Matt Baker (footballer, born 2003)

Last updated

Matt Baker
Personal information
Full name Matthew Baker [1]
Date of birth (2003-02-06) 6 February 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Kent, England
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) [2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Newport County
Number 4
Youth career
2011–2021 Gillingham
2021–2022 Stoke City
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2022–2024 Stoke City 0 (0)
2023 → Newport County (loan) 18 (0)
2023–2024 → Newport County (loan) 32 (0)
2024– Newport County 17 (3)
International career‡
Wales U17
Wales U19
2023– Wales U21 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:38, 29 December 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:10, 15 October 2024 (UTC)

Matthew Baker (born 6 February 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League Two club Newport County [3] and the Wales under-21 national team.

Contents

Club career

Baker progressed through the Gillingham youth system and signed for Stoke City in June 2021. [4] [5] He moved on loan to Newport County in January 2023 for the remainder of the 2022–23 season. [6] [7] [8] [9] He made his Football League debut for Newport on 14 February 2023 in the League Two 2–2 draw against Stevenage. [10] Baker made 18 appearances for Newport helping them finish in 15th position. [11] In September 2023 Baker re-joined Newport County on loan for the 2023–24 season. [12] Baker made 39 appearances for the Exiles as they finished in 18th position. [13] [14] In May 2024, Stoke City offered Baker a contract extension. [15]

On 1 July 2024, Baker returned to Newport County on a permanent two-year deal after both clubs had reached a compensation agreement. [16] [17] Baker scored his first goal for Newport on 17 August 2024 in the 3-1 EFL League Two win against Doncaster Rovers. [18]

International career

Baker is from Kent and qualifies for Wales through his mother who was born in Narberth, Pembrokeshire. [19] He is a Wales youth international and captained them at under-19 level. [20] On 26 March 2023 Baker made his Wales under-21 debut in the starting line-up for the 3–0 friendly match win against Scotland under-21 in Spain. [21] He later became under-21 captain. [17]

In June 2024 Baker was called up to the Wales senior squad for the first time. [22]

Career statistics

As of match played 29 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City 2022–23 [11] Championship 000000—00
2023–24 [13] Championship000000—00
Total0000000000
Newport County (loan) 2022–23 [11] League Two 180000000180
Newport County (loan) 2023–24 [13] League Two32050002 [a] 0390
Newport County 2024–25 [23] League Two17310103 [a] 0223
Career total673601050793
  1. 1 2 Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.

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References

  1. ↑ "EFL Squad List: Season 2021/22" (PDF). EFL. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "M. Baker". Newport County A.F.C.
  3. ↑ Matt Baker at Soccerway
  4. ↑ Smith, Peter (28 June 2021). "Stoke City complete double swoop for Roney and Baker". StokeonTrentLive.
  5. ↑ "Stoke City sign Gillingham defender and Northern Ireland youth international". Stoke Sentinel. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "Newport sign Stoke defender Baker on loan". BBC Sport. 27 January 2023.
  7. ↑ "Stoke City defender Matt Baker moves on loan to Newport County". South Wales Argus. 27 January 2023.
  8. ↑ "CONFIRMED: County make Wales prospect with a mean streak their second signing". uk.sports.yahoo.com.
  9. ↑ "Matt Baker arrives on loan!". Newport County. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  10. ↑ "Newport County 2–2 Stevenage as a second-half substitute". BBC Sport. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 "Games played by Matt Baker in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  12. ↑ "Newport seal Thomas and Baker loan deals". BBC Sport. September 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 "Games played by Matt Baker in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  14. ↑ "Bradford City 4-1 Newport County". BBC Sport. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  15. ↑ "Potters release contracts update". www.stokecityfc.com. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  16. ↑ "Newport County sign Matt Baker on permanent deal". www.newport-county.co.uk. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  17. 1 2 "Matt Baker: Wales U21 skipper signs permanent Newport County deal". BBC Sport. 1 July 2024.
  18. ↑ "Newport County vs Doncaster Rovers: League Two". BBC Sport.
  19. ↑ "Bright prospect Baker needed a County reality check – Wales U21s boss". South Wales Argus. 23 March 2023.
  20. ↑ "County linked with loan move for Stoke's promising Wales U21s defender". South Wales Argus. 25 January 2023.
  21. ↑ "Wales Football – dragonsoccer – Welsh International Football". dragonsoccer.co.uk.
  22. ↑ "Connor Roberts and Joe Rodon out of Wales friendly in Gibraltar". BBC Sport. 3 June 2024.
  23. ↑ "Games played by Matt Baker in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
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