Dan Crowley is one of the few players who have an affinity with both sides of the Second City.
The diminutive playmaker came through the ranks at Aston Villa and spent two years on Birmingham City’s books before leaving in 2021.
It has been an eventful career for Crowley, who is still only 27, taking him from Bodymoor Heath to Arsenal, all the way to Holland, Blues, back to Holland and down to the depths of League Two.
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The last bit is surprising given that England and Manchester City man Jack Grealish rated Crowley as the most talented player he played with at youth level.
"His talent was just scary. He was unbelievable, out of this world,” Grealish said. "That's how he ended up getting his move to Arsenal. I don't know why things didn't work out as well as he wanted there.”
After struggling to live up to the early hype, Crowley's career trajectory appeared to be on the up when he joined Blues in the summer of 2019. He played regularly in a side which included a 16-year-old Jude Bellingham in 2019/20 but found the going tougher when Aitor Karanka took over the following season.
Crowley was loaned to Hull City and departed St Andrew's in the summer of 2021. Cheltenham, a return to his former side Willem II in Holland and Morecambe followed as Crowley tried to rediscover his touch.
That happened last season when Crowley joined League Two side Notts County following their promotion back to the EFL. The midfielder thrived in a possession-based team and contributed to 25 goals - 15 goals and 10 assists - in 46 league games for the Magpies.
Crowley continued in the same vein this season to score four and assist six in 18 League Two games for a County side challenging for automatic promotion.
A transfer appeared to be on the cards but the destination surprised many. Rather than make his way back up the leagues, Crowley opted for Notts' League Two rivals MK Dons.
"Speaking with the chairman and the gaffer, it was something I didn't want to miss out on, it's an exciting project and I really believe in what we're trying to do here. I think we can get to the top, and I'm just really grateful," Crowley said.
Dons were in play-off contention at the time but Crowley has lost nine of the 13 games he's started and they have slipped down the League Two table to 18th. Relegation isn't likely, but Crowley is set for another season in League Two when former employers Notts could yet exit at the right end.
