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
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 2 (1)
International career‡
Wales U17
Wales U19
2023– Wales U21 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:18, 24 August 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:10, 22 March 2024 (UTC)

Matthew Baker (born 6 February 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League Two club Newport County [2] 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. [3] [4] He moved on loan to Newport County in January 2023 for the remainder of the 2022–23 season. [5] [6] [7] [8] He made his Football League debut for Newport on 14 February 2023 in the League Two 2–2 draw against Stevenage. [9] Baker made 18 appearances for Newport helping them finish in 15th position. [10] In September 2023 Baker re-joined Newport County on loan for the 2023–24 season. [11] Baker made 39 appearances for the Exiles as they finished in 18th position. [12] [13] In May 2024, Stoke City offered Baker a contract extension. [14]

On 1 July 2024, Baker returned to Newport County on a permanent two-year deal after both clubs had reached a compensation agreement. [15] [16] Baker scored his first goal for Newport on 17 August 2024 in the 3-1 EFL League Two win against Doncaster Rovers. [17]

International career

Baker is from Kent and qualifies for Wales through his mother who was born in Narberth, Pembrokeshire. [18] He is a Wales youth international and captained them at under-19 level. [19] 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. [20] He later became under-21 captain. [16]

In June 2024 Baker was called up to the Wales senior squad for the first time. [21]

Career statistics

As of match played 27 April 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City 2022–23 [10] Championship 000000—00
2023–24 [12] Championship000000—00
Total0000000000
Newport County (loan) 2022–23 [10] League Two 180000000180
Newport County (loan) 2023–24 [12] League Two32050002 [lower-alpha 1] 0390
Career total500500020570
  1. ↑ Appearances in the EFL Trophy.

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References

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