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Will Smallbone

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Will Smallbone
Personal information
Full name William Anthony Patrick Smallbone[1]
Date of birth (2000-02-21) 21 February 2000 (age 25)[2]
Place of birth Basingstoke, England[3]
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[4]
Position(s) Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Southampton
Number 8
Youth career
2008–2019 Southampton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019– Southampton 77 (7)
2022–2023 → Stoke City (loan) 43 (3)
International career‡
2017 Republic of Ireland U18 1 (0)
2018–2019 Republic of Ireland U19 5 (2)
2020–2022 Republic of Ireland U21 8 (3)
2023– Republic of Ireland 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:59, 25 May 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 00:51, 11 September 2024 (UTC)

William Anthony Patrick Smallbone (born 21 February 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for EFL Championship club Southampton. Born in England, he plays for the Republic of Ireland national team.

Club career

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Southampton

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2017–2022

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On 21 February 2017, Smallbone signed a professional contract with Southampton.[5] He made his professional debut for Southampton in a 2–0 FA Cup victory over Huddersfield Town on 4 January 2020, scoring the opening goal.[6] On 22 February 2020, Smallbone went on to make his Premier League debut in a 2–0 victory over Aston Villa.[7]

Having just started to appear regularly for the first team, on 16 January 2021, Smallbone suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in a 2–0 defeat at Leicester. As a result, he was expected to be out of action for up to six months.[8] On 26 October 2021, Smallbone made his first professional appearance since his injury, replacing Stuart Armstrong in Southampton's defeat to Chelsea after a penalty shootout in the EFL Cup.[9]

2022–present

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On 23 July 2022, Smallbone joined Stoke City on a season-long loan.[10] He scored his first goal for Stoke in a 2–0 win at Preston North End on 15 October 2022.[11] Smallbone was a regular under Alex Neil in 2022–23, making 46 appearances, scoring three goals as Stoke finished in 16th position.[12]

On 28 August 2023, Smallbone signed a three-year contract extension with Southampton.[13] He scored his first league goal for the club on 30 September 2023 in a 3–1 victory against Leeds United.[14] On 17 May 2024, Smallbone scored the opening goal in a 3–1 victory against West Bromwich Albion in the second leg of the EFL Championship play-off semi-final, helping to secure his team's place in the final.[15] Later that month, on 26 May, he provided an assist for Adam Armstrong in a 1–0 victory against Leeds United in the final, ensuring his club's promotion to the Premier League.[16][17]

During a 3–2 home defeat against Leicester City on 19 October 2024, Smallbone made his return from an injury after he came off the bench, but manager Russell Martin feared he "tweaked" his hamstring during the game.[18] Martin later revealed that Smallbone was expected to be sidelined for "a little bit of time" after he battled through the pain barrier to play against Leicester City.[19] On 8 March 2025, he scored his first Premier League goal in a 3–1 defeat against Liverpool.[20][21]

International career

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Smallbone qualified to play for the Republic of Ireland through his Kilkenny-born mother.[22] Smallbone made his debut for Republic of Ireland U21s against Italy U21s in October 2020.[23] On 3 June 2022, he scored his first goals for the Republic of Ireland U21 team, scoring a brace in a 3–0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 at Tallaght Stadium.[24] He followed that up by scoring a volley from outside the box three days later, to open the scoring in an eventual 3–1 win over Montenegro U21.[25][26]

In November 2022, Smallbone was included in Stephen Kenny's senior squad for forthcoming friendlies. He made his debut on 22 March 2023 in a friendly match against Latvia, which ended in a 3–2 victory.[27] He won Player of the Match award for his display against Latvia.[28]

Personal life

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Smallbone was diagnosed with alopecia in 2021 whilst recovering from his ACL injury.[29][30] In December 2022, he became an ambassador for Alopecia UK.[31][32]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 25 May 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Southampton U21 2016–17[33] — — — 1[a] 0 1 0
2017–18[34] — — — 1[a] 0 1 0
2018–19[35] — — — 3[a] 0 3 0
2019–20[36] — — — 1[a] 0 1 0
2021–22[37] — — — 1[a] 0 1 0
Total — — — 7 0 7 0
Southampton 2019–20[36] Premier League 9 0 1 1 0 0 — 10 1
2020–21[38] Premier League 3 0 0 0 0 0 — 3 0
2021–22[37] Premier League 4 0 2 0 1 0 — 7 0
2023–24[39] Championship 43 6 4 0 0 0 3[b] 1 50 7
2024–25[40] Premier League 18 1 2 0 0 0 — 20 1
Total 77 7 9 1 1 0 3 1 90 9
Stoke City (loan) 2022–23[41] Championship 43 3 2 0 1 0 — 46 3
Career total 120 10 11 1 2 0 10 1 143 12
  1. ^ a b c d e Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Appearances in Championship play-offs

