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Matt Baker (footballer, born 2003)

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For other people named Matthew Baker, see Matthew Baker (disambiguation).

Matt Baker
Personal information
Full name Matthew Baker[1]
Date of birth (2003-02-06) 6 February 2003 (age 21)
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 11 (3)
International career‡
Wales U17
Wales U19
2023– Wales U21 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:21, 16 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:10, 15 October 2024 (UTC)

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.

Club career

[edit]

Baker 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

[edit]

Baker 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 16 November 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
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 11 3 1 0 1 0 3[a] 0 16 3
Career total 61 3 6 0 1 0 5 0 73 3
  1. ^ a b Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "EFL Squad List: Season 2021/22" (PDF). EFL. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  2. ^ Matt Baker at Soccerway
  3. ^ Smith, Peter (28 June 2021). "Stoke City complete double swoop for Roney and Baker". StokeonTrentLive.
  4. ^ "Stoke City sign Gillingham defender and Northern Ireland youth international". Stoke Sentinel. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Newport sign Stoke defender Baker on loan". BBC Sport. 27 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Stoke City defender Matt Baker moves on loan to Newport County". South Wales Argus. 27 January 2023.
  7. ^ "CONFIRMED: County make Wales prospect with a mean streak their second signing". uk.sports.yahoo.com.
  8. ^ "Matt Baker arrives on loan!". Newport County. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  9. ^ "Newport County 2–2 Stevenage as a second-half substitute". BBC Sport. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  10. ^ a b c "Games played by Matt Baker in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Newport seal Thomas and Baker loan deals". BBC Sport. September 2023.
  12. ^ a b c "Games played by Matt Baker in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Bradford City 4-1 Newport County". BBC Sport. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Potters release contracts update". www.stokecityfc.com. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Newport County sign Matt Baker on permanent deal". www.newport-county.co.uk. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Matt Baker: Wales U21 skipper signs permanent Newport County deal". BBC Sport. 1 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Newport County vs Doncaster Rovers: League Two". BBC Sport.
  18. ^ "Bright prospect Baker needed a County reality check – Wales U21s boss". South Wales Argus. 23 March 2023.
  19. ^ "County linked with loan move for Stoke's promising Wales U21s defender". South Wales Argus. 25 January 2023.
  20. ^ "Wales Football – dragonsoccer – Welsh International Football". dragonsoccer.co.uk.
  21. ^ "Connor Roberts and Joe Rodon out of Wales friendly in Gibraltar". BBC Sport. 3 June 2024.
  22. ^ "Games played by Matt Baker in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
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