Ben Johnson (footballer, born 2000)

Benjamin Anthony Johnson (born 24 January 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a right back or left back for Premier League club West Ham United.

Ben Johnson
Johnson playing for West Ham United in 2019
Personal information
Full name Benjamin Anthony Johnson[1]
Date of birth (2000-01-24) 24 January 2000[2]
Place of birth Waltham Forest, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[3]
Position(s) Full back[4]
Club information
Current team
 West Ham United
Number 31
Youth career
2007–2018 West Ham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018– West Ham United 36 (2)
National team‡
2022– England U21 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:13, 24 April 2022 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21:51, 30 March 2022 (UTC)

Early and personal life

Johnson was born in Waltham Forest, Greater London.[5] He is second cousins with former Manchester United and England full-back Paul Parker and former England and Tottenham Hotspur defender Ledley King.[6]

Club career

Johnson joined West Ham United at the age of seven. Originally an attacking winger, Johnson was converted to a full-back as his youth career progressed. He was named on the bench for West Ham's 2–1 loss at Manchester City on 3 December 2017,[7] and he signed his first professional contract when he turned 18 in January 2018.[8]

On 27 February 2019, Johnson made his Premier League debut for West Ham, starting at left-back away at champions Manchester City in a 1–0 defeat at the City of Manchester Stadium.[9] Two serious hamstring injuries and the form of fellow defender, Jeremy Ngakia prevented Johnson from making another appearance until 17 July 2020 when he played in West Ham's 3–1 win against Watford.[10][11]

On 27 December 2020, Johnson scored his first goal for the Hammers and first professional goal, against Brighton & Hove Albion to level in a game which finished 2–2.[12]

In August 2021, Johnson won West Ham's Young Player of the Season award, after making 20 appearances for the first team in the 2020–21 season.[13]

On 20 March 2022, during a 3–1 defeat away to Tottenham, Johnson made his 50th first team appearance for West Ham, a month after having a two-year contract extension triggered by the club.[14]

International career

Johnson received his first international call up on 18 March 2022, named in the England U21 squad for vital UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers against Andorra and Albania.[15] He made his debut during a 3–0 victory away to the latter on 29 March 2022.[16]

Career statistics
As of match played 28 April 2022
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
West Ham United 2018–19 Premier League 100000—10
2019–20 300000—30
2020–21 1413030—201
2021–22 18130307[lower-alpha 1]0311
Career total 362606070552
  1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Individual

References
  1. "Premier League publish retained lists". Premier League. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  2. "Ben Johnson". ESPN. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  3. "Ben Johnson: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  4. "Ben Johnson". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  5. "Ben Johnson: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  6. Dave Evans, West Ham Correspondent (28 February 2019). "West Ham youngster steps into the big time with nerveless display". Newham Recorder.
  7. "Manchester City 2–1 West Ham United". BBC Sport. 3 December 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  8. Inkersole, Sam (27 February 2019). "Who is Ben Johnson? The West Ham teen making senior debut against Man City". footballlondon. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  9. Inkersole, Sam (27 February 2019). "Confirmed West Ham team vs Man City: Johnson makes senior debut". football.london. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  10. Inkersole, Sam (17 July 2020). "All you need to know about West Ham's Ben Johnson on his second senior start". footballlondon.
  11. "West Ham United 3-1 Watford: Antonio, Soucek and Rice score". 17 July 2020 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  12. "Late Soucek goal earns West Ham a draw" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  13. "Ben Johnson and Jayden Fevrier win 2020/21 Academy awards". West Ham United F.C. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  14. "50 up for Academy graduate". Knees Up Mother Brown. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  15. "Ben Johnson & Ajibola Alese receive England call-ups". West Ham United F.C. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  16. "Report: Albania 0-3 England MU21s". EnglandFootball.com. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
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