Taylor Gardner-Hickman

Taylor Gardner-Hickman
Personal information
Full name Taylor Gardner-Hickman[1]
Date of birth (2001-12-30) 30 December 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Telford, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Birmingham City
(on loan from Bristol City)
Number 19
Youth career
2009–2021 West Bromwich Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2024 West Bromwich Albion 52 (2)
2023–2024 → Bristol City (loan) 23 (1)
2024– Bristol City 13 (0)
2024– → Birmingham City (loan) 16 (0)
International career
2022 England U20 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:11, 1 January 2025 (UTC)

Taylor Gardner-Hickman (born 30 December 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Birmingham City, on loan from EFL Championship club Bristol City. He began his career with West Bromwich Albion and has represented England at under-20 level.

Early and personal life

Gardner-Hickman was born in Telford.[3] He is of Irish descent through his great-grandparents.[4]

Club career

West Bromwich Albion

Having joined West Bromwich Albion's academy aged 7, Gardner-Hickman progressed through the club's youth academy.[5] Gardner-Hickman made three appearances for the club's under-21 side in the 2020–21 EFL Trophy, scoring one goal.[6] He was named in a West Bromwich Albion matchday squad for the first time on 9 May 2021 for a 3–1 defeat to Arsenal.[7] He made his debut for the club on 25 August 2021, starting in a 6–0 EFL Cup second round defeat to Arsenal.[8] He made his league debut for the club on 3 November 2021, starting at right wing-back as a replacement for the suspended Darnell Furlong in a 1–0 win over Hull City.[9] On 30 December 2021, Gardner-Hickman signed a new four-and-a-half-year deal, keeping him at the club until 2026.[10] Gardner-Hickman scored his first senior goal on 15 October 2022 in a 2-0 win at Reading.[11]

Bristol City

On 22 August 2023, Hickman joined Bristol City on a season long loan with an option to buy.[12]

In December 2023, Gardner-Hickman was voted Bristol City's November Player of the Month, receiving 49% of the votes.[13]

On 15 January 2024, the club announced that they had exercised their option to buy and Gardner-Hickman had joined the club on a three-and-a-half-year contract.[14]

Birmingham City

Gardner-Hickman joined recently relegated League One club Birmingham City on 23 August 2024 on loan for the rest of the season. The deal included an option to buy.[15]

International career

On 25 March 2022, Gardner-Hickman made his England U20 debut in a 2–0 defeat to Poland in Bielsko-Biała.[16] and a 3–1 win over Germany in Colchester.

Style of play

Gardner-Hickman is primarily a right-sided player and is capable of playing at full-back, as a wide midfielder or in central midfield.[5] In March 2022, manager Steve Bruce stated that he "believes his best position is right-back".[17]

Career statistics

As of match played 1 January 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
West Bromwich Albion U21 2020–21[6] — — — 3[a] 1 3 1
West Bromwich Albion 2021–22[18] Championship 19 0 1 0 1 0 — 21 0
2022–23[19] Championship 31 2 3 0 2 0 — 36 2
2023–24[20] Championship 2 0 — 1 0 — 3 0
Total 52 2 4 0 4 0 — 60 2
Bristol City (loan) 2023–24[20] Championship 23 1 1 0 — — 24 1
Bristol City 2023–24[20] Championship 13 0 2 0 — — 15 0
2024–25[21] Championship 0 0 0 0 1 0 — 1 0
Total 36 1 3 0 1 0 — 40 1
Birmingham City (loan) 2024–25[21] League One 17 0 1 0 — 4[a] 0 22 0
Career total 105 3 8 0 5 0 7 1 125 4
  1. ^ a b Appearances in EFL Trophy

References

  1. ^ "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Taylor Gardner-Hickman". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  3. ^ Masi, Joseph (31 March 2022). "Taylor Gardner-Hickman happy to fit in for West Brom". Express & Star. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  4. ^ McDonnell, Daniel (9 March 2022). "'It's unfortunate' – Ireland U21 boss Jim Crawford faces up to losing Charlie McCann to north". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Taylor Gardner-Hickman". West Bromwich Albion F.C. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Games played by Taylor Gardner-Hickman in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  7. ^ Masi, Joseph (9 May 2021). "Arsenal 3 West Brom 1 - Report". Express & Star. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  8. ^ Chapman, Joseph (25 August 2021). "West Brom v Arsenal team news as Ismael hands out five debuts". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  9. ^ Masi, Joseph (5 November 2021). "Valerien Ismael determined to keep West Brom's top talent". Express & Star. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Gardner-Hickman signs long-term contract". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 30 December 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Managerless West Brom earn surprise win at Reading". BBC Sport.
  12. ^ "City sign Gardner-Hickman". Bristol City FC. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  13. ^ Morgan, Ryan (1 December 2023). "Gardner-Hickman voted November Player of the Month". Bristol City FC. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Gardner-Hickman signs permanent deal". www.bcfc.co.uk. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Birmingham sign Bristol City's Gardner-Hickman". BBC Sport. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  16. ^ "Report: Poland 2-0 England MU20s". englandfootball.com. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  17. ^ Masi, Joseph (2 March 2022). "Taylor Gardner-Hickman seen as a right-sided player at West Brom". Express & Star. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  18. ^ "Games played by Taylor Gardner-Hickman in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  19. ^ "Games played by Taylor Gardner-Hickman in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  20. ^ a b c "Games played by Taylor Gardner-Hickman in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Games played by Taylor Gardner-Hickman in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2025.