Curtis Nelson

Curtis Nelson

Personal information
Full name	Curtis Alexander Nelson [1]
Date of birth	(1993-05-21) 21 May 1993 (age 31) [2]
Place of birth	Newcastle-under-Lyme, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) [3]
Position(s)	Centre back [4]
Team information
Current team	Derby County
Number	35
Youth career
2002–2008	Stoke City
2008–2009	Plymouth Argyle
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009–2016	Plymouth Argyle	211	(8)
2016–2019	Oxford United	99	(7)
2019–2023	Cardiff City	116	(2)
2023	Blackpool	18	(1)
2023–	Derby County	64	(4)
International career
2011	England U18	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:11, 1 December 2024 (UTC)

Curtis Alexander Nelson (born 21 May 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for EFL Championship club Derby County.

He has also played in the English Football League for Plymouth Argyle, Oxford United, Cardiff City and Blackpool. Nelson made his debut in the Football League in 2010. He was capped by England at under-18 level.

Early and personal life

Nelson was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. ^[5] He is a cousin of sprinters Ashleigh ^[6] and Alexander Nelson ^[7] and his younger brother Wes appeared in series 4 of the reality TV show Love Island in 2018. ^[7]

Career

Plymouth Argyle

Nelson spent seven years with Stoke City as a schoolboy before being released in February 2009. He joined Plymouth Argyle two months later. ^[8] His performances in the 2009–10 season for the youth team and reserves, in both defence and midfield, earned him a place in the first-team squad for the club's final match of the campaign against Peterborough United. ^[9] Nelson trained with the first team during throughout their 2010–11 pre-season and impressed manager Peter Reid. "I was very impressed with young Curtis," said Reid. "I like young players and he will be training with us all the time now. He played centre-back last year but he can play midfield as well." ^[10] He made his first-team debut on 10 August 2010 in the League Cup against Notts County, replacing Anton Peterlin as a second-half substitute. ^{[11] [12]}

He signed his first professional contract in October 2010, one that would last until the end of the 2011–12 season. ^[13] His performances for Argyle led to a call-up to the England under-18 team to play Italy in April 2011. ^[14] He replaced George Moncur in the second half as England drew 1–1. ^[15] Nelson appeared in 35 league matches during his debut season and three more in cup competitions. ^{[8] [16]} He finished the season by winning the club's Young Player of the Year award. ^[17] Nelson began the new season in the team, but lost his place in November after the club signed Maxime Blanchard and Darren Purse. ^[16] A knee injury in December meant a lengthy spell on the sidelines and new manager Carl Fletcher stressed that it was important Nelson took as long as he needed to make a full recovery. ^[18]

Nelson signed a new undisclosed contract in April 2012, along with teammates Luke Young and Jared Sims. ^{[19] [20]} Nelson finished the season with 21 appearances in all competitions. ^[8] He scored his first senior goal in a win against Northampton Town in September. ^[21] "I ran over to the fans to celebrate, but I didn't know what to do," said Nelson. ^[21] In April 2013, he became the youngest Plymouth Argyle captain since Norman Piper in August 1967 when he led the team in a win against Cheltenham Town. ^[22] "It was a great honour. To be the captain at such a young age, I wasn't expecting it at all." ^[22] Nelson made 32 appearances in the 2012–13 campaign and scored three goals. ^[8] On 7 May 2014, Nelson committed to the Pilgrims by signing a new two-year contract with the club. ^[23]

Oxford United

On 4 July 2016, Nelson signed for newly promoted League One club Oxford United on a two-year contract, ^[24] later extended by a year. ^[25] An independent transfer tribunal was required as Nelson was an academy graduate aged under 24 and the two clubs were unable to agree a fee. The tribunal ruled a fee of £200,000 was payable with an additional £80,000 depending on appearances. ^[26] Before the start of his second season at the club, following the departure of John Lundstram, he was appointed team captain. ^[27] He suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during a home defeat to Northampton Town in November 2017 and was ruled out for the remainder of the season, ^[28] teammate John Mousinho replacing him as captain. ^[29] Nelson returned, earlier than expected, to the first team as a substitute on 14 April 2018 was immediately handed the captain's armband, ^[30] though Mousinho later took the armband permanently. ^[31] Nelson declined a contract renewal and left Oxford after the 2018–19 season, having appeared 121 times in all competitions, scoring 8 times, in his three seasons with the club. ^[32]

Cardiff City

Nelson signed for newly relegated Championship club Cardiff City on 27 June 2019 on a free transfer on a two-year contract. ^[33] He made his debut as a substitute in place of Marlon Pack during a 3–0 defeat to Reading. ^[34] He scored his first goal for Cardiff on 2 November 2019 in a 4–2 win against Birmingham City. ^[35]

Nelson signed a two-year extension on his contract on 7 September 2020, keeping him in the Welsh capital till 2023. ^[36]

