Ben Pearson (footballer)

Ben Pearson (footballer)
Benjamin David Pearson (born 4 January 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL Championship club Stoke City.
Born in Oldham, he joined Manchester United at the age of nine in July 2004 and worked his way up through the academy. He joined Barnsley on a one-month loan in January 2015, which was extended to a season-long loan. He then rejoined Barnsley on a six-month loan in July 2015, before signing for Preston North End in January 2016. Pearson spent five years at Deepdale before joining AFC Bournemouth in January 2021. He helped the Cherries gain promotion to the Premier League in the 2021–22 season. In January 2023, he joined Stoke City on a six-month loan before making it permanent in the summer of 2023.
He has also represented England at youth international level, playing for the under-16s, under-17s, under-18s, under-19s and under-20s.
Club career
Manchester United
Pearson was born in Oldham, and attended Christ Church Primary School and Crompton House CE School. After playing youth football with Boundary Park Juniors he joined Manchester United's academy as a nine-year-old in July 2004. Pearson was a regular for the Manchester United under-18s, and his performances earned him the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award for 2012–13.
Pearson joined League One side Barnsley on a one-month loan on 8 January 2015. Two days later, he made his professional debut, playing the full 90 minutes of a 2–0 home win over Yeovil Town. He scored his first senior goal in Barnsley's game at home to Port Vale on 31 January, scoring their second just after half-time in a 2–1 win. His loan spell was extended by one month in February 2015 and on 9 March 2015 it was confirmed that he would remain at Barnsley until the end of the 2014–15 season. Pearson rejoined Barnsley on a six-month loan deal on 18 July 2015.
Preston North End
On 11 January 2016, he signed for Championship side Preston North End for an undisclosed fee. He scored his first goal for the club on 1 October 2016, opening the scoring in a 2–0 victory over Aston Villa.
In July 2019 Pearson spoke about his on-field disciplinary problems, including 14 booking and 3 sendings off in the 2018–19 season, which has seen his mother stop watching him play.
AFC Bournemouth
On 29 January 2021, Pearson joined AFC Bournemouth for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-and-a-half year contract.
Stoke City
On 31 January 2023, Pearson joined Stoke City on loan for the remainder of the 2022–23 season. Pearson made 14 appearances for Stoke, as the team finished in 16th position. Pearson completed a permanent move to Stoke on 8 July 2023, signing a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
International career
Pearson made his international debut for the England Under-16s in a 2–1 win at home to Scotland on 30 March 2011. He made three more appearances for the Under-16s, against Uruguay, the United Arab Emirates and Guinea. Before the end of the year, he made four appearances for the Under-17s, including wins over Italy and the Netherlands.
Pearson's form for Manchester United in 2012–13 led to a call-up to the England Under-18s in March 2013, and despite not captaining his club side, he was asked to lead the national team for their 1–0 defeat away to Belgium on 30 March. He only made the one appearance for the Under-18s before making the step up to Under-19 level in May 2013, making his debut against Georgia on 24 May. He played in all three of England's qualifying round matches ahead of the 2014 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, scoring twice in a 7–0 win over Andorra as England finished top of their group ahead of Switzerland and Slovenia.
He made one appearance for the England Under-20s in October 2014, a 3–2 win over the Netherlands, in which he was substituted by Harrison Reed in the first minute of injury time.
Career statistics
Honours
AFC Bournemouth
Championship runner-up: 2021–22
Individual
Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year: 2012–13
References
External links
Profile at RedStat.co.uk
Profile at TheFA.com
1995 births
Living people
Footballers from Oldham
English men's footballers
Men's association football midfielders
Manchester United F.C. players
Barnsley F.C. players
Preston North End F.C. players
AFC Bournemouth players
Stoke City F.C. players
English Football League players
Premier League players
England men's youth international footballers