Ben Davies (footballer, born 1993)

This article is about the Welsh footballer. For the English footballer, see Ben Davies (footballer, born 1995). For other people named Ben Davies, see Benjamin Davies (disambiguation).

Ben Davies
Davies lining up for Wales in 2016
Personal information
Full name Benjamin Thomas Davies[1]
Date of birth (1993-04-24) 24 April 1993 (age 31)[2]
Place of birth Neath, Wales
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.81 m)[3]
Position(s) Left-back, centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Tottenham Hotspur
Number 33
Youth career
2000–2001 Swansea City
2001–2004 Viborg FF
2004–2012 Swansea City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2014 Swansea City 71 (3)
2014– Tottenham Hotspur 229 (7)
International career‡
2009 Wales U17 1 (0)
2011 Wales U19 5 (0)
2012– Wales 92 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:29, 5 December 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:33, 19 November 2024 (UTC)

Benjamin Thomas Davies (born 24 April 1993) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a left-back and centre-back for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the Wales national team.

Davies is an academy graduate of Swansea City, a Welsh club based in Swansea who play in the English football league system, also joining Danish club Viborg FF's academy while his family lived in Denmark. He made his professional debut for Swansea City in the second Premier League game of the 2012–13 season against West Ham United, scoring his first professional goal in a 3–1 Premier League win against Stoke City in January 2013. In the 2013–14 season, Davies was once again a regular for Swansea City.

In July 2014, Davies was signed by Tottenham Hotspur for an undisclosed fee, making his debut for Tottenham in a Europa League game against Cypriot side AEL Limassol. During Mauricio Pochettino's tenure, Davies battled Danny Rose for the starting left-back spot, but Davies was redeployed as a left-sided centre-back in a defensive back three by Antonio Conte.[4]

Davies made three appearances for the Welsh national U-19 football team in his youth. His appearances all came as part of qualification for the 2012 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. Davies made his debut senior Welsh national team against Scotland at the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification in 2012. He has since made over 80 senior appearances for Wales, and represented the side at UEFA Euro 2016, reaching the semi-finals, and UEFA Euro 2020. Davies also helped Wales qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2022, their first tournament appearance since 1958.

Early life

[edit]

Davies was born in Neath, West Glamorgan.[2] After spending time in the youth academy at Swansea City, he and his family moved to Viborg, Denmark, after his father accepted a job offer. They spent three years living in Denmark, where he played for Viborg FF's youth team before returning to Swansea.[5] Davies attended Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera and he is a fluent Welsh language speaker.[6]

Club career

[edit]

Swansea City

[edit]

After spending time with the youth ranks, Davies signed a two-year contract with Swansea City, making his first-team debut against West Ham United for the Premier League on 25 August 2012, coming on as an 84th minute substitute for Neil Taylor in a 3–0 home win.[7][8]

Davies became a regular starter for Swansea in the 2012–13 season, following a long-term injury to Taylor.[9]

On 23 November 2012, Davies signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract with Swansea.[10]

On 19 January 2013, Davies scored his first goal for Swansea against Stoke City in a 3–1 victory.[11] In doing so, at 19 years and 270 days, he became Swansea's youngest scorer in the Premier League.[11]

On 24 February 2013, Davies started at left-back in the 2013 Football League Cup final at Wembley Stadium, as the Swans beat Bradford City 5–0 to win the club's first major trophy.[12]

In September 2013, he scored his second and third Premier League goals for Swansea, against West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal respectively.[13][14]

On 24 December 2013, Davies signed a one-year contract extension with the Swans.[15]

Tottenham Hotspur

[edit]
Davies playing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2016

On 23 July 2014, Davies joined Tottenham Hotspur on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee. He joined on the same day as his Swansea teammate Michel Vorm, with Gylfi Sigurðsson being exchanged as part of the deal.[16][17][18] Davies made his Premier League debut for Tottenham Hotspur as a late substitute in a 0–3 defeat to Liverpool.[19] He made his first start for the club in the league in a 2–1 away win at Hull City on 23 November 2014.[citation needed] He was an unused substitute for the 2015 League Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on 1 March 2015, in which Tottenham were beaten 2–0 by Chelsea.[20]

