Tom Barkhuizen

Tom Barkhuizen

Personal information
Full name	Thomas John Barkhuizen [1]
Date of birth	(1993-07-04) 4 July 1993 (age 31) [2]
Place of birth	Blackpool, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.79 m) [3]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Derby County
Number	7
Youth career
	Blackpool Rangers
2009–2010	Blackpool
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2015	Blackpool	21	(2)
2011–2012	→ Hereford United (loan)	38	(11)
2012	→ Fleetwood Town (loan)	13	(1)
2014	→ Morecambe (loan)	5	(0)
2015–2016	Morecambe	54	(15)
2017–2022	Preston North End	199	(33)
2022–	Derby County	84	(10)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:10, 1 December 2024 (UTC)

Thomas John Barkhuizen (born 4 July 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays a forward for EFL Championship club Derby County.

Barkhuizen started his career at Blackpool, making his senior debut in 2010 he also had loan spells at Hereford United, Fleetwood Town and Morecambe. In 2015, Barkhuizen signed a contract with Morecambe, however this was terminated early in November 2016 due to cashflow issues.

He then signed a pre-contract agreement with Preston North End, which started in January 2017, Barkhuizen made 209 appearances in five and a half years. In July 2022, Barkhuizen signed with Derby County and in his second season in the club helped them gain automatic promotion to the Championship.

Career

Blackpool

Born in Blackpool, Barkhuizen played junior football on the Fylde coast with Blackpool Rangers.

In May 2009 he signed on as a first-year scholar with Blackpool's youth department. Before that he had been at the Centre of Excellence for four months, and had scored in every game he played at both under-16 and under-17 levels. ^[4]

On 24 August 2010, whilst still a second-year youth scholar, he made his first team debut in the second round of the 2010–11 League Cup, against Milton Keynes at Stadium MK. ^[5] Assistant manager Steve Thompson said of Barkhuizen: "Tom has come through the youth set up and I felt he handled himself very well for his debut. He is not the finished article by a long shot but once he gets a little bit of strength I think we've got a decent player there. I thought he did fantastic." ^[6]

In August 2011, he made a late substitute appearance in the League Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday before joining League Two side Hereford United on loan until the end of the year. He scored on his debut in a 4–1 Football League Trophy defeat to Bournemouth on 30 August. ^[7] His first league goal came on 10 September 2011, in a 3–1 loss against Shrewsbury Town. ^[8] On 20 December, after scoring seven goals for the Bulls, Barkhuizen stated that he wanted to stay at Edgar Street until the end of the season. ^[9] His loan deal was extended until the end of the season on 9 January 2012. ^[10] Then in late February, Barkhuizen would score his first brace despite losing 5–4 to Gillingham ^[11] and then scored in a 2–1 win over Wimbledon, to end "a run of 10 home games without a win". ^[12] Following the club's relegated to the Conference from League Two at the end of the 2011–12 season and made thirty eight appearances and scoring eleven times, Barkuizen was praised by Manager Jamie Pitman for his role as a striker and helping the club go into positive forms. ^[13] Barkhuizen contract with Blackpool was extended for another year. ^[14]

On 29 August 2012, Barkhuizen joined Blackpool's Fylde coast neighbours Fleetwood Town on loan until January 2013, together with teammate Ashley Eastham who joined on loan for one month. ^[15] He made his debut three days later in a 4–1 win over Aldershot Town at Highbury Stadium. ^[16] He scored his first and only goal for Fleetwood in a 2–1 win over Barnet on 29 September 2012. ^[17] After five months at Fleetwood Town, Barkhuizen returned to his parent club. ^[18] After this, Barkhuizen signed a one-year contract with the club following the end of the 2012–13 season. ^[19]

On 24 August 2013, in his second league appearance for the club, Barkhuizen scored his first goal for Blackpool in a 1–0 win over Reading. ^[20] His second goal for the club came in the FA Cup against Bolton Wanderers on 4 January 2014. ^[21] However, his season soon was disrupted with fractured and dislocated collarbone injury that kept him out for six weeks ^[22] and then made his return to action in early March. ^[23] After the end of 2013–14 season, Barkhuizen making fourteen appearances, his contract with Blackpool after his 12-month contract was activated further. ^[24]

Shortly after returning to Blackpool, Barkhuizen soon fractured his arm in a practice match that left him out for a month. ^[25]

