Duncan Watmore

Last updated

Duncan Watmore
Duncan Watmore (cropped).jpg
Watmore playing for Sunderland in 2015
Personal information
Full name Duncan Ian Watmore [1]
Date of birth (1994-03-08) 8 March 1994 (age 31) [2]
Place of birth Manchester, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) [3]
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
 Rotherham United
Youth career
–2006 Manchester United
2010–2011 Altrincham
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2011–2013 Altrincham 48 (15)
2012 → Clitheroe (loan) 4 (0)
2012 → Curzon Ashton (loan)
2013–2020 Sunderland 71 (5)
2014 → Hibernian (loan) 9 (1)
2020–2023 Middlesbrough 92 (21)
2023–2025 Millwall 76 (11)
2026– Rotherham United 0 (0)
International career
2015 England U20 5 (2)
2015–2016 England U21 13 (3)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 2 February 2026 (UTC)

Duncan Ian Watmore (born 8 March 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Rotherham United.

Contents

Watmore has previously played for Altrincham, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Millwall, with loans at Hibernian, Clitheroe & Curzon Ashton.

Early life

Watmore was born in Manchester [4] and is the son of Ian Watmore, a former chief executive of the Football Association. [5] He was educated at Cheadle Hulme School. [6]

Career

Early career

Watmore started his career at Manchester United, but was released at the age of 12. [7] He joined Altrincham in their youth team at the age of 16. [7] He made his first-team debut on 27 November 2011 as a substitute in a 2–1 away defeat to F.C. United of Manchester in the FA Trophy. [8] Watmore had spells on loan at Northern Premier League Division One North clubs Clitheroe and Curzon Ashton in early 2012. [9] [10] He scored 14 goals for Altrincham in the 2012–13 season. [11]

Sunderland

Watmore playing for Sunderland in 2015 Chelsea 3-1 Sunderland Watmore (cropped).jpg
Watmore playing for Sunderland in 2015

Watmore signed for Premier League club Sunderland on 24 May 2013 for an undisclosed fee on a two-year contract. [5] [12] He made his debut for the Sunderland first team on 5 January 2014 as a 60th-minute substitute for Ji Dong-won in a 3–1 home win against Carlisle United in the third round of the FA Cup. [13]

On 31 January 2014, Watmore joined Scottish Premiership club Hibernian on loan for the rest of the 2013–14 season. [14] His first goal came on 15 March 2014 in a 3–1 defeat away to Partick Thistle. [15] [16] Watmore left Hibernian at the end of the season. [17]

On 29 May 2015, Watmore was named the U21 Premier League Player of the Season, after scoring 11 goals in 19 matches in the competition. [18]

Watmore made his league debut for Sunderland on 15 August 2015, coming off the bench to score a late consolation goal with a scuffed volley into the bottom-left corner in a 3–1 home loss to Norwich City. [19] He signed a new four-year contract with Sunderland on 22 November 2015. [20] Watmore returned from two months out with an ankle injury on 16 April 2016 as a half time substitute away to Norwich City, and scored the third goal in Sunderland's 3–0 victory, a result which brought the team to within a point of Norwich in the relegation battle. [21]

Watmore was ruled out for the remainder of the a 2016–17 season after suffering cruciate knee ligament injury during Sunderland's 2–1 home win over Leicester City on 3 December 2016. [22]

It was announced on 17 June 2020 that Watmore would be leaving Sunderland, bringing to an end his 7 years at the club. [23]

Middlesbrough

On 17 November 2020, Watmore signed for Middlesbrough on a short-term deal until January 2021. [24] He scored his first goals for Middlesbrough when he scored twice in a 2–1 win against Swansea City on 2 December 2020. [25] Watmore continued his goal scoring with two on 12 December in a 3–0 win against Millwall. [26] On 7 January 2021, Watmore signed a new two-and-a-half-year deal at Middlesbrough. [27] [28] Watmore's performances earned him the championship player of the month for December. [29] Watmore was Middlesbrough's top scorer for the 2020–21 season, with nine goals.

