# Morgan Whittaker

Morgan Reece Whittaker (born 7 January 2001) is an English footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or right winger for EFL Championship club Middlesbrough.
Whittaker began his playing career at Derby County's academy before making his senior debut for the club in August 2019.

## Club career
### Derby County

On 12 August 2019, Whittaker made his professional debut as an 87th-minute substitute in the EFL Cup for Derby County against Scunthorpe United and made his first start in a 3–0 defeat away to Nottingham Forest in the same competition. He signed a new contract with Derby running until June 2023 on 22 January 2020. Whittaker finished the season with three starts and eighteen substitute appearances and scored his first career goal with the second Derby goal in a 3–1 win away to Birmingham City on the final day.
Whittaker started the 2020–21 season by scoring the winning-penalty in a 3–2 shootout victory over Barrow in the EFL Cup and continued making frequent substitute appearances throughout the course of the season.

### Swansea City

On 1 February 2021, Whittaker joined fellow Championship side Swansea City on a four-and-a-half-year deal. Nine days later, Whittaker scored on his debut for the Swans in a 3–1 home defeat by Premier League side Manchester City in the FA Cup. His first league goal came on 1 May 2021 in the penultimate game of the season to equalise in an eventual 2–1 victory over Derby County that kept his former side firmly in the relegation battle.
On 24 August 2021, Whittaker scored a hat-trick in a 4–1 win over Plymouth Argyle in the second round of the EFL Cup. It was the first hat-trick scored by a Swansea player since Scott Sinclair in the 2011 Championship play-off final.

#### Lincoln City (loan)

On 1 January 2022, Whittaker joined Lincoln City on loan for the remainder of the season. He made his debut against Oxford United on 8 January 2022, starting and scoring in the game.

#### Plymouth Argyle (loan)

On 20 July 2022, Whittaker joined Plymouth Argyle on a season-long loan deal. Having scored three vital goals and claiming an assist across September 2022, Whittaker was awarded the EFL League One Player of the Month Award with Argyle sitting top of the league.
On 4 January 2023 Swansea City exercised their recall clause in his season-long loan. Whittaker had scored nine goals and created seven assists in 25 third-tier appearances since moving to Home Park in July 2022.

### Return to Plymouth Argyle

On 17 July 2023, Whittaker returned to Plymouth Argyle in a deal reported to be worth around £1 million plus add-ons – a record fee for the club.
Whittaker would go on to score on his debut in a 3–1 win over Huddersfield Town.
On 23 September 2023, Whittaker scored a hat-trick for Argyle in a 6–2 win against Norwich City.
Whittaker was awarded the EFL Championship Player of the Month award for January 2024, having scored in four out of five of the club's league fixtures. His performances throughout the season earned him a place in the EFL Championship Team of the Season after scoring 20 goals in 50 appearances in all competitions. He was later named as the club's Player of the Season.
On 21 January 2025, Whittaker missed Plymouth's 5–0 defeat to Burnley with manager Miron Muslic saying that Whittaker had not shown up in time for the game despite being selected amidst rumours of a potential transfer departure. Whittaker has denied these claims.

### Middlesbrough

On 24 January 2025, Whittaker joined Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee, which has been reported to be £5 million plus £2.5 million worth of add-ons.

## International career

Having represented England at U16 to U20 level, Whittaker made his U19 debut on 9 September 2019 during a 1–0 defeat to Germany in Haiger.
On 13 October 2020, Whittaker made his debut for the England U20s during a 2–0 victory over Wales at St. George's Park.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 11 January 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Derby County | 2019–20 | Championship | 16 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 1 |
| Derby County | 2020–21 | Championship | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 |
| Derby County | Total | Total | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 1 |
| Swansea City | 2020–21 | Championship | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 |
| Swansea City | 2021–22 | Championship | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 9 | 3 |
| Swansea City | 2022–23 | Championship | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 1 |
| Swansea City | Total | Total | 33 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 6 |
| Lincoln City (loan) | 2021–22 | League One | 20 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | 5 |
| Plymouth Argyle (loan) | 2022–23 | League One | 25 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 31 | 9 |
| Plymouth Argyle | 2023–24 | Championship | 46 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 20 |
| Plymouth Argyle | 2024–25 | Championship | 18 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 4 |
| Plymouth Argyle | Total | Total | 64 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 24 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 167 | 39 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 190 | 45 |

## Honours

Plymouth Argyle
* EFL League One: 2022–23
* EFL Trophy runner up: 2022–23
Individual
* EFL League One Player of the Month: September 2022
* EFL Championship Player of the Month: January 2024
* EFL Championship Team of the Season: 2023–24
* Plymouth Argyle Player of the Season: 2023–24