Jordan Stevens Explained

Jordan Stevens
Fullname:Jordan Harry Stevens[1]
Birth Date:25 March 2000[2]
Birth Place:Gloucester, England
Height:1.78m (05.84feet)[3]
Position:Winger, central midfielder
Youthyears1:–2017
Youthclubs1:Forest Green Rovers
Years1:2017–2018
Clubs1:Forest Green Rovers
Caps1:9
Goals1:0
Years2:2018–2021
Clubs2:Leeds United
Caps2:5
Goals2:0
Years3:2020–2021
Clubs3:Swindon Town (loan)
Caps3:13
Goals3:1
Years4:2021
Clubs4:Bradford City (loan)
Caps4:16
Goals4:0
Years5:2021–2023
Clubs5:Barrow
Caps5:32
Goals5:3
Years6:2023–2024
Clubs6:Yeovil Town
Caps6:23
Goals6:1
Club-Update:08:28, 30 June 2024 (UTC)

Jordan Harry Stevens (born 25 March 2000) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder. He can play as a winger or as a central midfielder.

Stevens started his career at Forest Green Rovers in League Two in 2017 after coming through their academy, before signing for Leeds United in summer 2018. He made six first-team appearances whilst at Leeds, and also had loan spells at Swindon Town and Bradford City. He joined Barrow in August 2021 and then went on to sign a 15-month deal with Yeovil Town in March 2023.[4]

Career

Forest Green Rovers

Progressing through the ranks at Forest Green Rovers, Stevens signed his first professional contract on 11 September 2017.[5] The following day, he made his debut as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Lincoln City.[6] He made 15 appearances for Forest Green Rovers in all competitions scoring one goal against Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy on 3 October 2017.[7]

Leeds United

On 1 February 2018, Stevens joined Leeds United on an initial two-and-a-half-year deal with an optional extra year for an undisclosed fee.[8] As part of the deal to bring Stevens to Leeds, on 31 May 2018, Forest Green Rovers announced a pre-season friendly against Leeds.[9] He made his first start for Leeds' first team when he played in their pre-season friendly 1–1 draw against York City on 20 July 2018, under new Leeds Head Coach Marcelo Bielsa.[10] [11] On 26 July 2018, Stevens was given the number 48 shirt for the upcoming 2018–19 season for Leeds.[12] He was named in a Leeds first team squad in a competitive game for first time on 6 January 2019 when he was named on the bench, during a 2–1 defeat to Queens Park Rangers in the third round of the FA Cup.[13] He was named on the bench in the following game for the first time in the EFL Championship as an unused substitute in a 2–0 win against Derby County side on 11 January 2019[14] and played his first minutes of Championship football the following week when he came on in the 76th minute for Mateusz Klich in Leeds' 2–1 defeat to Stoke City.[15] [16] Stevens featured as an unused substitute on the bench for the 1st team squad in the Championship on several occasions, but still featured regularly for Carlos Corberán's Leeds United under 23's side over the course the 2018/19 season,[17] that won the PDL Northern League 2018/19 Season by winning the league, they then became the national Professional Development League Champions by beating Birmingham City in the final.[18]

On 13 July 2019, Stevens was one of 16 players named in Leeds first-team squad for their 2019–20 pre-season tour of Australia for matches against Manchester United and West Sydney Wanderers.[19] He made his second Championship appearance on 21 December 2019, in Leeds' 2–1 defeat at Fulham when he came on as a 72nd-minute substitute for Luke Ayling.[20] After the English professional football season was paused in March 2020 due to Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on association football, the season was resumed during June, where Stevens earned promotion with Leeds to the Premier League and also become the EFL Championship Champions for the 2019-20 season in July after the successful resumption of the season.[21]

Stevens signed for League One club Swindon Town on a season-long loan on 21 September 2020.[22] Stevens scored on his debut in a 4–2 victory against Burton Albion on 26 September 2020 in League One.[23] He was recalled in January 2021, having scored once in 16 appearances.[24] He joined Bradford City of League Two on loan until the end of the season on 8 January 2021.[25] He made 16 appearances on loan at the club without scoring.

Barrow

On 31 August 2021, Stevens joined League Two club Barrow on a free transfer.[26] He signed a two-year contract with the club.[27]

On 3 March 2023, he departed the club after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.[28]

Yeovil Town

After his departure from Barrow, Stevens signed for National League club Yeovil Town.[29] At the end of the 2023–24 season, Stevens was released by Yeovil following the club's promotion from the National League South.[30]

Style of play

He is known for his pace and his footwork. Stevens started his career as a central midfielder at Forest Green, before playing a short spell at right-back for Leeds' Under 23's before being converted into a winger under Marcelo Bielsa, with Bielsa proclaiming "He has all the skills needed to play in the attack, he has good quality and speed too.".[31]

Gambling

On 2 August 2019, Stevens was charged with a breach in betting regulations relating to gambling on football matches.[32] He was accused by the Football Association of allegedly placing 59 bets on matches during the 2018/19 season.[33] Leeds United put out a statement stating that Stevens would 'accept the charge' and that 'the player fully understands he has made an error'.[34] On 10 September 2019, Stevens was given a six-week ban from 'all' football by the FA, including playing, training and communication with the club and his teammates, with Leeds responding by saying 'We are hugely disappointed in the FA's choice of sanction'.[35]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Forest Green Rovers2017–18League Two90300031151
Leeds United2018–19Championship10000010
2019–20Championship40100050
2020–21Premier League00000000
Leeds United total5010000060
Swindon Town (loan)2020–21League One131100020161
Bradford City (loan)2020–21League Two160000000160
Barrow2021–22League Two191420021254
2022–23League Two132002040192
Barrow total323420061446
Yeovil Town2022–23[36] National League4040
2023–24National League South1913100222
Yeovil Town total2313100262
Career total9851232011212310

