Benn Ward

Benn Ward

Personal information
Full name	Benn David Ward [1]
Date of birth	(2003-10-31) 31 October 2003 (age 22)
Place of birth	Hastings, England
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) [2]
Position	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Reading
Number	16
Youth career
	Brighton & Hove Albion
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2021	Hastings United	5	(0)
2021–2025	Burnley	0	(0)
2023–2024	→ Swindon Town (loan)	3	(0)
2025–2026	Accrington Stanley	44	(3)
2026–	Reading	0	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:44, 17 January 2026 (UTC)

Benn David Ward (born 31 October 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL League One club Reading.

Career

Born in Hastings, ^[3] Ward began his career with Brighton & Hove Albion before joining Hastings United aged 16. ^[4] He made 10 appearances for the club, including five in the Isthmian League, ^[5] before signing for Burnley in January 2021, ^[6] where he signed his first professional contract in October 2022. ^{[7] [8]} He moved on loan to Swindon Town in August 2023. ^[4] He was recalled in January 2024, having made 5 appearances for Swindon. ^[9]

On 20 January 2025, Ward signed for League Two club Accrington Stanley on an eighteen-month contract for an undisclosed fee. ^{[3] [10]}

On 26 January 2026 Ward signed for Reading for an undisclosed fee. ^{[11] [12]}

Career statistics

As of match played 17 January 2026

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Hastings United	2020–21 [13]	IL South East Division	5	0	3	0	—		2 [a]	0	10	0
Burnley	2020–21 [14]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2021–22 [15]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2022–23 [16]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2023–24 [17]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2024–25 [18]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Swindon Town (loan)	2023–24 [17]	League Two	3	0	0	0	1	0	1 [b]	0	5	0
Accrington Stanley	2024–25 [18]	League Two	21	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	21	1
	2025–26 [19]	League Two	23	2	2	0	1	0	1 [b]	0	27	2
	Total		44	3	2	0	1	0	1	0	48	3
Reading	2025–26 [19]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career total			52	3	5	0	2	0	4	0	63	3

1. Appearances in the FA Trophy
2. Appearances in the EFL Trophy.

References

1. Benn Ward at Soccerway
2. "Benn Ward Football Statistics | WhoScored.com". www.whoscored.com.
3. "SIGNING: Benn's a Red". www.accringtonstanley.co.uk. 20 January 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
4. "Swindon sign Burnley defender Ward on loan" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
5. "Hastings United – Appearances – Benn Ward – 2020-2021". footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
6. "Benn Ward joins Burnley". 13 January 2021. Archived from the original on 5 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
7. "WARD SIGNS FIRST PROFESSIONAL DEAL". Burnley Football Club.
8. "Ex-Hastings defender signs first professional deal with Championship outfit". The Argus. 14 October 2022.
9. "Burnley recall Benn Ward". www.swindontownfc.co.uk.
10. "Benn Ward: Accrington Stanley sign Burnley defender for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 20 January 2025.
11. https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2026/january/26/benn-ward-is-a-royal/
12. "Reading sign Accrington Stanley defender Benn Ward". BBC Sport. 26 January 2026.
13. "Hastings United – Appearances – Benn Ward – 2020-2021". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
14. "Games played by Benn Ward in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
15. "Games played by Benn Ward in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
16. "Games played by Benn Ward in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
17. "Games played by Benn Ward in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
18. "Games played by Benn Ward in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
19. "Games played by Benn Ward in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 November 2025.