Ryan is a left-back who has spent most of his four seasons as a Chelsea player out on loan. He made just five League One appearances for AFC Bournemouth in 2006-07 but in the following season increased his output considerably with 21 games for Oldham Athletic in League One and 18 for Norwich City in the Championship. ‘Plastic’, as he became known, was almost an ever-present for the Canaries in 2008-09 before signing a season-long loan deal with Championship side Reading in July 2009.
Ryan was capped 14 times for England’s U19s over two seasons, and once for the U20s, before Stuart Pearce gave him his chance with the Under-21s. He made his debut as a substitute for Jamie O’Hara in the friendly against Czech Republic at Bramall Lane on 18 November 2008.