Ben White (footballer)


Benjamin William White is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League team Brighton & Hove Albion.
He has previously had spells on loan at Newport County, Peterborough United and Leeds United.

Club career

White started his youth career at Premier League club Southampton before being released at the age of 16, he was signed by Brighton & Hove Albion where he initially joined their academy.

Brighton & Hove Albion

White made his professional football debut on 9 August 2016, playing the entire game of the first round of the EFL Cup in a 4–0 home victory over Colchester United. His second match for the Albion came in the next round of the cup again playing the whole match away against Oxford United where Brighton won 4–2. White didn't appear in the match day squad where Brighton hosted Reading in the third round, where The Seagulls lost 2–1.

Newport County (loan)

On 1 August 2017, White signed for League Two side Newport County on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season in what was described by manager Michael Flynn as a "big coup for the club." White made his debut for Newport on 8 August 2017 in a 2–0 victory over Southend United in the first round of the EFL Cup. He made his Football League debut on 12 August 2017 in a 1–1 draw versus Crewe Alexandra in League Two. White scored his first Football League goal on 21 November 2017 for Newport against Barnet in a 2–1 home defeat.
On 7 January 2018, White started for Newport in a shock 2–1 home win over Championship club Leeds United in the FA Cup third round, which meant Newport progressed to the FA Cup fourth round for the first time since the 1978-79 FA Cup. In the following round, Newport were drawn at home to Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. On 27 January 2018, White started the match as Newport put in a creditable 1–1 draw to force a replay at Tottenham's temporary home ground Wembley Stadium, with White praised for his performances against Harry Kane.
On 15 March 2018, White won the South Wales Argus Player of The Year Award for Newport for the 2017–18 season. At the awards ceremony, manager Mike Flynn described White as "the best loan signing the club has ever made."

Back to the Albion

After being linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur after initially rejecting a new contract offer at Brighton, White did sign a new long-term contract extension at Brighton in April 2018. With then-Brighton manager Chris Hughton advising that White would be the club's fourth-choice centre back going into the 2018-19 season behind Lewis Dunk, Shane Duffy and Leon Balogun.
White was a regular for Brighton U23's. On Monday 26 November 2018 White set up three goals in the Premier League 2 Division 1 to help The Seagulls U23's to come from 2–0 down to win 3–2 against the Swansea U23's. White made the bench for the Premier League for the first time on 8 December 2018, where Brighton lost 1–0 away to Burnley. White remained an unused substitute.

Peterborough United (loan)

On 3 January 2019, White signed for League One club, Peterborough United on loan until the end of the season. He made his debut for the Peterborough on 5 January 2019 in a 5–0 away loss to Middlesbrough in the third round of the FA Cup. White's first match at the London Road Stadium was also his first League One appearance where he came on in the 88th minute to replace Joe Ward in a 2–1 victory over Rochdale on 12 January.
White scored his first goal for Peterborough — and first in League One — scoring the second goal in a 2–0 home win over a struggling Southend United on 23 March 2019. White played in the final game of the season where Peterborough won 3–1 at home to Burton Albion. However, with Doncaster Rovers winning their match, The Posh just missed out on a play-off spot. White finished his loan spell making 16 appearances in all competitions, scoring once.

Leeds United (loan)

On 1 July 2019, White signed for Championship club Leeds United on loan until the end of the season. On the same day, White signed a new one-year contract extension at Brighton & Hove Albion.
He was given the number 5 shirt ahead of the 2019-20 season, and made his debut on the 4 August in Leeds' opening day 3–1 victory against Bristol City.
On 4 September 2019, after impressive performances during the month of August, White won the EFL Championship PFA Player of the Month award for August 2019. In November 2019, due to his displays for Leeds, it was reported that the £20 million-rated White was being scouted by Premier League side Liverpool, with Brighton manager Graham Potter advising that White wouldn't be recalled from Leeds and that his future would be at Brighton at the end of his loan spell.
On 23 December 2019, after continuing his form, White won the EFL Championship Best Young Player award, as voted by Sky Sports readers. White was watched by England Manager Gareth Southgate in January 2020, with Southgate also scouting White's team-mate Kalvin Phillips.
White played in all 46 league games as Leeds were promoted to the Premier League as league champions. He scored his only goal for Leeds in the last game of his loan spell in a 4-0 victory against Charlton Athletic.

Style of play

White is known as a ball playing centre-back with good technical ability and was also praised by former manager Mike Flynn for his tough tackling style, White can also play as a defensive midfielder or as a right-back. White describes his own style as a 'cool' 'calm' player. White is also known for his surging forward runs with the ball helping create quick counterattacks from deep. White's style of play has been compared to John Stones and Rio Ferdinand.

Career statistics

Honours

Leeds United
Individual