Aaron Ramsey is considered a hero at Cardiff City, despite spending very little of his career in his hometown. The Wales captain grew up near Cardiff, coming through the club’s youth academy and making his debut at the age of 16, in 2007.
“Rambo” became Cardiff’s youngest ever player when he made his debut against Hull at the end of the 2007/2008 season, and went on to star for the Bluebirds the following season, making it all the way to the FA Cup Final in Wembley Stadium.
He scored twice in his first run with Cardiff, before securing a £5 million move to Arsenal in 2008. Ramsey returned on loan to the Bluebirds in 2011, following a horrendous leg break at the hands of Ryan Shawcross, before returning to Arsenal after just two months.
After leaving Arsenal in 2019, the Wales international had spells with Juventus, Nice and Rangers before returning to Cardiff City on a free transfer in the summer of 2023.
In all his time with Cardiff City, Aaron Ramsey dominated the midfield area while also popping up with a goal from time-to-time. Aaron Ramsey has scored six goals for Cardiff City in his three spells with the club, which you can see below.
1. vs Chasetown – 7/1/2008 (fA Cup Third Round)
A 17-year-old Aaron Ramsey scored his first ever Cardiff City goal to prevent a huge upset in an away tie against Chasetown.
Chasetown were the fairy tale of the cup that year, languishing six divisions below Cardiff City before the tie. Even more shockingly was that they went ahead in the first half, Kevin McNaughton firing in an own goal in a match he never looked comfortable in.
However, a great goal from Peter Whittingham evened up the scoring, before Aaron Ramsey’s first goal for Cardiff City came in the 60th minute. He headed home from a Paul Parry cross to open his account for the Bluebirds, at the age of just 17.
At 17 years and 10 days, Aaron Ramsey became Cardiff City’s youngest ever goalscorer with his header against Chasetown. The game ended 3-1, with Paul Parry adding a third on 73 minutes.
2. vs Burnley – 26/4/2008 (Coca Cola Championship)
Almost exactly a year after making his debut for Cardiff City, Aaron Ramsey scored his first goal in the Championship in an away win against Burnley.
Peter Whittingham won the ball back on the left-hand side, cutting back to Ramsey as he rushed towards the 18-yard box.
The 17-year-old fired a first-time finish into the top corner, as the ball crashed into the roof of the net as Cardiff secured a 3-1 victory at Turf Moore.
This was Aaron Ramsey’s last goal for Cardiff City before signing for Arsenal in the summer of 2008.
3. vs Leicester City – 22/2/2011 (NPower Championship)
Aaron Ramsey returned to Cardiff City in January 2011, on loan from his parent club, Arsenal. The Welshman had secured his place in the Arsenal midfield with some fantastic performances, but faced nearly a year out of action after having his leg broken by Ryan Shawcross in a match against Stoke City.
In order to regain his fitness, he was sent out on loan to Cardiff City, to join Dave Jones army of loan players trying to reach the Premier League. Joining the likes of Craig Bellamy and Jason Koumas, the side went all out to reach the Premier Leauge through the play offs that season.
Ramsey’s third Cardiff City goal came against Leicester City in a nPower Championship match. Cardiff won 2-0 against The Foxes, with goals from Michael Chopra and Aaron Ramsey sending the Bluebirds up to third in the table.
While Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (also on loan from Arsenal) set up Michael Chopra for the opener, Ramsey added a second as he calmly guided in a low Kevin McNaughton cross past keeper Ricardo.
Unable to find footage of Cardiff City vs Leicester City from February 2011.
4. vs Leicester City – 19/8/2023 (EFL Championship)
After returning home to Cardiff for the 2023 season, Aaron Ramsey rolled back the years with one of the goals of the season against Leicester City.
His return to Cardiff gave fans hope for the season, after two years of battling relegation and managerial merry-go-round. Those fears were quelled when Ramsey’s thirty-yard strike put the Bluebirds ahead away at the King Power Stadium.
Picking up the ball from Joe Ralls, Ramsey took one touch before striking the ball from thirty-yards out. The ball swerved in the ear and flew into the far corner, with the Leicester keeper unable to get a touch on it while at full stretch.
Sadly, Leicester scored twice to win the match 2-1.
5. vs Ipswich Town – 2/9/2023 (EFL Championship)
Two weeks after opening his account for the season, Aaron Ramsey poked home a Karlan Grant cross to give Cardiff City the lead in a classic match against Ipswich town.
The ball was switched beautifully to grant, who ran into the space on the left hand side and towards the Ipswich goal. He squared the ball into the six-yard box, where an oncoming Ramsey poked the ball home to make it 1-0 to the Bluebirds.
Another goal from Joe Ralls made it 2-0 to Cardiff, but Ipswich came back to win 3-2 in one of the matches of the season.
6. vs Swansea City – 16/9/2023 (EFL Championship)
After Ollie Tanner fired home an iconic goal with his first touches, Aaron Ramsey scored his sixth goal for Cardiff City with a penalty in the South Wales Derby.
After Tanner was brought down in what the referee adjudicated was inside the 18-yard box, Aaron Ramsey swept home a cool, calm penalty in the bottom right hand corner, sending Swansea keeper Carl Rushworth the wrong way.
Cardiff City beat Swansea 2-0 in the first South Wales derby of the 2022/23 season, ending their run of three successive defeats against The Swans.