Morecambe

Barkhuizen joined League Two side Morecambe on 17 October 2014 for one month. ^[26] The next day, on 18 October 2014, Barkhuizen made his debut for Morecambe, where he came on as a substitute for Paul Mullin in the second half, which Morecambe won 2–0 against Burton Albion. ^[27] After making five appearances for Morecambe, it announced on 17 November that Barkhuizen would return to his parent club in conclusion to his loan spell at Morecambe. ^[28]

On 9 May 2015, Barkhuizen joined Morecambe permanently on a two-year contract. ^[29]

After Morecambe were late paying staff wages in November 2016 due to cash-flow problems, the option of selling a player was proposed. ^[30] Barkhuzien's contract was duly cancelled by mutual consent on 9 November 2016, ^[31] and Morecambe's wages were paid the same day. ^[32]

Preston North End

On 17 November 2016, Barkhuizen agreed a pre-contract agreement with Preston, signing a 2+1⁄2-year contract and taking the number 29 shirt. ^[33]

In July 2019 he signed a new three-year contract. ^[34] He was released at the end of the 2021–22 season. ^[35]

Derby County

On 2 July 2022, Barkhuizen joined Derby County on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract. ^[36] He scored his first goal for Derby in an EFL Cup win over Mansfield Town on 9 August 2022. ^[37] He scored 6 times in 48 first team appearances during 2022–23 season ^[38] as Derby finished 7th in the league, missing out on the play-offs by 1 point.

Barkhuizen picked up a calf injury in Derby's first pre-season friendly ahead of the 2023–24 season against Matlock Town on 8 July 2023. ^[39] He was ruled out of first team action for two months. ^{[40] [41]} Barkuzien scored eight goals in 43 appearances for Derby during his second season for the club as they finished runners-up in the division and earn promotion to the Championship automatically. ^[42]

On 18 May 2024, it was announced that Barkhuizen had trigged a one-year performance-based clause to extend his contract at Derby until June 2025. ^[43] Barkhuizen had a frustrating start to the 2024–25 season with poor performances and injuries. ^[44]

Personal life

Barkhuizen went to Cardinal Allen Catholic High School in Fleetwood. Barkhuizen is of South African descent through his grandfather, and the South Africa national football team showed an interest in calling him up. ^[45]

Career statistics

As of match played 1 December 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Blackpool	2010–11 [46]	Premier League	0	0	1	0	1	0	—		2	0
	2011–12 [47]	Championship	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
	2012–13 [48]	Championship	0	0	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
	2013–14 [49]	Championship	14	1	1	1	0	0	—		15	2
	2014–15 [50]	Championship	7	0	1	0	0	0	—		8	0
	Total		21	1	3	1	3	0	0	0	27	2
Hereford United (loan)	2011–12 [47]	League Two	38	11	0	0	—		1 [a]	1	39	12
Fleetwood Town (loan)	2012–13 [48]	League Two	13	1	1	0	—		0	0	14	1
Morecambe (loan)	2014–15 [50]	League Two	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
Morecambe	2015–16 [51]	League Two	40	10	2	1	0	0	3 [a]	1	45	12
	2016–17 [52]	League Two	14	5	1	0	2	0	2 [b]	0	19	5
	Total		54	15	3	1	2	0	5	1	64	17
Preston North End	2016–17 [52]	Championship	17	6	0	0	0	0	—		17	6
	2017–18 [53]	Championship	46	8	1	0	0	0	—		47	8
	2018–19 [54]	Championship	34	6	1	0	2	1	—		37	6
	2019–20 [55]	Championship	44	9	0	0	3	2	—		47	11
	2020–21 [56]	Championship	45	4	0	0	2	2	—		47	6
	2021–22 [57]	Championship	13	0	0	0	1	0	—		14	0
	Total		199	33	2	0	8	5	0	0	209	37
Derby County	2022–23 [38]	League One	41	4	3	1	2	1	2 [b]	0	48	6
	2023–24 [58]	League One	37	6	2	1	0	0	4 [b]	1	43	8
	2024–25 [59]	Championship	6	0	0	0	2	0	—		8	0
	Total		84	10	5	2	4	1	6	1	99	14
Career total			416	71	14	4	17	6	12	3	457	84

1. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
2. Appearances in the EFL Trophy

Honours

Derby County

• EFL League One second-place promotion: 2023–24 ^[42]

