He started featured eight times for the Under-18s in 2020/21, starting in six games as Paddy McCarthy’s young side took the title race right down to the wire, ultimately missing out on goal difference. He scored twice during the run-in, including a 30-yard stunner against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Rodney’s versatility means he can fill in defensively, either at centre-back or more often at right-back. Wherever he plays on the pitch, his hard-work for the side remains as consistent as ever.
These attributes earned him a professional contract in October 2021 and his first England call-up the following month, named as part of the Under-18s.
In 2021/22 he continued to develop well in Rob Quinn's Under-18s, making 25 appearances in all competitions and scoring twice. He earned a place in the 2022/23 first-team squad which went to Australia and Singapore in pre-season.
Rodney make his professional debut for the Eagles in August 2022, starting as a left-back in a 2-0 victory over Oxford United in the Carabao Cup. He made the bench for the first-team in the immediate following fixtures against Brentford and Manchester City and in the Carabao Cup Third round against Newcastle United in November 2022.
He finished the 22/23 campaign with 40 appearances in all competitions, across the first-team, Under-21s and U18s. His only goal of the season was a stunning strike in a 5-0 win away at Brighton & Hove Albion U18s.
The defender made his first start for the U21s in 2023/24 in a 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in October 2023, after overcoming an injury which kept him out at the beginning of the campaign.
He played 45 minutes as a part of the first-team squad which travelled to Marbella to face Bodø/Glimt in a mid-season friendly in March 2024.
Rodney stayed in and around the first-team, training regularly with them and making the matchday squad twice against Burnley and Luton Town.
He finished the 23/24 campaign strongly with 24 appearances in total as he helped the U21s to victory in the Premier League International Cup final against Jong PSV.
In the 2024/25 season, Rodney was a regular in the U21s squad, making 23 appearances in total across all competitions.
Rodney remains an important part of Darren Powell's U21 side, netting in the 3-2 win over Leeds at the VBS and 5-2 EFL Trophy defeat away to Stevenage.
The midfielder made his second first-team start – and his first at Selhurst Park – in our third and final UEFA Conference League league-phase fixture against KuPS Kuopio. He has since been involved in a number of first-team squads across league and cup competitions.
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