Ben Close

Ben Close
Personal information
Full name Ben Easton Close[1]
Date of birth (1996-08-08) 8 August 1996 (age 28)[2]
Place of birth Portsmouth, England[3]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[4]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Doncaster Rovers
Number 33
Youth career
Portsmouth
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2021 Portsmouth 138 (14)
2015 → Poole Town (loan) 7 (1)
2017 → Eastleigh (loan) 9 (0)
2021– Doncaster Rovers 77 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:40, 21 December 2024 (UTC)

Ben Easton Close (born 8 August 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for EFL League Two club Doncaster Rovers.

Career

Portsmouth

Born in Portsmouth, Close signed a two-year scholarship deal after spending many years in Portsmouth's youth categories.[3] He was an unused substitute for a first team game on 3 May 2014 for a league game against Plymouth Argyle.[5]

On 9 May 2014, Close was offered a one-year professional contract with the club, alongside Bradley Tarbuck.[6] On 12 September 2014, he made his professional debut, coming on as a 43rd minute substitute for Nigel Atangana in a 3–1 away win against Yeovil Town, for the campaign's Football League Trophy.[7]

Close made his League Two debut on 16 September, again from the bench in a 3–0 home success against Dagenham & Redbridge.[8] After playing only 4 games for Pompey in 2016–17, on 31 January 2017, he joined National League side Eastleigh on loan until the end of the season.[9]

On 26 May 2017 Close signed a new one-year contract at Pompey, with the club holding an option for an additional year.[10] On 17 December, after becoming a starter under new manager Kenny Jackett, he extended his contract until 2020.[11]

On 2 March 2019, Close scored his first professional brace in a 5–1 home victory over Bradford City.[12]

Doncaster Rovers

Close signed for Doncaster Rovers on a three-year deal on 7 June 2021.[13]

Career statistics

As of 21 December 2024[14]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Portsmouth 2014–15 League Two 6 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 9 0
2015–16 League Two 7 0 3 0 2 0 2 0 14 0
2016–17 League Two 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 4 0
2017–18 League One 40 2 1 0 1 0 3 0 45 2
2018–19 League One 34 8 3 0 1 0 8 1 46 9
2019–20 League One 29 3 5 2 3 1 7 0 44 6
2020–21 League One 22 1 2 0 0 0 4 0 28 1
Total 138 14 16 2 7 1 29 1 190 18
Poole Town (loan) 2014–15 SFL - Premier Division 5 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 8 1
Eastleigh (loan) 2016–17 National League 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
Doncaster Rovers 2021–22 League One 14 0 0 0 2 0 1[a] 0 17 0
2022–23 League Two 36 2 1 0 0 0 1[a] 0 38 2
2023–24 League Two 20 3 2 0 0 0 5[a] 1 27 4
2024–25 League Two 7 0 0 0 0 0 3[a] 0 10 0
Total 77 5 3 0 2 0 9 1 92 6
Career total 229 19 19 2 9 1 41 3 299 25
  1. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Honours

Portsmouth

References

  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Portsmouth" (PDF). English Football League. p. 56. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Ben Close - profile". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Eight get blues apprenticeships". www.portsmouthfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 August 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Ben Close - Midfielder - First Team - Portsmouth". www.portsmouthfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  5. ^ Portsmouth 3–3 Plymouth; BBC Sport, 9 May 2014
  6. ^ Nine players released; Portsmouth FC, 9 May 2014
  7. ^ "Yeovil 1-3 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  8. ^ "Portsmouth 3–0 Dag & Red". BBC Sport. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  9. ^ "Close loaned to Eastleigh". Portsmouth FC. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  10. ^ "New Deal for Close". Portsmouth FC. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  11. ^ "Close Extends Pompey Contract". Portsmouth FC. 17 December 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  12. ^ "Portsmouth 5-1 Bradford City". 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  13. ^ "Close becomes first summer signing". 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  14. ^ Ben Close at Soccerway
  15. ^ Williams, Adam (31 March 2019). "Portsmouth 2–2 Sunderland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  16. ^ Williams, Adam (13 March 2021). "Portsmouth 0–0 Salford City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 March 2021.