Blackpool

On 28 January 2023, Nelson signed for Championship side Blackpool on a deal until the end of the season after leaving Cardiff by mutual consent. ^[37] He scored his first goal for the club on 14 March 2023 in a 6–1 win against Queens Park Rangers. ^[38]

Derby County

On 23 June 2023, free agent Nelson signed a two-year deal with Derby County, becoming manager Paul Warne's fourth summer signing. ^[39] He made his Derby debut on 5 August against Wigan Athletic. ^[40] He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw at Cheltenham Town on 7 October. ^[41] Nelson and his central defensive partner Eiran Cashin were one of the strongest and most reliable defensive partnerships in League One during the 2023–24 season, as their relationship and trust in each other showed on the field. ^[42] Nelson played in every single minute of Derby's 46 League One matches, the only outfield player in the league to do so. He featured in a defence which kept 22 clean sheets and conceded the fewest goals in the League at just 37. ^[43] These performances helped Derby finish runners-up in the division and earn automatic promotion to the Championship. ^[44] Nelson also won the club's Jack Stamps Trophy as Derby's Player of the Year, with the defender making 51 appearances in total for the club during the season with two goals. ^[45]

Nelson had added competition in the central defensive role at Derby for the 2024–25 with Liverpool loanee Nat Phillips, Nelson still retained his place in the starting 11 and was one Derby's top performers in the clubs opening nine matches back in the Championship, scoring two goals with a bullet header in a 2–0 win over QPR on 5 October 2024 being the pick of these. His reputation for being a solid, reliable central defender who makes minimal mistakes was maintained in spite of the higher level of opposition shown in the Championship. ^[46] On 14 November 2024, Nelson signed a one-year extension to his Derby contract, to extend his stay at Derby until June 2026. ^[47]

Career statistics

As of match played 1 December 2024

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
Plymouth Argyle	2009–10 [48]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2010–11 [49]	League One	35	0	1	0	1	0	1 [a]	0	38	0
	2011–12 [50]	League Two	17	0	2	0	1	0	1 [a]	0	21	0
	2012–13 [51]	League Two	27	3	1	0	2	0	2 [a]	0	32	3
	2013–14 [52]	League Two	44	1	5	1	1	0	2 [a]	0	52	2
	2014–15 [53]	League Two	42	1	2	0	1	0	4 [b]	0	49	1
	2015–16 [54]	League Two	46	3	1	0	1	0	6 [c]	0	54	3
	Total		211	8	12	1	7	0	16	0	246	9
Oxford United	2016–17 [55]	League One	33	2	4	1	1	0	5 [d]	0	43	3
	2017–18 [56]	League One	20	1	0	0	1	0	2 [d]	0	23	1
	2018–19 [57]	League One	46	4	4	0	1	0	4 [d]	0	55	4
	Total		99	7	8	1	3	0	11	0	121	8
Cardiff City	2019–20 [58]	Championship	33	1	0	0	1	0	2 [e]	1	36	2
	2020–21 [59]	Championship	44	1	1	0	1	0	—		46	1
	2021–22 [60]	Championship	30	0	1	0	2	0	—		33	0
	2022–23 [61]	Championship	9	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	12	0
	Total		116	2	4	0	5	0	2	1	127	3
Blackpool	2022–23 [61]	Championship	18	1	—		—		—		18	1
Derby County	2023–24 [62]	League One	46	2	2	0	1	0	2 [d]	0	51	2
	2024–25 [63]	Championship	18	2	0	0	2	0	—		18	2
	Total		64	4	2	0	3	0	2	0	71	4
Career total			508	22	26	2	18	0	31	1	583	25

1. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
2. Two appearances in Football League Trophy, two in League Two play-offs
3. Three appearances in Football League Trophy, three in League Two play-offs
4. Appearances in EFL Trophy
5. Appearances in Championship play-offs

Honours

Oxford United

• EFL Trophy runner-up: 2016–17 ^[64]

Derby County

• EFL League One second-place promotion: 2023–24 ^[44]

Individual

• PFA Team of the Year: 2015–16 League Two ^[65]
• Derby County Player of the Year: 2023–24 ^[45]

