Benjamin Fredrick

Benjamin Fredrick
Personal information
Full name Benjamin Chiemela Fredrick[1]
Date of birth (2005-05-28) 28 May 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth Nigeria
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Central defender
Team information
Current team
 Brentford
Youth career
Simoiben Football Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 ABS
2022–2023 Nasarawa United 6 (0)
2023–2024 → Brentford (loan) 0 (0)
2024– Brentford 0 (0)
International career‡
2022– Nigeria U-20 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:15, 29 May 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:51, 18 June 2024 (UTC)

Benjamin Chiemela Fredrick (born 28 May 2005) is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a defender for Brentford and the Nigeria national under-20 team.[3]

Career

A centre-back, Fredrick is a graduate of the Simoiben Football Academy set up by pro-footballer Moses Simon.[4] Prior to the start of the 2021–22 season he joined ABS FC.[5] He made his debut for them in February 2022 and was given the man of the match award.[6] In October 2022 he was reported to have joined Nigeria Professional Football League side Nasarawa United.[7][8][9] He made his debut for Nasarawa in the NPFL during the 2022–23 season, playing both centre-back and right-back.[10][11]

In August 2023, he signed for Premier League side Brentford on loan with the option to make the deal permanent.[12] He was included in the Brentford first-team match day squad for the first time in January 2024, named as a substitute for an FA Cup tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers.[13] In April 2024, it was reported that Brentford were turning the loan deal into a permanent transfer with Fredrick agreeing to a four-year contract.[14]

International career

Fredrik featured for the Nigeria U-20 team that finished third at the 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations held in Egypt in January 2023, playing every minute as his side reached the semi-final.[15][16] In May 2023 he was named in the Nigeria squad for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[17]

References

  1. ^ "Latest updated Premier League squad lists for 2023/24". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  2. ^ Shukla, Rajarshi (23 March 2023). "Who is Benjamin Fredrick – Future Nigerian star defender?". khelnow.com. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  3. ^ "B.Fredrick". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  4. ^ "I like Fredrick but picked Bameyi". owngoalnigeria. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  5. ^ "WAFU Zone B: Fredrick's Flying Eagles Inclusion Excites ABS FC Director Alloy Chukwuemeka". Best Choice Sports. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  6. ^ Afolabi Adeyanju, Oluwayemisi (12 February 2022). "The Unknown Benjamin Fredrick Has been Voted the Man of the Match in ABS' First League Match". ckdmedia.ng. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  7. ^ "ABS FC Defender Benjamin Fredrick alongside five others join Nasarawa United". Myleaguewire.com. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  8. ^ Omachonu, Kelvin. "Benjamin Frederick: RB Leipzig, Midtjylland, and Anderlecht interested in U-20 AFCON star". soccernet.ng.
  9. ^ "Nasarawa United Unveils New Signings For Next Season". thetidenewsonline.com. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  10. ^ Amos, Uche (10 February 2023). "Three Nasarawa United Players Make Nigeria U-20 AFCON List". Best Choice Sports. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  11. ^ Deepak Tripathi, Saumy. "Who is Benjamin Fredrick? The Nigerian teenager is a promising centre-back". foottheball.com.
  12. ^ ""It's not easy back in Nigeria" – Brentford's Benjamin Fredrick reflects on life as a footballer in Nigeria". soccernet.ng. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Nigeria U20 Star Defender Included in Brentford First Team To Fave Wolves in FA Cup". Own Goal Nigeria. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Brentford complete permanent signing of Nigeria U20 defender Benjamin Fredrick". Own Goal Nigeria. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  15. ^ Awosu, Adeboye (17 March 2023). "European Clubs Chase Flying Eagles Defender, Frederick". Completesports.com. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  16. ^ Agberebi, James (17 March 2023). "European clubs show interest in Flying Eagles defender Benjamin Frederick". guardian.ng. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  17. ^ "FLYING EAGLES SQUAD: Victor Eletu wears jersey No 10, Daga youngest player". Scorenigeria.com. 13 May 2023. Archived from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.