Ben Pearson (footballer)

Ben Pearson

Pearson with Preston North End in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Benjamin David Pearson [1]
Date of birth	(1995-01-04) 4 January 1995 (age 29) [2]
Place of birth	Oldham, England
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.76 m) [3]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Stoke City
Number	4
Youth career
–2004	Boundary Park Juniors
2004–2014	Manchester United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2016	Manchester United	0	(0)
2015–2016	→ Barnsley (loan)	45	(2)
2016–2021	Preston North End	158	(2)
2021–2023	AFC Bournemouth	46	(0)
2023	→ Stoke City (loan)	14	(0)
2023–	Stoke City	29	(0)
International career
2011	England U16	4	(0)
2011	England U17	4	(0)
2013	England U18	1	(0)
2013	England U19	8	(2)
2014	England U20	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:25, 16 March 2024 (UTC)

Benjamin David Pearson (born 4 January 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL Championship club Stoke City.

Pearson began his career at Manchester United's academy. He spent time out on loan at Barnsley, before signing for Preston North End in January 2016. Pearson spent five years at Deepdale before joining AFC Bournemouth in January 2021. He helped the Cherries gain promotion to the Premier League in the 2021–22 season. In January 2023, he joined Stoke City on a six-month loan before making it permanent in the summer of 2023.

He has also represented England at youth international level, playing for the under-16s, under-17s, under-18s, under-19s and under-20s.

Club career

Manchester United

Pearson was born in Oldham, and attended Christ Church Primary School and Crompton House CE School. ^[4] After playing youth football with Boundary Park Juniors he joined Manchester United's academy as a nine-year-old in July 2004. ^[5] Pearson was a regular for the Manchester United under-18s, and his performances earned him the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award for 2012–13. ^[6]

Pearson joined League One side Barnsley on a one-month loan on 8 January 2015. ^[7] Two days later, he made his professional debut, playing the full 90 minutes of a 2–0 home win over Yeovil Town. ^[8] He scored his first senior goal in Barnsley's game at home to Port Vale on 31 January, scoring their second just after half-time in a 2–1 win. ^[9] His loan spell was extended by one month in February 2015 and on 9 March 2015 it was confirmed that he would remain at Barnsley until the end of the 2014–15 season. ^[10] Pearson re-joined Barnsley on a six-month loan deal on 18 July 2015. ^[11] Pearson made 29 appearances for the Tykes in 2015–16 before returning to Manchester United in January 2016. ^[12]

Preston North End

On 11 January 2016, he signed for Championship side Preston North End for an undisclosed fee. ^[13] He made 15 appearances in the remainder of the 2015–16 season as North End finished in 11th. ^[14] Pearson scored his first goal for the club on 1 October 2016, opening the scoring in a 2–0 victory over Aston Villa. ^[15] He signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract with Preston in December 2016. ^[16] In 2016–17 Preston again finished in 11th position with Pearson missing six matches due being shown a yellow card 16 times. ^[17] He was sent-off for the first time in his career in a goalless draw at Leeds United on 12 August 2017. ^[18] In October 2017 Pearson signed another contract extension until summer 2021. ^[19] Pearson was booked 15 times in 35 appearances in 2017–18 as North End missed out on a play-off spot on the final day of the season. ^[20]

Pearson's disciplinary problems continued in 2018–19 as he picked up 14 yellow cards and was sent-off on three occasions with Pearson stating that his mother had stopped coming to watch him play. ^[21] His discipline improved in 2019–20 and he was able to make 38 appearances as Preston ended up four points off a play-off spot in ninth. ^{[22] [23]} Pearson picked up an ankle injury in December 2020. ^[24]

