PROFILPELAJAR.COM

Ben Close
Personal information
Full name	Ben Easton Close
Date of birth	8 August 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth	Portsmouth, England
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Doncaster Rovers
Number	33
Youth career
	Portsmouth
Senior career*
Years	Team
2014–2021	Portsmouth
2015	→ Poole Town (loan)
2017	→ Eastleigh (loan)
2021–	Doncaster Rovers
	*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
Club	Season	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

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Honours

Portsmouth

EFL Trophy: 2018–19;^[15] runner-up: 2019–20^[16]

References

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