International

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As of match played 10 September 2024[42]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Republic of Ireland 2023 5 0
2024 6 0
Total 11 0

Honours

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Southampton

References

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  1. ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists". Premier League. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Will Smallbone". 11v11. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Shoot For The Stars: Southampton's FA Cup Wonderkid Will Smallbone". Shoot. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Player profiles: Will Smallbone". Southampton F.C. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Smallbone pens first professional deal". Southampton FC. 21 February 2017. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Southampton 2 Huddersfield Town 0". BBC Sport. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  7. ^ Collins, Ben (22 February 2020). "Southampton 2–0 Aston Villa: Some of my team have played way out of EFL Cup final – Dean Smith". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Will Smallbone: Southampton midfielder faces up to six months out with ACL injury". BBC Sport. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  9. ^ Rose, Gary (26 October 2021). "Chelsea 1–1 Southampton (4–3 pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  10. ^ Cope, Niall (23 July 2022). "Welcoming Will". Stoke City FC. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Preston North End 0–2 Stoke". BBC Sport. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Stoke City loan star opens up about plans for next season". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Smallbone signs new three-year contract". Southampton FC. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Southampton 3–1 Leeds United". BBC Sport. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  15. ^ George, Dan (17 May 2024). "Southampton 3–1 West Bromwich Albion". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  16. ^ Fisher, Ben (26 May 2024). "Southampton promoted to Premier League by beating Leeds in playoff final". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  17. ^ Gholam, Simeon (26 May 2024). "Leeds 0–1 Southampton: Adam Armstrong steers Saints back to Premier League". Sky Sports. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  18. ^ Rees-Julian, George (20 October 2024). "Martin fears Smallbone 'tweaked' hamstring in defeat to Leicester". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  19. ^ "Smallbone sidelined after playing through the pain barrier". Southampton FC. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  20. ^ Begley, Emlyn (8 March 2025). "Liverpool 3–1 Southampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  21. ^ "Report: Saints undone by Reds revival". Southampton FC. 8 March 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  22. ^ "Will Smallbone won't be tempted by England switch". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  23. ^ "Italy U21 2–0 Republic of Ireland U21". BBC Sport. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  24. ^ O'Connor, Seán (3 June 2022). "Smallbone and Odubeko inspire Ireland U21s to victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  25. ^ Diallo, Raf (6 June 2022). "Ireland see off Montenegro to boost Euro U-21 dreams". www.rte.ie.
  26. ^ "Smallbone continues scoring streak in Ireland win". Southampton FC. 6 June 2022.
  27. ^ Leahy, Ed (22 March 2023). "Chiedozie Ogbene secures hard-fought Ireland win against Latvia as Evan Ferguson opens his account". RTE.ie. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  28. ^ O'Hehir, Paul (22 March 2023). "Stephen Kenny full of praise for Will Smallbone after Ireland debut". Irishmirror.ie. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  29. ^ "Injury and alopecia: Smallbone's story". Southampton FC. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  30. ^ "Will Smallbone opens up on alopecia and injury challenges". RTE. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  31. ^ "Will Smallbone chats to Alopecia UK". Alopecia UK. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  32. ^ House, Alfie (8 December 2022). "Inspiring Southampton midfielder opens up on Alopecia to help others". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  33. ^ "Games played by Will Smallbone in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  34. ^ "Games played by Will Smallbone in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  35. ^ "Games played by Will Smallbone in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  36. ^ a b "Games played by Will Smallbone in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  37. ^ a b "Games played by Will Smallbone in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  38. ^ "Games played by Will Smallbone in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  39. ^ "Games played by Will Smallbone in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  40. ^ "Games played by Will Smallbone in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  41. ^ "Games played by Will Smallbone in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  42. ^ "Smallbone, Will". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  43. ^ "Leeds United 0–1 Southampton: Line-ups". BBC Sport. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
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