Benjamin Sorba William Thomas (born 25 January 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Huddersfield Town and the Wales national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Benjamin Sorba William Thomas | ||
| Date of birth | (1999-01-25) 25 January 1999 (age 23) | ||
| Place of birth | Newham, England[1] | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Huddersfield Town | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| West Ham United | |||
| 2015–2017 | Boreham Wood | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2021 | Boreham Wood | 77 | (8) |
| 2018 | → Cheshunt (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2021– | Huddersfield Town | 50 | (3) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2021– | Wales | 6 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 May 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:03, 25 September 2022 (UTC) | |||
A youth product of West Ham United, Thomas joined the youth academy of Boreham Wood at the age of 16. He began his senior career at Boreham Wood aged 17. He was an instrumental part of the under-18 side that reached the FA Youth Cup second round in 2016–17, which included a win over English Football League side Northampton Town.[2] In January 2018, he spent a month on loan at Isthmian League North side Cheshunt.[2]
On 13 January 2021, Thomas signed a contract with Huddersfield Town until the end of 2023–24 season with the club having the option of a further year's extension.[3][4] He made his professional debut for Huddersfield in a 3–2 EFL Championship loss to Wycombe Wanderers on 13 February 2021.[5]
In the first Championship game of the 2021–22 season, a 1–1 draw with Derby County on 7 August 2021, Thomas got his first assist, supplying a cross from a free kick which was headed in by Naby Sarr.[6] In the following game, a 5–1 home defeat to Fulham, he overhit a backpass which ultimately resulted in Fulham's opening goal, but later provided the assist for Huddersfield's only goal from a corner kick, Matty Pearson scoring with a header.[6]
On 28 August 2021, he scored his first goal (as well as providing two assists) in a 4–0 home victory against Reading: he took possession of the ball at the halfway line, dribbled into the penalty area and placed a low shot past the goalkeeper.[7][8]
On 10 September 2021, Thomas was awarded EFL Championship Player of the Month for August 2021.[9] On 19 May 2022, one week before the 2022 EFL Championship play-off Final, Thomas signed a new long-term contract with the club until 2026.[10]
In March 2020, Thomas was called up to the England C team for the first time for a fixture against Wales C team however this match was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]
On 28 September 2021, Thomas was called up into the senior Wales squad for the first time for their 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Czech Republic and Estonia.[12] He made his international debut for Wales on 8 October 2021 as a second half substitute in the 2–2 draw against Czech Republic,[13] and completed his first full 90 minutes three days later in the match against Estonia.
Born in England, Thomas was born to a Sierra Leonean father and Welsh mother.[1] He qualifies for Wales through his mother who was born in Newport.[14]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Boreham Wood | 2017–18[15][16] | National League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2018–19[17] | National League | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 3[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 37 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20[18] | National League | 32 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | 3[lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 36 | 5 | ||
| 2020–21[19] | National League | 10 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | ||
| Total | 77 | 8 | 7 | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | 95 | 8 | |||
| Cheshunt (loan) | 2017–18[20] | Isthmian League North | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Huddersfield Town | 2020–21[19] | Championship | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22[21] | Championship | 43 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 51 | 3 | |
| Total | 50 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 58 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 128 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 154 | 11 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 2022 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 3 | 0 | |
Individual
Huddersfield Town A.F.C. – current squad | |
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