Millwall

On 31 January 2023, Watmore signed for Millwall for an undisclosed fee. [30] On 19 May 2025, the club announced the player would be leaving in June when his contract expired. [31]

Rotherham United

On 2 February 2026, Watmore signed for Rotherham United. [32]

International career

Watmore made his debut for England under-20s on 28 May 2015 in the 2015 Toulon Tournament, scoring England's second goal in a 3–3 draw with Morocco. [33] He was named in the Team of the Tournament and was also voted as the Revelation of the Tournament. [34] [35] He made five appearances and scored two goals for the under-20s in 2015. [36]

In August 2015, Watmore was called up to the England under-21 squad for the first time. [37] He made his debut against the United States on 3 September 2015 as a second-half substitute, and assisted James Wilson's winning goal. [38] Watmore scored his first under-21 goal and assisted two others on 14 November 2015 after coming on as a substitute against Switzerland in a 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier. [39] He was part of the team that won the 2016 Toulon Tournament, their first such win for 22 years. [40] He scored three goals in 13 appearances for the under-21s from 2015 to 2016. [41]

Style of play

Watmore plays as a winger. [42] In November 2015, Sunderland forward Jermain Defoe likened Watmore to Gareth Bale, his former Tottenham Hotspur teammate, citing a shared ability of ball control. [43]

Personal life

Watmore continued studying for a degree in economics and business management after signing for Sunderland, transferring from the University of Manchester to Newcastle University. [44] He graduated with a first-class honours degree in December 2015. [45] In 2017, whilst on holiday in Barbados Watmore reportedly helped save three pensioners from the water after a boat crash. [46]

Career statistics

As of the end of 2024–25 season
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational Cup [a] League Cup [b] OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Altrincham 2011–12 [47] Conference North 11100—1 [c] 0121
2012–13 [11] Conference North371440—5 [d] 04614
Total481540—605815
Clitheroe (loan) 2011–12 [48] NPL Division One West40———40
Sunderland 2013–14 [15] Premier League 001000—10
Hibernian (loan) 2013–14 [15] Scottish Premiership 9110—00101
Sunderland 2014–15 [49] Premier League000000—00
2015–16 [50] Premier League2331011—254
2016–17 [51] Premier League1400030—170
2017–18 [52] EFL Championship 600000—60
2018–19 [53] League One 11110004 [e] 1162
2019–20 [54] League One17120003 [f] 1222
Total715504172878
Middlesbrough 2020–21 [55] EFL Championship30900—00309
2021–22 [56] EFL Championship41730—00447
2022–23 [57] EFL Championship2151010—235
Total92214010009721
Millwall 2022–23 [57] EFL Championship163000000163
2023–24 [58] EFL Championship343110000354
2024–25 [59] EFL Championship265102000295
Total76112120008012
Career total300531617113233657
  1. ↑ Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup
  2. ↑ Includes League/EFL Cup
  3. ↑ Appearance in FA Trophy
  4. ↑ One appearance in Cheshire Senior Cup, two in FA Trophy, two in Conference North play-offs
  5. ↑ Appearances in EFL Trophy
  6. ↑ Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

