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.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matthew Baker[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 6 February 2003 | ||
| 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* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2024 | Stoke City | 0 | (0) |
| 2023 | → Newport County (loan) | 18 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → Newport County (loan) | 32 | (0) |
| 2024– | Newport County | 12 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| Wales U17 | |||
| Wales U19 | |||
| 2023– | Wales U21 | 8 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:37, 23 November 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:10, 15 October 2024 (UTC) | |||
Club career
editBaker 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
editBaker 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
edit- As of match played 23 November 2024
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Stoke City | 2022–23[10] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023–24[12] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Newport County (loan) | 2022–23[10] | League Two | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Newport County (loan) | 2023–24[12] | League Two | 32 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 39 | 0 |
| Newport County | 2024–25[22] | League Two | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 17 | 3 |
| Career total | 62 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 74 | 3 | ||
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.
References
edit- ^ "EFL Squad List: Season 2021/22" (PDF). EFL. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ Matt Baker at Soccerway
- ^ Smith, Peter (28 June 2021). "Stoke City complete double swoop for Roney and Baker". StokeonTrentLive.
- ^ "Stoke City sign Gillingham defender and Northern Ireland youth international". Stoke Sentinel. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ "Newport sign Stoke defender Baker on loan". BBC Sport. 27 January 2023.
- ^ "Stoke City defender Matt Baker moves on loan to Newport County". South Wales Argus. 27 January 2023.
- ^ "CONFIRMED: County make Wales prospect with a mean streak their second signing". uk.sports.yahoo.com.
- ^ "Matt Baker arrives on loan!". Newport County. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ "Newport County 2–2 Stevenage as a second-half substitute". BBC Sport. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Matt Baker in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ "Newport seal Thomas and Baker loan deals". BBC Sport. September 2023.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Matt Baker in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ "Bradford City 4-1 Newport County". BBC Sport. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "Potters release contracts update". www.stokecityfc.com. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ "Newport County sign Matt Baker on permanent deal". www.newport-county.co.uk. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Matt Baker: Wales U21 skipper signs permanent Newport County deal". BBC Sport. 1 July 2024.
- ^ "Newport County vs Doncaster Rovers: League Two". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Bright prospect Baker needed a County reality check – Wales U21s boss". South Wales Argus. 23 March 2023.
- ^ "County linked with loan move for Stoke's promising Wales U21s defender". South Wales Argus. 25 January 2023.
- ^ "Wales Football – dragonsoccer – Welsh International Football". dragonsoccer.co.uk.
- ^ "Connor Roberts and Joe Rodon out of Wales friendly in Gibraltar". BBC Sport. 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Matt Baker in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 October 2024.