Matt Baker (footballer, born 2003)

Matthew Baker (born 6 February 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL Championship club Stoke City[2] and the Wales under-21 national team.

For other people named Matthew Baker, see Matthew Baker (disambiguation).

Matt Baker
Personal information
Full name Matthew Baker[1]
Date of birth (2003-02-06) 6 February 2003
Place of birth Kent, England
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Stoke City
Youth career
2011–2021 Gillingham
2021–2022 Stoke City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Stoke City 0 (0)
2023 → Newport County (loan) 18 (0)
2023–2024 → Newport County (loan) 32 (0)
International career‡
Wales U17
Wales U19
2023– Wales U21 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:54, 27 April 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:10, 22 March 2024 (UTC)

Club career

Baker progressed through the Gillingham youth system and signed for Stoke City in June 2021.[3][4] He moved on loan to Newport County in January 2023 for the remainder of the 2022–23 season.[5][6][7][8] He made his Football League debut for Newport on 14 February 2023 in the League Two 2–2 draw against Stevenage.[9] Baker made 18 appearances for Newport helping them finish in 15th position.[10] In September 2023 Baker re-joined Newport County on loan for the 2023–24 season.[11] Baker made 39 appearances for the Exiles as they finished in 18th position.[12][13] In May 2024, Stoke City offered Baker a contract extension.[14]

International career

Baker is from Kent and qualifies for Wales through his mother who was born in Narberth, Pembrokeshire.[15] He is a Wales youth international and captained them at under-19 level.[16] On 26 March 2023 Baker made his Wales under-21 debut in the starting line-up for the 3–0 friendly match win against Scotland under-21 in Spain.[17] In June 2024 Baker was called up to the Wales senior squad for the first time.[18]

Career statistics
As of match played 27 April 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City 2022–23[10] Championship 000000—00
2023–24[12] Championship 000000—00
Total 0000000000
Newport County (loan) 2022–23[10] League Two 180000000180
Newport County (loan) 2023–24[12] League Two 32050002[lower-alpha 1]0390
Career total 500500020570
  1. Appearances in the EFL Trophy.

References
  1. "EFL Squad List: Season 2021/22" (PDF). EFL. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  2. Matt Baker at Soccerway
  3. Smith, Peter (28 June 2021). "Stoke City complete double swoop for Roney and Baker". StokeonTrentLive.
  4. "Stoke City sign Gillingham defender and Northern Ireland youth international". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  5. "Newport sign Stoke defender Baker on loan" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  6. "Stoke City defender Matt Baker moves on loan to Newport County". South Wales Argus.
  7. "CONFIRMED: County make Wales prospect with a mean streak their second signing". uk.sports.yahoo.com.
  8. "Matt Baker arrives on loan!". Newport County. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  9. "Newport County 2–2 Stevenage as a second-half substitute". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  10. "Games played by Matt Baker in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  11. "Newport seal Thomas and Baker loan deals" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  12. "Games played by Matt Baker in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  13. "Bradford City 4-1 Newport County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  14. "Potters release contracts update". www.stokecityfc.com. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  15. "Bright prospect Baker needed a County reality check – Wales U21s boss". South Wales Argus.
  16. "County linked with loan move for Stoke's promising Wales U21s defender". South Wales Argus.
  17. "Wales Football – dragonsoccer – Welsh International Football". dragonsoccer.co.uk.
  18. "Connor Roberts and Joe Rodon out of Wales friendly in Gibraltar". BBC Sport. 3 June 2024.
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