Luke Thomas (footballer, born 2001)

For other people with similar names, see Luke Thomas.

Luke Thomas

Thomas playing for Leicester City in 2021
Personal information
Full name	Luke Jonathan Thomas [1]
Date of birth	(2001-06-10) 10 June 2001 (age 22)
Place of birth	Syston, England [2]
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.81 m)
Position(s)	Left-back/left wing-back
Team information
Current team	Middlesbrough (on loan from Leicester City)
Number	33
Youth career
2008–2020	Leicester City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–	Leicester City	56	(1)
2023–2024	→ Sheffield United (loan)	12	(0)
2024–	→ Middlesbrough (loan)	5	(0)
International career‡
2018–2019	England U18	4	(0)
2019	England U19	4	(0)
2020	England U20	1	(0)
2021–2023	England U21	15	(0)
Medal record Representing   England UEFA European Under-21 Championship Winner 2023 Georgia–Romania
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:15, 21 March 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:43, 5 July 2023 (UTC)

Luke Jonathan Thomas (born 10 June 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back or left wing-back for EFL Championship club Middlesbrough, on loan from Leicester City.

Club career

Thomas was born in Syston, Leicestershire and joined the Leicester City Academy in 2008 from local club Riverside FC. ^[3] He made his professional debut in a 2–0 Premier League win against Sheffield United on 16 July 2020. He came on as a result of an injury to first team left back Ben Chilwell, providing an assist for the first goal, which was scored by Ayoze Pérez. ^[4] On 25 August, it was announced that he had signed a new long term deal with the club. ^[2]

On 29 October 2020, Thomas made his European debut in the UEFA Europa League during a 2–1 win over AEK Athens replacing Christian Fuchs in 46th minute. On 26 November, Thomas scored his first Leicester goal in a 3–3 away draw against Braga in the group stage of the Europa League. ^[5]

On 11 May 2021, Thomas scored his first Premier League goal for Leicester City in a 2–1 away victory over Manchester United, their first win at Old Trafford since 1998. ^[6] Four days later he started in the 2021 FA Cup final which saw Leicester beat Chelsea to win the trophy for the first time in their history. ^[7] On 7 August 2021 Thomas came off the bench as a second-half substitute as Leicester defeated Manchester City in the 2021 FA Community Shield. ^[8]

On 31 August 2023, Thomas joined Premier League club Sheffield United on a season long loan. ^[9] On 12 January 2024, his loan was mutually terminated and he returned to Leicester. ^[10]

International career

Having represented England at U18 and U19 level, Thomas made his England U20 debut during a 2–0 victory over Wales at St. George's Park on 13 October 2020. ^[11]

On 27 August 2021, Thomas received his first call up for the England U21s. ^[12] On 7 September 2021, he made his England U21 debut during the 2-0 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification win over Kosovo U21s at Stadium MK. ^[13]

On 14 June 2023, Thomas was included in the England squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. ^{[14] [15]} He started in the semi-final victory over Israel. ^[16] Thomas was an unused substitute in the final as England beat Spain to win the tournament. ^{[17] [18]}

Career statistics

As of match played 30 December 2023 ^[19]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Leicester City U23	2018–19	—			—		—		—		1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	1	0
	2019–20	—			—		—		—		5 [lower-alpha 1]	0	5	0
	2020–21	—			—		—		—		0	0	0	0
	Total		—		—		—		—		6	0	6	0
Leicester City	2019–20	Premier League	3	0	0	0	0	0	—		—		3	0
	2020–21	Premier League	14	1	3	0	1	0	7 [lower-alpha 2]	1	—		25	2
	2021–22	Premier League	22	0	1	0	3	0	6 [lower-alpha 3]	0	1 [lower-alpha 4]	0	33	0
	2022–23	Premier League	17	0	3	0	4	0	—		—		24	0
	Total		56	1	7	0	8	0	13	1	1	0	85	2
Sheffield United (loan)	2023–24	Premier League	12	0	0	0	—		—		—		12	0
Career total			68	1	7	0	8	0	13	1	7	0	103	2

1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
3. Three appearances in UEFA Europa League, three appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
4. Appearance in FA Community Shield

Honours

Leicester City

• FA Cup: 2020–21 ^[7]
• FA Community Shield: 2021 ^[8]

England U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2023 ^[17]

References

1. "Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists". Premier League. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
2. Blackwell, Jordan; Leach, Tom (16 July 2020). "Leicester City 2-0 Sheffield United: Match report and post-match reaction". Leicestershire Live. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
3. "Luke Thomas". Leicester City. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
4. "Syston Footballer Makes His Debut for Leicester City in Style". Syston Town News. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
5. Begley, Emlyn (26 November 2020). "Sporting Braga 3-3 Leicester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
6. Stone, Simon (11 May 2021). "Manchester United 1–2 Leicester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
7. McNulty, Phil (15 May 2021). "Chelsea 0–1 Leicester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
8. Hafez, Shamoon (7 August 2021). "Leicester City 1–0 Manchester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
9. "Luke Thomas Heads To Sheffield United On Loan". Leicester City F.C. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
10. "Thomas Returns to Leicester". Sheffield United F.C. 12 January 2024.
11. Veevers, Nicholas (13 October 2020). "Two quickfire goals in the first half seal win for Lee Carsley's young Lions at SGP". The Football Association. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
12. Veevers, Nicholas (27 August 2021). "Carsley names first MU21s squad". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
13. "England U21 2-0 Kosovo U21". BBC Sport. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
14. Veevers, Nicholas (14 June 2023). "England MU21s squad named for EURO Finals". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
15. "England Under-21s: Gibbs-White, Smith Rowe & Gordon in but Lewis left out". BBC Sport. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
16. Howell, Alex (5 July 2023). "Israel U21 0-3 England U21". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
17. Howell, Alex (8 July 2023). "England beat Spain to win Euro U21 Championship". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
18. Reid, James (8 July 2023). "England win U21 EURO title after 1-0 win over Spain". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
19. "Luke Thomas". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 July 2020.

External links

• Profile at the Leicester City F.C. website