Honours

Leeds United

2019–20[37]

Yeovil Town

2023–24[38]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 20 October 2020 . 2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed . 24 October 2020 . Premier League.
  2. Web site: Jordan Stevens . 11 December 2017 . Forest Green Rovers F.C..
  3. Web site: Jordan Stevens . 20 July 2020 . worldfootball.net.
  4. Web site: Signing — Jordan Stevens Signs in Somerset. www.ytfc.net. 3 March 2023. 8 August 2023.
  5. Web site: Forest Green: Teenage midfielder Jordan Stevens pens first professional contract . 14 September 2017 . Stroud News and Journal . en.
  6. News: 12 September 2017 . Forest Green Rovers 0–1 Lincoln City . en-GB . BBC Sport . 14 September 2017.
  7. News: 31 January 2018 . Jordan Stevens scores winning goal for Forest Green Rovers . en-GB . Express . 26 July 2018.
  8. News: 12 September 2017 . Jordan Stevens: Leeds United sign Forest Green Rovers midfielder . BBC Sport . 1 February 2018.
  9. News: 31 May 2018 . Leeds United to play Forest Green Rovers in pre-season friendly . en-GB . Yorkshire Evening Post . 4 June 2018.
  10. Web site: 20 July 2018 . Ronaldo Vieira: Everyone is feeling fit . Leeds United F.C..
  11. Web site: 19 July 2018 . Report: York City 1–1 Leeds United . Leeds United F.C..
  12. Web site: 26 July 2018 . 2018/19 squad numbers announced . 26 July 2018 . Leeds United F.C..
  13. News: 6 January 2019 . QPR 2–1 Leeds United . BBC Sport . 6 January 2019.
  14. Web site: 11 January 2019 . Leeds United 2 Derby County 0 . 11 January 2019 . Leeds United F.C..
  15. News: 19 January 2019 . Stoke City 2–1 Leeds United: Potters down Championship leaders to give Nathan Jones first win . 21 January 2019 . BBC Sport.
  16. Web site: Mewis . Joe . 19 January 2019 . Jansson, Stevens and other talking points from Stoke 2–1 Leeds . 21 January 2019 . LeedsLive.
  17. News: 12 March 2019 . 'True leader' – Leeds under-23 captain Hugo Diaz impresses the fans once again . The Boot Room . 1 June 2019.
  18. Web site: 7 May 2019 . Carlos Corberan on what the future can hold for Leeds United's PDL champions . 15 May 2019 . Yorkshire Evening Post.
  19. Web site: 13 July 2019 . Leeds United announce squad list for Australian tour . 13 July 2019 . Leeds United F.C..
  20. News: 21 December 2019 . Fulham 2-1 Leeds United . 21 December 2019 . BBC Sport.
  21. News: 17 July 2020 . Championship: Leeds United promoted to Premier League after 16-year absence . BBC Sport . 9 August 2020.
  22. Web site: 21 September 2020 . Stevens signs from Leeds on loan . Swindon Town F.C. . 21 September 2020.
  23. Web site: 26 September 2020 . Match report: Swindon Town 4–2 Burton Albion . Swindon Town F.C. . 7 October 2020.
  24. Web site: Stevens has Town loan cancelled — Sheridan tells winger to have more fire in his belly . Swindon Advertiser.
  25. Web site: 8 January 2021 . Jordan Stevens joins Bradford City on loan . Leeds United F.C. .
  26. News: Leeds United youngsters Robbie Gotts, Jordan Stevens and Bryce Hosannah leave on free transfers . Rayner . Stuart . 31 August 2021 . 31 August 2021 . The Yorkshire Post.
  27. News: Robbie Gotts and Jordan Stevens: Barrow sign Leeds United midfielders . BBC Sport . 31 August 2021 . 31 August 2021.
  28. Web site: Jordan Stevens Departs Barrow. www.barrowafc.com. 3 March 2023. 3 March 2023.
  29. Web site: Signing Jordan Stevens signs in Somerset . www.ytfc.net . Yeovil Town F.C. . 3 March 2023 . 3 March 2023 .
  30. Web site: Club News Squad Update . ytfc.net . Yeovil Town F.C. . 24 April 2024 . 24 April 2024 .
  31. News: 12 April 2019 . How Jordan Stevens has been impressing Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa . 27 June 2019 . Yorkshire Evening Post.
  32. News: 2 August 2019 . Leeds United FC's Jordan Stevens has been charged with misconduct in relation to The FA's Betting Rules. . FA Spokesperson . 5 August 2019.
  33. Web site: 2 August 2019 . Jordan Stevens FA charge . Leeds United F.C. . 5 August 2019.
  34. News: 2 August 2019 . Jordan Stevens: Leeds United youngster accepts FA betting breach charge . BBC Sport . 5 August 2019.
  35. News: 10 September 2019 . Jordan Stevens: Leeds United midfielder given six-week FA ban for betting rule breaches . BBC Sport . 10 September 2019.
  36. Web site: J. Stevens: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 4 March 2023 .
  37. Web site: 18 July 2020 . Leeds United are champions! . 9 August 2020 . Leeds United F.C..
  38. News: Yeovil Town: Club secure promotion to National League after season in sixth tier . BBC Sport . 11 April 2024 . 11 April 2024.