AFC Bournemouth

Pearson joined AFC Bournemouth for an undisclosed fee on 29 January 2021, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract. ^{[25] [26]} Pearson made 20 appearances for the Cherries in 2020–21 as they finished in sixth place but lost in the Championship play-offs to Brentford. ^{[27] [28]} The 2021–22 season was a far more successful season for Bournemouth as they gained promotion to the Premier League in 2nd place. ^[29] Pearson made 26 appearances with most of them coming from the substitute bench as he was behind Philip Billing, Lewis Cook and Jefferson Lerma in the pecking order. ^[30] Pearson was unable to force his way into the team following promotion was made available for loan by Gary O'Neil in January 2023. ^[31]

Stoke City

Pearson joined Stoke City on loan for the remainder of the 2022–23 season on 31 January 2023, linking up with former Preston manager Alex Neil. ^{[32] [33]} Pearson made 14 appearances for Stoke, as the team finished in 16th position. ^[34] Pearson completed a permanent move to Stoke on 8 July 2023, signing a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee. ^[35] Pearson was booked ten times before December 2023, resulting in a three-match ban. ^[36] He played 32 times in 2023–24 as Stoke avoided relegation. ^{[37] [38]} Pearson's season was ended early due to a hamstring injury. ^[39] He underwent hamstring surgery in June 2024 meaning he missed the start of the 2024–25 season. ^[40]

International career

Pearson made his international debut for the England Under-16s in a 2–1 win at home to Scotland on 30 March 2011. He made three more appearances for the Under-16s, against Uruguay, the United Arab Emirates and Guinea. Before the end of the year, he made four appearances for the Under-17s, including wins over Italy and the Netherlands.

Pearson's form for Manchester United in 2012–13 led to a call-up to the England Under-18s in March 2013, and despite not captaining his club side, he was asked to lead the national team for their 1–0 defeat away to Belgium on 30 March. He only made the one appearance for the Under-18s before making the step up to Under-19 level in May 2013, making his debut against Georgia on 24 May. He played in all three of England's qualifying round matches ahead of the 2014 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, scoring twice in a 7–0 win over Andorra as England finished top of their group ahead of Switzerland and Slovenia. ^{[41] [42]}

He made one appearance for the England Under-20s in October 2014, a 3–2 win over the Netherlands, in which he was substituted by Harrison Reed in the first minute of injury time. ^[43]

Career statistics

Pearson playing for Barnsley in January 2015.

As of match played 16 March 2024 ^[44]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Manchester United	2014–15 [45]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2015–16 [14]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Barnsley (loan)	2014–15 [45]	League One	22	1	0	0	0	0	—		22	1
	2015–16 [14]	League One	23	1	1	0	2	0	3 [a]	1	29	2
	Total		45	2	1	0	2	0	3	1	51	3
Preston North End	2015–16 [14]	Championship	15	0	0	0	0	0	—		15	0
	2016–17 [46]	Championship	31	1	1	0	2	0	—		34	1
	2017–18 [47]	Championship	35	0	0	0	0	0	—		35	0
	2018–19 [48]	Championship	30	0	0	0	2	0	—		32	0
	2019–20 [23]	Championship	38	1	0	0	0	0	—		38	1
	2020–21 [27]	Championship	9	0	0	0	2	0	—		11	0
	Total		158	2	1	0	6	0	—		165	2
Bournemouth	2020–21 [27]	Championship	16	0	2	0	0	0	2 [b]	0	20	0
	2021–22 [49]	Championship	23	0	2	0	1	0	—		26	0
	2022–23 [34]	Premier League	7	0	0	0	2	0	—		9	0
	Total		46	0	4	0	3	0	2	0	55	0
Stoke City (loan)	2022–23 [34]	Championship	14	0	0	0	0	0	—		14	0
Stoke City	2023–24 [50]	Championship	29	0	0	0	3	0	—		32	0
	2024–25 [51]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		43	0	0	0	3	0	—		46	0
Career total			292	4	6	0	14	0	5	1	316	5

1. Appearances in EFL Trophy
2. Two appearances in the Championship play-offs

Honours

AFC Bournemouth

• Championship runner-up: 2021–22 ^[52]

Individual

• Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year: 2012–13 ^[6]

