Not signing for any club as a scholar/trainee, Ryan spent time playing youth football for Leatherhead before having a successful trial for Brentford ‘B’. Signing a deal in January 2021, he was a member of Premier League Cup (under-21s) and London Senior Cup-winning sides over the following two seasons. With a freshly-extended contract, and two first-team substitute appearances in cup games behind him, Ryan’s loan move to Exeter City was the first of his career. 

He was one of eight players to make his Grecians’ debut in the win at Wycombe Wanderers on the opening day of the 2023/24 season. A fortnight later he followed up with his first goal for City in the win at Carlisle before later scoring two memorable goals against Middlesbrough in the fourth round of the League Cup. 

Featuring strongly in midfield, Ryan sustained a serious injury against Cambridge United on 22 December 2023 and was recalled by Brentford in January 2024 to undergo treatment and rehabilitation. Quickly recovering, Ryan was named as a substitute for Premier League fixtures later in the season and duly started his first full game for the Bees in the League Cup against Colchester United in August 2024. Susequently playing against Leyton Orient in the same competition and appearing as a substitute at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, Ryan was to join Exeter City for a second loan spell towards the end of January 2025. 

Ryan's second stint with the Grecians started with a second-half substitute appearance in the 4-1 defeat at Stevenage on 1 February 2025. Going on to appear against Nottingham Forest in the fourth round of the FA Cup, Ryan scored in the 2-1 win against Barnsley - the eleventh league appearance of his return to City - before suffering an injury late in the game that threatened to again prematurely end his time with the club.