away win againstSan Marino.[75] He scored his first goals for the under-21 team in a 5–0UEFA Euro 2015 qualifying win overLithuania.[76]
In March 2018, he was invited to a training camp withJamaica to discuss switching his national allegiance with Jamaican officials.[77] In May 2019, Morrison was named as one of the 40 players inTheodore Whitmore's preliminary Jamaica squad for the2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[78] In October 2020, Morrison was named as one of the 23 players in Whitmore's final Jamaica squad for friendlies againstSaudi Arabia.[79] He made his debut for Jamaica in a 3–0 friendly loss to Saudi Arabia on 14 November 2020.[80]
Morrison scored his first goal for Jamaica againstHonduras in their final game of2022 FIFA World Cup qualification on 30 March 2022.[81]
Lazio directorIgli Tare said in October 2015 that Morrison "has undoubted quality and is world class, as well as being a little mad".[46] Sir Alex Ferguson stated "My first and lasting memory of Ravel as a young lad was that he [always] got time and space. He's always available to be on the ball, so unusual for a young lad of his age."[82]FourFourTwo writer Alasdair Mackenzie predicted that with a more humble approach, Morrison could become a favourite of the Lazio fans, who had previously revered other eccentric players such asPaul Gascoigne andPaolo Di Canio.[46] While Morrison's former Manchester United teammateRio Ferdinand named Morrison as the most talented young player that he had seen, his manager at West Ham,Sam Allardyce, said in 2017 that he considered Morrison to be "the biggest waste of talent" he had worked with.[50] Writing forThe Guardian in 2011, journalistDaniel Taylor described him as a player with "balance, speed, control, vision, flair, strong on either foot, an eye for a pass and a prolific scorer".[83]
Morrison was born inWythenshawe, Manchester,[84] and lived with his grandparents inDenton, Greater Manchester,[85] before his transfer to West Ham United.[citation needed] During Morrison's trial forwitness intimidation in 2011, it was revealed that he has been diagnosed withADHD. His club at the time,Manchester United, applied for a Therapeutic Use Exemption to allow Morrison to take his prescribed medication for the disorder, but their request was declined. To avoid a potential ban for violation ofdoping rules, and under instruction fromManchester United, Morrison did not take his prescribed medication for the disorder.[86]
In early 2011, Morrison received a 12-monthreferral order and was ordered to pay £1,445 in costs and compensation after admitting two counts ofwitness intimidation.[87] After an assault charge was dropped when Morrison's girlfriend refused to testify, he was convicted of criminal damage for throwing her mobile phone out of a window and advised to undergo domestic violence counselling.[88] In February 2012, Morrison was involved in controversy after posting ahomophobic threat onTwitter, responding to criticism by calling another user a "faggot".[89] He was charged under FA rule E3, which governs use of abusive and/or insulting words including reference to a person'ssexual orientation, and accepted his guilt.[90] He was fined £7,000.[91]
Morrison was remanded in custody on 31 July 2014 after being charged with two counts ofcommon assault against a former girlfriend and her mother.[92] He was freed on bail after three days in custody.[93] In August 2014 he appeared atManchester Crown Court entering not-guilty pleas to two counts of assault, one of assault causing actual bodily harm and one count of harassment. A provisional trial date was set for 26 January 2015.[94] In November 2014 he was found not guilty of the harassment charge of threatening to throw acid in the face of his ex-girlfriend and have her killed after theCrown Prosecution Service withdrew the charge.[95] On 15 January 2015, Morrison was cleared of all charges of assaulting his ex-girlfriend and her mother.[96]
On 30 November 2023, Morrison pleaded guilty to one count of fraud after he purchased adisabled parking permit and used it to park in Manchester city centre. The permit's owner had died in February 2022, and Morrison reportedly bought it for £50 from "someone inOld Trafford." Morrison was ordered to pay a £1,000 fine, £508 in costs and a £400 victim surcharge.[97]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester United | 2010–11[98] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011–12[99] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| West Ham United | 2011–12[99] | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2013–14[100] | Premier League | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 21 | 5 | |||
| 2014–15[101] | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 24 | 5 | |||
| Birmingham City (loan) | 2012–13[102] | Championship | 27 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 3 | ||
| Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 2013–14[100] | Championship | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[a] | 0 | 17 | 6 | |
| Cardiff City (loan) | 2014–15[101] | Championship | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||
| Lazio | 2015–16[51] | Serie A | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[b] | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 2016–17[103] | Championship | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| Atlas (loan) | 2017–18[104] | Liga MX | 18 | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 2[d] | 0 | 25 | 4 | ||
| Östersund | 2019[51] | Allsvenskan | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 9 | 1 | |||
| Sheffield United | 2019–20[105] | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| Middlesbrough (loan) | 2019–20[105] | Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| ADO Den Haag | 2020–21[51] | Eredivisie | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| Derby County | 2021–22[106] | Championship | 36 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 38 | 5 | ||
| D.C. United | 2022[51] | Major League Soccer | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 14 | 2 | |||
| 2023[51] | Major League Soccer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Precision | 2024–25[107] | UAE Second Division League | 20 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 20 | 9 | |||
| Arabian Falcons | 2025–26[108] | UAE Second Division League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 180 | 30 | 14 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 214 | 35 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamaica | 2020 | 2 | 0 |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 21 | 2 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 March 2022 | Independence Park, Kingston, Jamaica |  Honduras | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 7 June 2022 | Independence Park, Kingston, Jamaica |  Suriname | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A |
Manchester United U18
Queens Park Rangers
Individual
