# Taylor Gardner-Hickman

Taylor Gardner-Hickman (born 30 December 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Birmingham City, on loan from EFL Championship club Bristol City. He began his career with West Bromwich Albion and has represented England at under-20 level.

## Early and personal life

Gardner-Hickman was born in Telford. He is of Irish descent through his great-grandparents.

## Club career
### West Bromwich Albion

Having joined West Bromwich Albion's academy aged 7, Gardner-Hickman progressed through the club's youth academy. Gardner-Hickman made three appearances for the club's under-21 side in the 2020–21 EFL Trophy, scoring one goal. He was named in a West Bromwich Albion matchday squad for the first time on 9 May 2021 for a 3–1 defeat to Arsenal. He made his debut for the club on 25 August 2021, starting in a 6–0 EFL Cup second round defeat to Arsenal. He made his league debut for the club on 3 November 2021, starting at right wing-back as a replacement for the suspended Darnell Furlong in a 1–0 win over Hull City. On 30 December 2021, Gardner-Hickman signed a new four-and-a-half-year deal, keeping him at the club until 2026. Gardner-Hickman scored his first senior goal on 15 October 2022 in a 2-0 win at Reading.

### Bristol City

On 22 August 2023, Hickman joined Bristol City on a season long loan with an option to buy.
In December 2023, Gardner-Hickman was voted Bristol City's November Player of the Month, receiving 49% of the votes.
On 15 January 2024, the club announced that they had exercised their option to buy and Gardner-Hickman had joined the club on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

### Birmingham City

Gardner-Hickman joined recently relegated League One club Birmingham City on 23 August 2024 on loan for the rest of the season. The deal included an option to buy the player at the end of the season, which Birmingham confirmed on 3 February 2025 that they would be taking up.

## International career

On 25 March 2022, Gardner-Hickman made his England U20 debut in a 2–0 defeat to Poland in Bielsko-Biała. and a 3–1 win over Germany in Colchester.

## Style of play

Gardner-Hickman is primarily a right-sided player and is capable of playing at full-back, as a wide midfielder or in central midfield. In March 2022, manager Steve Bruce stated that he "believes his best position is right-back".

## Career statistics

    As of match played 8 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| West Bromwich Albion U21 | 2020–21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 2021–22 | Championship | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 2022–23 | Championship | 31 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 2 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 2023–24 | Championship | 2 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| West Bromwich Albion | Total | Total | 52 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 60 | 2 |
| Bristol City (loan) | 2023–24 | Championship | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 24 | 1 |
| Bristol City | 2023–24 | Championship | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 0 |
| Bristol City | 2024–25 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Bristol City | Total | Total | 36 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 1 |
| Birmingham City (loan) | 2024–25 | League One | 26 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | 34 | 2 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 114 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 137 | 6 |
* 1 2 Appearances in EFL Trophy