References

1. "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
2. "Curtis Nelson". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
3. "Curtis Nelson". Cardiff City F.C. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
4. "Curtis Nelson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
5. "Curtis Nelson: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
6. "Meet the Plymouth athletes competing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland". The Herald. Plymouth. 20 July 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
7. Herring, Naomi (5 June 2018). "Love Island 2018 link to Oxford United has captain Curtis Nelson particularly interested this series". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
8. "Curtis Nelson". Greens on Screen. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
9. "Plymouth 1–2 Peterborough". BBC Sport. 2 May 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
10. "Half Nelson" Archived 15 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine . Plymouth Argyle F.C. 4 August 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
11. "Full Nelson" Archived 21 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine . Plymouth Argyle F.C. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
12. "Plymouth 0–1 Notts County". BBC Sport. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
13. "Curtis Contract". Plymouth Argyle F.C. 8 October 2010. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
14. "Call Up For Curtis". Plymouth Argyle F.C. 25 March 2011. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
15. "Lions held to draw in Carpi". The Football Association. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
16. "Season's been a learning curve". The Herald. Plymouth. 18 April 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
17. Perrow, Mark (6 May 2011). "Peter's Praise For Fletch & Nelse". Plymouth Argyle F.C. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
18. Bradford, Andy (6 March 2012). "Nelson on Way Back". Plymouth Argyle F.C. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
19. "Signed On". Plymouth Argyle F.C. 3 April 2012. Archived from the original on 27 June 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
20. "Curtis Nelson, Luke Young and Jared Sims sign Plymouth Argyle deals". BBC Sport. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
21. "Curtis Nelson: I didn't know what to do after scoring". The Herald. Plymouth. 3 September 2012. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
22. Errington, Chris (8 April 2013). "It was 'a great honour' to be Plymouth Argyle captain, says Curtis Nelson". The Herald. Plymouth. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
23. "Curtis Signs On". Plymouth Argyle F.C. 7 May 2014.
24. "Curtis Nelson: Oxford United sign former Plymouth Argyle captain". BBC Sport. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
25. "Oxford United: Karl Robinson chooses to release eight players at end of contracts". BBC Sport. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
26. "Tribunal sets Oxford fee for Nelson". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
27. Pritchard, David (27 July 2017). "Curtis Nelson proud to be named Oxford United's new captain". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
28. Johnson, Jack (13 November 2017). "Oxford United captain Curtis Nelson ruled out for rest of season with ruptured Achilles tendon". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
29. Johnson, Jack (17 November 2017). "John Mousinho honoured to be named new captain, but Oxford United rocked by Rob Hall injury". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
30. Pritchard, David. "Curtis Nelson thrilled to be back in Oxford United shirt". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
31. Ball, Jak (18 September 2019). "Former Plymouth Argyle player Curtis Nelson stripped of captaincy at Oxford United". Plymouth Herald. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
32. Curtis Nelson at Soccerbase
33. "Done deal: Curtis Nelson joins City!". Cardiff City F.C. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
34. "Reading 3–0 Cardiff City". BBC Sport. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
35. "Cardiff 4-2 Birmingham". BBC Sport. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
36. "Curtis Nelson signs new City deal". Cardiff City F.C. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
37. "Curtis Nelson: Blackpool sign defender until end of season after Cardiff release". BBC Sport. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
38. "Blackpool 6-1 Queens Park Rangers". BBC. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
39. "Curtis Nelson: Derby County sign defender following Blackpool exit". BBC. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
40. "Derby County 1–2 Wigan Athletic". BBC. 5 August 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
41. "Cheltenham Town 1–1 Derby County". BBC. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
42. Curtis, Leigh (9 March 2024). "I was told I'd be lucky to make it now I dream of Derby County promotion". Derbyshirelive. Retrieved 13 March 2024– via www.derbytelegraph.co.uk.
43. "Wildsmith Wins Sky Bet League One Golden Glove For 2023/24". Derby County. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
44. "Breaking: Derby County promoted as duo seal it for Paul Warne's side". Derby Telegraph. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
45. "Nelson Named Derby's 2023/24 Jack Stamps Player of the Season". Derby County. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
46. Curtis, Leigh (10 October 2024). "'Blimey' - the winners and the losers as brilliant Derby County defy early expectation". Derbyshirelive. Retrieved 11 October 2024– via www.derbytelegraph.co.uk.
47. "Derby's Nelson signs one-year contract extension". BBC. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
48. "Games played by Curtis Nelson in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
49. "Games played by Curtis Nelson in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
50. "Games played by Curtis Nelson in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
51. "Games played by Curtis Nelson in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
52. "Games played by Curtis Nelson in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
53. "Games played by Curtis Nelson in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
54. "Games played by Curtis Nelson in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
55. "Games played by Curtis Nelson in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
56. "Games played by Curtis Nelson in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
57. "Games played by Curtis Nelson in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
58. "Games played by Curtis Nelson in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
59. "Games played by Curtis Nelson in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
60. "Games played by Curtis Nelson in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
61. "Games played by Curtis Nelson in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
62. "Games played by Curtis Nelson in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
63. "Games played by Curtis Nelson in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
64. Scott, Ged (2 April 2017). "Coventry City 2–1 Oxford United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
65. "PFA awards: Leicester and Spurs dominate Premier League team". BBC Sport. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2018.

External links

• Profile at the Cardiff City F.C. website
• Curtis Nelson at Soccerbase