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Preston North End" (PDF). English Football League. p. 57. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
2. "Ben Pearson". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
3. "Ben Pearson: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
4. "Pearson takes his chance with Tykes". Oldham Chronicle. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
5. "Ben's on track for football stardom". Oldham Chronicle. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
6. Marshall, Adam (15 May 2013). "Academy prize for Pearson". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
7. "Barnsley: Milan Lalkovic, Ben Pearson and George Waring sign". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 8 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
8. "Barnsley 2–0 Yeovil". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 10 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
9. "Barnsley 2–1 Port Vale". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 31 January 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
10. "Barnsley: Ben Pearson extends loan deal from Manchester United". The Star. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
11. "Joe Rothwell and Ben Pearson: Man Utd pair join Barnsley on loan". BBC Sport. 18 July 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
12. Trehan, Dev (13 January 2016). "Manchester United academy graduate Ben Pearson joins Preston". Sky Sports. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
13. "Ben Pearson: Manchester United midfielder joins Preston North End". BBC Sport. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
14. "Games played by Ben Pearson in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
15. "Match report: PNE 2 Aston Villa 0". Lancashire Evening Post. 1 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
16. "Ben Pearson: Preston North End midfielder signs new deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
17. "Ben Pearson won Manchester United award seven years ago today". Deepdale Digest. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
18. "Leeds United 0-0 Preston North End". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
19. "Ben Pearson: Preston North End midfielder signs new deal until 2021". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
20. "Preston North End 2-1 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
21. "Ben Pearson: Mum's stopped coming to games because I keep getting booked". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 4 July 2019.
22. "Bristol City 1-1 Preston North End: Famara Diedhiou equaliser rescues Robins a point". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
23. "Games played by Ben Pearson in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
24. "Ben Pearson: Preston North End midfielder out with ankle injury". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
25. "PEARSON SIGNS FOR THE CHERRIES". www.afcb.co.uk. 29 January 2021.
26. "Ben Pearson: AFC Bournemouth sign Preston midfielder for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
27. "Games played by Ben Pearson in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
28. "Championship play-offs: Brentford 3-1 Bournemouth (3-2 agg) - Bees come from behind to return to Wembley". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
29. "Bournemouth 1-0 Nottingham Forest: Cherries promoted to Premier League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
30. Crocker, Tom. "Ben Pearson: I've worked 20 years for Premier League debut". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
31. Tanner, Jack. "AFC Bournemouth's Ben Pearson speaks after loan move to Stoke City". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
32. "Pearson completes deadline day switch". Stoke City. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
33. "Bournemouth's Ben Pearson & Manchester United's Axel Tuanzebe join Stoke City on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
34. "Games played by Ben Pearson in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
35. "Ben Pearson: Stoke City sign Bournemouth midfielder on permanent deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
36. Smith, Peter. "Stoke City blow as key man ruled out until after Christmas". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
37. Smith, Pete. "Pete Smith's Stoke City end of season player ratings for 35-man squad". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
38. "Southampton 0-1 Stoke City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
39. Smith, Peter. "Stoke City dealt injury blow as duo all but ruled out for season". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
40. "Stoke's Pearson to miss start of season". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
41. Šinkovc, Rok (15 October 2013). "England edge Switzerland for Group 9 supremacy". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
42. "Andorra 0–7 England". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 12 October 2013. Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
43. Reid, Jamie (11 October 2014). "Super sub Akpom nets twice as U20s stun Holland". TheFA.com. The Football Association. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
44. Ben Pearson at Soccerway
45. "Games played by Ben Pearson in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
46. "Games played by Ben Pearson in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
47. "Games played by Ben Pearson in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
48. "Games played by Ben Pearson in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
49. "Games played by Ben Pearson in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
50. "Games played by Ben Pearson in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
51. "Games played by Ben Pearson in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
52. "AFC Bournemouth 1-0 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.

External links

• Ben Pearson at Soccerbase