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Preston North End" (PDF). English Football League. p. 57. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
2. "Tom Barkhuizen". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
3. "Tom Barkhuizen". Derby County F.C. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
4. "Young Hopefuls Sign Up". Blackpool. 20 May 2009. Archived from the original on 23 May 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
5. "MK Dons v Blackpool". BBC Sport. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
6. Canavan, Steve (25 August 2010). "Pool try to tempt Tudgay". Blackpool Gazette . Retrieved 25 August 2010.
7. "Sky Sports: Match Report – Jayden's stock rises". Sky Sports. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
8. "Shrewsbury Town 3 – 1 Hereford United". BBC Sport. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
9. Canavan, Steve (20 December 2011). "Loan plea from Tom". Blackpool Gazette . Retrieved 23 April 2012.
10. Rogers, Paul (6 January 2012). "Tom Barkhuizen extends loan at Hereford United until the end of the season". Hereford Times . Retrieved 23 April 2012.
11. "Gillingham 5 – 4 Hereford United". BBC Sport. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
12. "Pitman praises battling Bulls". Sky Sports. 4 March 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
13. "Rest revitalises Bulls striker". Sky Sports. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
14. "Ormerod heads for Pool exit". Blackpool Gazette. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
15. "Young Pool pair join Fleetwood". Blackpool Gazette . 29 August 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
16. "Fleetwood 4–1 Aldershot". BBC Sport. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
17. "Fleetwood 2–1 Barnet" BBC Sport. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
18. "Barry's back at Blackpool". Blackpoool Gazette. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
19. "Barry Ferguson: Blackpool midfielder signs one-year deal". BBC Sport. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
20. "Blackpool 1 – 0 Reading". BBC Sport. 24 August 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
21. "Bolton 2–1 Blackpool" BBC Sport. 4 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
22. "Barkhuizen Set For Six Week Absence". Blackpool F.C. 14 January 2014. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
23. "Barkhuizen Returns To Training". Blackpool F.C. 5 March 2014. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
24. "Barkhuizen To Stay at Blackpool". Blackpool Official Website. 7 May 2014. Archived from the original on 7 May 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
25. "Barkhuizen Set For Short Spell on Sidelines". Blackpool F.C. 27 November 2014. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
26. "Tom Barkhuizen: Morecambe sign Blackpool striker on loan". BBC Sport. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
27. "Match Report: Burton Albion 0 – 2 Morecambe". Burton Albion F.C. 28 October 2014. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
28. "Tom Barkhuizen Returns To Blackpool". Blackpool F.C. 17 November 2014. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
29. "Tom Barkhuizen: Morecambe sign ex-Blackpool winger". BBC Sport. 9 May 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
30. "Morecambe: League Two club's players and staff not paid wages". BBC Sport. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
31. "Club statement regarding Tom Barkhuizen". Morecambe F.C. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
32. "Club statement from Diego Lemos". Morecambe F.C. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
33. "Tom Barkhuizen: Preston North End to sign Morecambe forward". BBC Sport. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
34. "Tom Barkhuizen: Preston North End forward signs new three-year deal". BBC Sport. 9 July 2019.
35. "Preston North End Retained List Confirmed". pnefc.net. 9 May 2022.
36. "Barkhuizen becomes the first new addition to Derbys squad". 2 July 2022.
37. "Mansfield 1-2 Derby". BBC. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
38. "Games played by Tom Barkhuizen in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
39. "Derby County notebook – Mendez-Laing plan, Washington, Barkhuizen and Bielik injury". Derby Evening Telegraph . 10 July 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
40. "Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Derby County". BBC. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
41. "Ward, Bird, Barkhuizen – Derby County injury news and return dates ahead of Portsmouth clash". Derby Evening Telegraph . 10 July 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
42. "Breaking: Derby County promoted as duo seal it for Paul Warne's side". Derby Telegraph. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
43. "Derby County Retained List: 2023/24 Season". Derby County. 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
44. "'Blimey' - the winners and the losers as brilliant Derby County defy early expectation". Derby Telegraph. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
45. "South Africa ramp up their pursuit of Tom Barkhuizen". 17 November 2019.
46. "Games played by Tom Barkhuizen in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
47. "Games played by Tom Barkhuizen in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
48. "Games played by Tom Barkhuizen in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
49. "Games played by Tom Barkhuizen in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
50. "Games played by Tom Barkhuizen in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
51. "Games played by Tom Barkhuizen in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
52. "Games played by Tom Barkhuizen in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
53. "Games played by Tom Barkhuizen in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
54. "Games played by Tom Barkhuizen in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
55. "Games played by Tom Barkhuizen in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
56. "Games played by Tom Barkhuizen in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
57. "Games played by Tom Barkhuizen in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
58. "Games played by Tom Barkhuizen in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
59. "Games played by Tom Barkhuizen in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 August 2024.

External links

• Tom Barkhuizen at Soccerbase