Brandon Cover

Brandon Cover

Personal information
Full name	Brandon Ashley Cover [1]
Date of birth	(2003-09-25) 25 September 2003 (age 21) [2]
Place of birth	Colchester, England [3]
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) [4]
Position(s)	Midfielder, full-back
Team information
Current team	Port Vale (on loan from Leicester City)
Number	27
Youth career
2010–2024	Leicester City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2024–	Leicester City	0	(0)
2024–	→ Port Vale (loan)	11	(2)
International career‡
2023	Jamaica U23	3	(0)
2023–	Jamaica	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:02 26 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 08:36, 2 August 2023 (UTC)

Brandon Ashley Cover (born 25 September 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or full-back for EFL League Two club Port Vale, on loan from Premier League club Leicester City. Born in England, he plays for the Jamaica national team.

Club career

Leicester City

Cover joined the Leicester City youth academy at the age of seven. ^[5] In June 2022, he signed a scholarship contract with Leicester City and also began training with the first-team under Brendan Rodgers. ^{[6] [7]} He signed a professional contract with the club in October 2022. ^[8] He was praised by coach Ben Petty for his performance at right-back in an EFL Trophy defeat at Fleetwood Town in November 2023. ^[9] On 27 January 2024, Cover made his first-team debut under Enzo Maresca in a 3–0 FA Cup win over Birmingham City at the King Power Stadium. ^[10] He played every minute of the under-21 team's 2023–24 Premier League 2 campaign and went on to train with the first-team under new manager Steve Cooper in pre-season. ^[11]

On 30 August 2024, Cover joined League Two club Port Vale on loan for the 2024–25 season. ^[12] He made his club and league debut one day later in a 2–3 home loss against Doncaster Rovers. ^[13] He started his time at Vale Park at right-back for the "Valiants" and earned praise from manager Darren Moore for defending against highly-rated winger James Berry and helping to keep a clean sheet against Chesterfield on 14 September. ^[14] He scored his first professional goal on 28 September as a matchwinner in a 2–1 home win over Swindon Town in the league. ^[15]

International career

Born in England, Cover is of Jamaican descent through his father. ^[16] On 19 June 2023, he made his senior debut for Jamaica as a substitute in a 2–1 friendly loss to Jordan at the Stadion Wiener Neustadt. ^[17] He was called up to the Jamaica U23s for the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games. ^[18]

Style of play

Cover is a versatile player who can play as a midfielder or at full-back. ^[19] He is composed on the ball and tends to make tough tackles. ^[20]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 2 November 2024

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
Leicester City U21	2022–23 [21]	—			—		—		2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	2	0
	2023–24 [2]	—			—		—		3 [lower-alpha 1]	0	3	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	5	0
Leicester City	2023–24 [22]	Championship	0	0	1	0	0	0	—		1	0
	2024–25 [23]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Port Vale (loan)	2024–25 [2]	League Two	11	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	12	2
Career total			11	2	2	0	0	0	5	0	18	2

1. Appearances in EFL Trophy

International

As of match played 19 June 2023

Appearances and goals by national team and year ^[4]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Jamaica	2023	1	0
	2024	0	0
Total		1	0

References

1. "2022/23 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
2. Brandon Cover at Soccerway. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
3. Interview with Brandon Cover Leicester City F.C. Reggae Boyz Commentary. 14 May 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
4. "Brandon Cover". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
5. "Brandon Cover is a Valiant | Port Vale FC". Port Vale FC. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
6. Blackwell, Jordan (10 June 2022). "Seven Leicester City prospects offered new contracts". Leicestershire Live. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
7. Blackwell, Jordan (27 January 2024). "Cover makes Leicester debut as Jamaica international rewarded for form". Leicestershire Live. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
8. "New Deals For Leicester City Academy Stars". Leicester City FC. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
9. "'We Weren't Clinical' - Petty Reflects On Fleetwood Display". Leicester City FC. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
10. "FA Cup: Leicester City 3-0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 27 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
11. Blackwell, Jordan (30 August 2024). "Leicester City complete first deadline-day deal as Cover loaned to League Two". Leicestershire Live. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
12. "Brandon Cover: Leicester City prospect loaned to Port Vale". BBC Sport. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
13. "Port Vale 2-3 Doncaster Rovers". BBC Sport. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
14. Baggaley, Mike (16 September 2024). "Bringing pride back to Vale Park". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
15. "Port Vale vs Swindon Town: League Two". BBC Sport. 28 September 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
16. "Leicester player in international debut also seeing former teammate now at Everton as Icelander makes special blend". TCF – FILBERT WAY. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
17. Pawley, Luke (26 June 2023). "Leicester City notebook as Cover makes debut and more Thai prospects jet in". Leicestershire Live. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
18. Bailey, Robert (3 July 2023). "U-22 Boyz eliminated from CAC Games – Jamaica Observer". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
19. "Port Vale bring in Jamaican International on loan". onevalefan.co.uk. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
20. Baggaley, Mike (1 September 2024). "Vale suffer another home setback". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
21. "Games played by Brandon Cover in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
22. "Games played by Brandon Cover in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
23. "Games played by Brandon Cover in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2024.