Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Benjamin Sorba William Thomas [1] | ||
Date of birth | 25 January 1999 | ||
Place of birth | London Borough of Newham, England [2] | ||
Position(s) | Winger | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Nantes (on loan from Huddersfield Town) | ||
Number | 22 | ||
Youth career | |||
West Ham United | |||
2015–2017 | Boreham Wood | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2016–2021 | Boreham Wood | 77 | (8) |
2018 | → Cheshunt (loan) | 2 | (0) |
2021– | Huddersfield Town | 114 | (7) |
2023 | → Blackburn Rovers (loan) | 17 | (0) |
2024– | → Nantes (loan) | 5 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
2021– | Wales | 14 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 08:27, 14 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:38, l9 November 2024 (UTC) |
Benjamin Sorba William Thomas (born 25 January 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Ligue 1 club Nantes, on loan from EFL League One club Huddersfield Town, and the Wales national team.
A youth product of West Ham United, Thomas joined the youth academy of Boreham Wood at the age of 16. He began his senior career at Boreham Wood aged 17. He was an instrumental part of the under-18 side that reached the FA Youth Cup second round in 2016–17, which included a win over English Football League side Northampton Town. [3] In January 2018, he spent a month on loan at Isthmian League North side Cheshunt. [3]
On 13 January 2021, Thomas signed a contract with Huddersfield Town until the end of 2023–24 season with the club having the option of a further year's extension. [4] [5] He made his professional debut for Huddersfield in a 3–2 EFL Championship loss to Wycombe Wanderers on 13 February 2021. [6]
In the first Championship game of the 2021–22 season, a 1–1 draw with Derby County on 7 August 2021, Thomas got his first assist, supplying a cross from a free kick which was headed in by Naby Sarr. [7] In the following game, a 5–1 home defeat to Fulham, he overhit a backpass which ultimately resulted in Fulham's opening goal, but later provided the assist for Huddersfield's only goal from a corner kick, Matty Pearson scoring with a header. [7]
On 28 August 2021, he scored his first goal (as well as providing two assists) in a 4–0 home victory against Reading: he took possession of the ball at the halfway line, dribbled into the penalty area and placed a low shot past the goalkeeper. [8] [9]
On 10 September 2021, Thomas was awarded EFL Championship Player of the Month for August 2021. [10] On 19 May 2022, one week before the 2022 EFL Championship play-off final, Thomas signed a new long-term contract with the club until 2026. [11]
On 25 January 2023, he joined fellow EFL Championship side Blackburn Rovers on loan for the remainder of the 2022–23 season. [12]
On 30 July 2024, Thomas joined Ligue 1 club Nantes on a season-long loan deal with an option to buy. [13]
In March 2020, Thomas was called up to the England C team for the first time for a fixture against Wales C team however this match was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [14]
On 28 September 2021, Thomas was called up into the senior Wales squad for the first time for their 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Czech Republic and Estonia. [15] He made his international debut for Wales on 8 October 2021 as a second-half substitute in the 2–2 draw against Czech Republic, [16] and completed his first full 90 minutes three days later in the match against Estonia. In November 2022 he was named in the Wales squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. [17]
Born in England, Thomas was born to a Sierra Leonean father and Welsh mother. [2] He qualifies for Wales through his mother who was born in Newport. [18]
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Boreham Wood | 2017–18 [19] [20] | National League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 [a] | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
2018–19 [21] | National League | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 3 [b] | 0 | 37 | 0 | ||
2019–20 [22] | National League | 32 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 [c] | 0 | 36 | 5 | ||
2020–21 [23] | National League | 10 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | ||
Total | 77 | 8 | 7 | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | 95 | 8 | |||
Cheshunt (loan) | 2017–18 [24] [25] | Isthmian League North | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
Huddersfield Town | 2020–21 [23] | Championship | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
2021–22 [26] | Championship | 43 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 [d] | 0 | 51 | 3 | |
2022–23 [27] | Championship | 23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 25 | 0 | ||
2023–24 [28] | Championship | 30 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 31 | 4 | ||
Total | 103 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 114 | 7 | ||
Blackburn Rovers (loan) | 2022–23 [27] | Championship | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 17 | 0 | |
Career total | 199 | 15 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 228 | 15 |
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Wales | 2021 | 2 | 0 |
2022 | 5 | 0 | |
2023 | 1 | 0 | |
2024 | 3 | 0 | |
Total | 11 | 0 |
Individual
Thomas Clarke is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender or midfielder. He played for Huddersfield Town, Preston North End and Salford City. Clarke is a former England youth international, having represented England at both under-18 and under-19 level.
Jonathan Lee Hogg is an English professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for and captains EFL League One club Huddersfield Town. He has previously played for Watford and Aston Villa, and has spent periods on loan at Darlington and Portsmouth.
Matt Davidson Rider Crooks is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake.
Joseph Harris Wright is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock. He is a former Wales under-21 international.
Joshua Abdulai Koroma is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One club Huddersfield Town. Born in England, he plays for the Sierra Leone national Team.
Aaron Kevin Isaac Rowe is an English professional footballer who plays for EFL League Two club Gillingham. He plays as a right winger or full-back.
Herbie Kane is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Huddersfield Town.
Demeaco D'Vaughn Duhaney is an English professional footballer who plays as a right back for Süper Lig club İstanbulspor.
Matthew Paul Daly is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for EFL League Two side Harrogate Town.
Kian Shay Harratt is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League Two club Fleetwood Town, on loan from EFL League One club Huddersfield Town. He has previously played on loan at Harrogate Town, Guiseley, Port Vale and Bradford City. He helped Port Vale to win promotion out of League Two via the play-offs in 2022.
Scott John High is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Huddersfield Town. Born in England, High has represented Scotland at under-21 level.
Ben Joseph Jackson is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back, left wing-back, midfielder or left winger for EFL League Two club Barrow.
Romoney Crichlow-Noble is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League side Dagenham & Redbridge on loan from EFL League One side Peterborough United
Brahima Diarra is a professional footballer who last played as a midfielder for UAE Pro League club Al Wahda. Born in France, he plays for the Mali U23 national team.
Kieran James Phillips is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Sacramento Republic, on loan from Huddersfield Town.
Patrick Samuel Jones is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for EFL League One club Exeter City. He is a Wales under-21 international.
Nicholas Bilokapic is an Australian professional soccer player who plays for EFL League One club Peterborough United as a goalkeeper.
Kyle Farren Hudlin is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League Two club Newport County, on loan from EFL League One club Huddersfield Town.
Jacob Anthony Chapman is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League One club Huddersfield Town.
Jaheim Anthony Headley is an English professional footballer who plays for as a left-back for EFL League One club Huddersfield Town.