| Ben Close | |
| Fullname: | Ben Easton Close[1] |
| Birth Date: | 8 August 1996[2] |
| Birth Place: | Portsmouth, England[3] |
| Height: | 1.75m (05.74feet)[4] |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Doncaster Rovers |
| Clubnumber: | 33 |
| Youthclubs1: | Portsmouth |
| Years1: | 2014–2021 |
| Clubs1: | Portsmouth |
| Caps1: | 138 |
| Goals1: | 14 |
| Years2: | 2015 |
| Clubs2: | → Poole Town (loan) |
| Caps2: | 7 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Years3: | 2017 |
| Clubs3: | → Eastleigh (loan) |
| Caps3: | 9 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2021– |
| Clubs4: | Doncaster Rovers |
| Caps4: | 71 |
| Goals4: | 8 |
| Club-Update: | 21:53, 24 September 2023 (UTC) |
Ben Easton Close (born 8 August 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Doncaster Rovers.
Born in Portsmouth, Close signed a two-year scholarship deal after spending many years in Portsmouth's youth categories. 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]
Close signed for Doncaster Rovers on a three-year deal on 7 June 2021.[13]
| 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 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| 2022–23 | League Two | 31 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 2 | ||
| Total | 45 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 50 | 2 | |||
| Career total | 197 | 16 | 17 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 34 | 2 | 257 | 21 | |||
Portsmouth
2018–19;[14] runner-up: 2019–20[15]