Benicio Baker-Boaitey (born 9 January 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left winger for EFL League Two club Port Vale, on loan from Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion. He previously had spells in the youth academies of West Ham United and Porto. He is also an England youth international.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Benicio Baker-Boaitey[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 9 January 2004[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Hammersmith, England[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Left winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Port Vale (on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion) | ||
| Number | 37 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2020 | West Ham United | ||
| 2020–2022 | Porto | ||
| 2022 | → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) | ||
| 2022–2023 | Brighton & Hove Albion | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023– | Brighton & Hove Albion | 5 | (0) |
| 2024– | → Port Vale (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2019 | England U16 | 2 | (0) |
| 2024 | England U20 | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:01, 16 November 2024 (UTC) | |||
Career
editEarly career
editHaving come through the youth academy of West Ham United, Baker-Boaitey was 16 when he rejected a professional contract with them to join FC Porto in 2020.[4] He also had the opportunity to join Bundesliga sides Bayern Munich and Borussia Mönchengladbach, though opted for the Primeira Liga side.[5][6][7] Porto paid West Ham compensation in the region of £190,000.[8]
Brighton & Hove Albion
editBaker-Boaitey signed for the academy of Brighton & Hove Albion on transfer deadline day in January 2022, initially on a six-month loan deal.[9][10] The move became permanent in June 2022 after he impressed academy coach Andrew Crofts.[11][12] He played in the Sussex Community Shield final and scored his penalty in the shoot-out victory over Littlehampton Town.[13] He featured ten times for Brighton under-21's in Premier League 2 during the 2022–23 season. He signed a new one-year contract with the club in July.[14] On 12 November 2023, he was named among the match day squad in the Premier League as Brighton played against Sheffield United at Falmer Stadium.[15] Three weeks later on 3 December, Baker-Boaitey made his senior and professional debut with the Albion, coming on as a late substitution in a 3–2 loss to Chelsea.[16] He featured in six games under manager Roberto De Zerbi and agreed a new contract at the end of the 2023–24 season.[17]
Port Vale (loan)
editOn 7 August 2024, Benicio completed a season-long loan move to League Two club Port Vale.[18] On 7 September, he started in a 4–1 win at Newport County and was subsequently named in the EFL League Two Team of the Week.[19]
Style of play
editBaker-Boaitey has been described as a left-footed wide player, with comparisons made in his style of play to former Juventus player Douglas Costa.[20] He has pace and can play as a wide or inside winger.[21]
International career
editOn 7 June 2024, Baker-Boaitey made his England U20 debut in a 2–1 win over Sweden at Stadion ŠRC Sesvete.[22]
Personal life
editCareer statistics
edit- As of match played 16 November 2024
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2023–24[25] | Premier League | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 2024–25[26] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| Brighton & Hove Albion U21 | 2022–23[27] | — | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2023–24[25] | — | — | — | — | 3[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Port Vale (loan) | 2024–25[26] | League Two | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Career total | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 23 | 0 | ||
- ^ a b c Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy
References
edit- ^ Squad Lists 2024/25 & U21 Unregistered Contract Players (PDF). EFL. September 2024. p. 79. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ Benicio Baker-Boaitey at Soccerway
- ^ "Squads - English Premier League 2022/2023". Football Squads. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Thomas, Roshane. "West Ham are famed as the academy of football, so why are so many youngsters leaving?". The Athletic. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ Nana Yaw Kwafo, Eric (2 September 2020). "Teenager Benicio Baker-Boaitey Joins FC Porto On A Free Transfer". Modrrnghana. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ "Ghanaian youngster Benicio Baker-Boaitey confirms talk with Borrusia Monchengladbach". Ghanaweb. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ Heywood Okine, Sammy (4 September 2020). "Ghanaian Teen Benicio Baker-Boaitey Swerves Bayern Munich To Join FC Porto". Modernghana. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ Howard, Derren (31 January 2022). "Brighton make late deadline day swoop for ex-West Ham and Porto attacker with hours to spare". Sussex World. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ Mills, Richard (31 January 2022). "Brighton sign former West Ham youngster and Bayern Munich target on loan from Porto". Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ Howard, Derren (5 February 2022). "Graham Potter lays out plan for Benicio Baker-Boaitey after surprise swoop for ex-West Ham and Porto attacker". Sussex World. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ Harris, Richard (20 June 2022). "Brighton sign former West Ham youngster and FC Porto talent on permanent deal". Sussex Live. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ Owen, Brian (20 June 2022). "Albion complete permanent deal for hard-working winger". The Argus. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "Albion forced to shootout in Community Shield win". sussexfa.com. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "Benicio Baker-Boaitey extends contract with Brighton". Ghanaweb. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ "BRIGHTON VS. SHEFF UTD". Soccerway. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ "Match report: Chelsea 3 Brighton 2". Chelseafc.com. 3 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ Howard, Derren (5 June 2024). "Four in and five out: Brighton confirm contract decisions for nine talents ahead of new season". Sussex World. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "Baker-Boaitey joins Port Vale on loan". Brighton & Hove Albion FC. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ Baggaley, Mike (9 September 2024). "Plans coming together for Vale". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ "Benicio Baker-Boaitey: West Ham winger set for Bayern Munich talks". Sky Sports. 12 July 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ Baggaley, Mike (9 August 2024). "Ready to go for new Vale era". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ Drury, Adam (7 June 2024). "Report: Sweden 1-2 England Elite League Squad". englandfootball.com. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ "English-Ghanaian youngster Benicio Baker-Boaitey extends contract with Brighton". Footballghana. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ "Ghanaian youngster Benicio Baker-Boaitey extends Brighton contract". Ghanasoccernet. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Games played by Benicio Baker-Boaitey in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ a b "Games played by Benicio Baker-Boaitey in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ "Games played by Benicio Baker-Boaitey in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2020.