Davies scored his first goal for the club on 8 January 2017, a header in an FA Cup tie against Aston Villa.[21] He signed a new four-year contract at Tottenham on 9 March 2017, extending his deal to 2021.[22]

Davies scored his second Tottenham goal – and his first for them in the Premier League – against Hull City on the final day of the 2016–17 season; a first-time strike from outside the box into the top left corner added a sixth goal in an eventual 7–1 win for Tottenham.[23]

Davies started for Tottenham in the opening match of the 2017–18 season, and scored a goal in a 2–0 win away to Newcastle United.[24]

Davies signed a new 5-year contract with Tottenham in July 2019.[25][26]

Davies scored his first goal of the 2020–21 season, his first in over three years, in the EFL Cup tie against Stoke City, helping the team win 3–1 to reach the semi-finals.[27]

At the start of the 2021–22 season, Davies started only one Premier League game during Nuno Espírito Santo's brief tenure as head coach. He returned to being a regular starter under the management of Antonio Conte, who was hired as head coach in November 2021, playing as a left-sided centre-back in a back three.[4]

Davies scored his first goal of the 2022–23 season in a league match against Bournemouth on 29 October, an equaliser in an eventual 3–2 comeback victory.[28]

Davies scored his first goal of the 23/24 Season with a header from Pedro Porro's corner kick in a 4–2 defeat away to Brighton and Hove Albion.

International career

[edit]

In September 2012, Davies was selected for the Wales squad for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification matches in September 2012. He replaced club teammate Neil Taylor, who had suffered a broken ankle in a Premier League match against Sunderland.[29] Davies made his full international debut in the 2–1 win against Scotland on 12 October 2012.[30] In May 2021 he was selected for the Wales squad for the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 tournament.[31] In November 2022 he was named in the Wales squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[32]

Outside football

[edit]

In the summer of 2021, Davies was awarded a 2:1 degree in economics and business from the Open University, after balancing his studies with his job as a professional footballer over a period of five years.[33]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played 5 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Swansea City 2012–13[34] Premier League 37 1 1 0 6 0 — 44 1
2013–14[35] Premier League 34 2 0 0 0 0 7[a] 0 41 2
Total 71 3 1 0 6 0 7 0 85 3
Tottenham Hotspur 2014–15[36] Premier League 14 0 2 0 4 0 9[a] 0 29 0
2015–16[37] Premier League 17 0 2 0 0 0 8[a] 0 27 0
2016–17[38] Premier League 23 1 4 1 2 0 5[b] 0 34 2
2017–18[39] Premier League 29 2 3 0 1 0 5[c] 0 38 2
2018–19[40] Premier League 27 0 1 0 3 0 9[c] 0 40 0
2019–20[41] Premier League 18 0 0 0 1 0 3[c] 0 22 0
2020–21[42] Premier League 20 0 3 0 2 1 13[a] 0 38 1
2021–22[43] Premier League 29 1 3 0 5 0 6[d] 0 43 1
2022–23[44] Premier League 31 2 2 0 0 0 7[c] 0 40 2
2023–24[45] Premier League 17 1 1 0 1 0 — 19 1
2024–25[46] Premier League 4 0 0 0 2 0 5[a] 0 11 0
Total 229 7 21 1 21 1 70 0 341 9
Career total 300 10 22 1 27 1 77 0 426 12
  1. ^ a b c d e Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ a b c d Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

International

[edit]
As of match played 19 November 2024[47]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Wales 2012 2 0
2013 7 0
2014 3 0
2015 6 0
2016 10 0
2017 8 0
2018 7 0
2019 9 0
2020 6 0
2021 11 1
2022 8 0
2023 7 1
2024 8 0
Total 92 2
As of match played 19 November 2024. Wales' score listed first, score column indicates score after each Davies goal.[47]
List of international goals scored by Ben Davies
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 13 November 2021 Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales 68  Belarus 4–0 5–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 11 October 2023 Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Wales 81  Gibraltar 1–0 4–0 Friendly

Honours

[edit]