England U21

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Sunderland" (PDF). English Football League. p. 39. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "Duncan Watmore". ESPN FC. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  3. ↑ "Duncan Watmore". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  4. ↑ "D. Watmore: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Sunderland sign Altrincham striker Duncan Watmore". BBC Sport. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  6. ↑ Baxter, Trevor (25 September 2015). "Former Altrincham striker Duncan Watmore aims to come back and haunt Manchester United". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  7. 1 2 Mitten, Andy (20 August 2015). "Manchester United: Story of Premier League's newest star Reds let go". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  8. ↑ "Altrincham FC: First-Team Players: 2012/13". Altrincham F.C. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  9. ↑ McLean, Ross (24 January 2012). "Clitheroe 1, Mossley 1". Clitheroe Advertiser. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  10. ↑ "March Transfers (Part One)..." Non-League Pitchero. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  11. 1 2 "Appearances: League: Altrincham FC: Blue Square Bet North 2012–13". Altrincham F.C. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
    "Appearances: Cup matches: Altrincham FC: 2012–13". Altrincham F.C. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
    "Players stats: 2012–13: Altrincham FC". Altrincham F.C. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  12. ↑ "Striker Watmore excited by move to Sunderland". Sunderland Echo. 25 May 2013. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  13. ↑ Vose, Stuart (5 January 2014). "Sunderland 3 Carlisle 1". Sunderland A.F.C. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015.
  14. ↑ "Transfer Deadline Day: Hibs land Watmore, Boateng & Haynes". BBC Sport. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  15. 1 2 3 "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  16. ↑ Moffat, Colin (15 March 2014). "Partick Thistle 3–1 Hibernian". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  17. ↑ "Out of Contract Players". Hibernian F.C. 26 May 2014. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014.
  18. ↑ "Watmore claims Barclays U21 Player of the Season award". Premier League. 29 May 2015. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015.
  19. ↑ Hunter, James (15 August 2015). "Sunderland 1–3 Norwich match report: Pressure is on Ellis Short as Black Cats crash again". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  20. ↑ "Duncan Watmore: Sunderland striker signs new four-year contract". BBC Sport. 22 November 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  21. ↑ Ronay, Barney (16 April 2016). "Duncan Watmore seals Sunderland victory over Norwich in survival battle". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  22. ↑ "Duncan Watmore: Sunderland forward ruled out for season". BBC Sport. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  23. ↑ "Sunderland retained list: Duncan Watmore one of five to leave as Jon McLaughlin, Chris Maguire and Tom Flanagan offered new deals". 17 June 2020.
  24. ↑ "Middlesbrough sign former Sunderland forward". BBC Sport. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  25. ↑ "Middlesbrough 2-1 Swansea City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  26. ↑ "Middlesbrough 3-0 Millwall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  27. ↑ "Duncan Watmore Signs Extended Boro Contract | Middlesbrough FC".
  28. ↑ "Ex-SAFC forward Watmore signs new deal at Middlesbrough despite interest from elsewhere". Sunderlandecho.com. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  29. 1 2 "Duncan Watmore Named Sky Bet Player of the Month | Middlesbrough FC".
  30. ↑ "Millwall announce Duncan Watmore signing". www.millwallfc.co.uk. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  31. ↑ "Shaun Hutchinson: Millwall club captain to leave when deal expires". BBC Sport. 19 May 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  32. ↑ "Watmore finalises Millers move". Rotherham United F.C. 2 February 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  33. ↑ "Chuba Akpom spares England U20s blushes in Toulon opener". The Football Association. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  34. 1 2 "L'équipe-type du Festival International Espoirs 2015" (in French). Toulon Tournament. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  35. 1 2 Johns, Craig (8 June 2015). "Is Duncan Watmore Sunderland's next star? Youngster wins top award on England duty". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  36. ↑ "England's matches: The under 20's". England Football Online. Chris Goodwin, Glen Isherwood & Peter Young. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  37. ↑ Collins, Ben (25 August 2015). "Duncan Watmore and Bury keeper Christian Walton named in England Under-21 squad". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  38. ↑ Veevers, Nicholas (4 September 2015). "James Wilson's 'confidence boost' for Norway trip". The Football Association. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  39. ↑ Ostlere, Lawrence (16 November 2015). "Duncan Watmore inspires England Under-21s to 3–1 win over Switzerland". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  40. ↑ "England Under-21s win Toulon Tournament for first time in 22 years". BBC Sport. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  41. ↑ "England's matches: The under 21's: 2010–20". England Football Online. Chris Goodwin, Glen Isherwood & Peter Young. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  42. ↑ Johns, Craig (28 March 2018). "Duncan Watmore in high spirits as he promises to be back better than ever for Sunderland". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  43. ↑ "Sunderland: Duncan Watmore like Gareth Bale – Jermain Defoe". BBC Sport. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  44. ↑ "Student Watmore eager to pass Hibernian exam". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 1 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  45. ↑ "Sunderland's Duncan Watmore graduates with first-class degree from Newcastle University". The Guardian. London. Press Association. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  46. ↑ "Heroic Sunderland winger saves three pensioners". Goal.com. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  47. ↑ "Appearances: League: Altrincham FC: Blue Square Bet North 2011–12". Altrincham F.C. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
    "Appearances: Cup matches: Altrincham FC: 2011–12". Altrincham F.C. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
    "Players stats: 2011–12: Altrincham FC". Altrincham F.C. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  48. ↑ "CLITHEROE FC PLAYERS STATS : SEASON 2011-12". Clitheroe F.C. Archived from the original on 23 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  49. ↑ "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  50. ↑ "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  51. ↑ "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  52. ↑ "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  53. ↑ "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  54. ↑ "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  55. ↑ "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  56. ↑ "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  57. 1 2 "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  58. ↑ "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  59. ↑ "Games played by Duncan Watmore in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  60. ↑ Veevers, Nicholas (29 May 2016). "England under-21s lift Toulon title after win over France". The Football Association. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  61. 1 2 Hunter, James (12 March 2015). "Duncan Watmore: Five things you may not know about Sunderland's young wing-wizard". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  62. ↑ Chamberlain, Oscar (27 April 2016). "Supporters' Player of the Year awards". Sunderland A.F.C. Archived from the original on 29 April 2016.
  63. ↑ Gregory, Ross (29 May 2015). "Sunderland starlet Duncan Watmore crowned Premier League U21 player of year". Sunderland Echo. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.