Swansea City

Tottenham Hotspur

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Ben Davies". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Ben Davies: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  4. ^ a b "A degree, COVID and life in the back three - a special interview with Ben Davies". Tottenham Hotspur. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Ben Davies Interview: Made in Wales, Nurtured by Denmark". Lost Boyos. Archived from the original on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Swansea City's Ben Davies thrilled with his rise into the first team". BBC Sport. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Defender Ben Davies signs new Swansea City contract". BBC Sport. 16 July 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  8. ^ Williams, Aled (25 August 2012). "Swansea 3–0 West Ham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  9. ^ "Swansea City youngster Ben Davies happy to be thrown in deep end". Wales Online. 9 October 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  10. ^ "Ben Davies signs new Swansea City contract". BBC Sport. 23 November 2012.
  11. ^ a b "Swansea 3–1 Stoke". BBC Sport. 19 January 2013. Archived from the original on 19 January 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  12. ^ "SWANSEA BATTER BRADFORD IN CUP FINAL MISMATCH". Eurosport. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  13. ^ "West Brom 0–2 Swansea". BBC Sport. 1 September 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  14. ^ "Swansea 1–2 Arsenal". BBC Sport. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  15. ^ "Swansea defender Ben Davies signs a contract extension until 2017". Sky Sports. 24 December 2013.
  16. ^ "Ben Davies & Michel Vorm join Spurs, Swansea sign Sigurdsson". BBC Sport. 23 July 2014.
  17. ^ "Deal for Swansea duo agreed". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 23 July 2014.
  18. ^ "Sigurdsson seals Swans return". Swansea City A.F.C. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.[permanent dead link‍]
  19. ^ "Tottenham Hotspur 0–3 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  20. ^ a b McNulty, Phil (1 March 2015). "Chelsea 2–0 Tottenham Hotspur". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  21. ^ "Spurs proved they have 'winning mentality' with Villa victory – Davies". Evening Standard. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  22. ^ "Tottenham left-back Ben Davies signs new four-year contract". Sky Sports. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  23. ^ Bysouth, Alex (21 May 2017). "Hull City 1–7 Tottenham Hotspur". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  24. ^ Mellor, Jason (13 August 2017). "Newcastle 0 Tottenham 2: Jonjo Shelvey sees red for stamp on Dele Alli as Spurs cruise to opening win". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  25. ^ Young, Alex (8 July 2019). "Harry Winks and Ben Davies sign new five-year contracts with Tottenham". Evening Standard.
  26. ^ "Tottenham: Ben Davies and Harry Winks sign new five-year contracts with Spurs". BBC Sport. 8 July 2019.
  27. ^ "Ben Davies and Harry Kane seal Tottenham win over Stoke to reach Carabao Cup semi-finals". The Independent. 22 December 2020.
  28. ^ "Bournemouth 2–3 Tottenham Hotspur: Bentancur scores late winner as Spurs fight back". BBC Sport. 29 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  29. ^ "Swansea's Ben Davies has been added to Wales' squad to face Belgium and Serbia". Sky Sports. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  30. ^ "Match Report: Wales v Scotland 12 October 2012". Football Association of Wales. 12 October 2012. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  31. ^ "Uncapped Colwill in Wales Euro 2020 squad". BBC Sport.
  32. ^ "2022 Wales World Cup squad". BBC Sport.
  33. ^ Gold, Alasdair (29 December 2021). "Ben Davies on his new role under Antonio Conte and his recent Covid experience". Football.London. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  34. ^ "Games played by Ben Davies in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  35. ^ "Games played by Ben Davies in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  36. ^ "Games played by Ben Davies in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  37. ^ "Games played by Ben Davies in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  38. ^ "Games played by Ben Davies in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  39. ^ "Games played by Ben Davies in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  40. ^ "Games played by Ben Davies in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  41. ^ "Games played by Ben Davies in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  42. ^ "Games played by Ben Davies in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  43. ^ "Games played by Ben Davies in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  44. ^ "Games played by Ben Davies in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  45. ^ "Games played by Ben Davies in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  46. ^ "Games played by Ben Davies in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  47. ^ a b "Davies, Ben". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  48. ^ McNulty, Phil (24 February 2013). "Bradford 0–5 Swansea". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016.
  49. ^ McNulty, Phil (25 April 2021). "Manchester City 1–0 Tottenham Hotspur". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  50. ^ McNulty, Phil (1 June 2019). "Tottenham Hotspur 0–2 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
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