Luke Thomas (footballer, born 2001) explained

Luke Thomas
Full Name:Luke Jonathan Thomas[1]
Birth Date:10 June 2001
Birth Place:Syston, England[2]
Position:Left-back, left wing-back
Currentclub:Leicester City
Clubnumber:33
Youthyears1:2008–2020
Youthclubs1:Leicester City
Years1:2020–
Clubs1:Leicester City
Caps1:56
Goals1:1
Years2:2023–2024
Clubs2:Sheffield United (loan)
Caps2:12
Goals2:0
Years3:2024
Clubs3:Middlesbrough (loan)
Caps3:12
Goals3:0
Nationalyears1:2018–2019
Nationalteam1:England U18
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2019
Nationalteam2:England U19
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2020
Nationalteam3:England U20
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2021–2023
Nationalteam4:England U21
Nationalcaps4:15
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:02:06, 10 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:22:43, 5 July 2023 (UTC)

Luke Jonathan Thomas (born 10 June 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back or left wing-back for club Leicester City.

Club career

Thomas was born in Syston, Leicestershire and joined the Leicester City Academy in 2008 from local club Riverside FC.[3] He made his professional debut in a 2–0 Premier League win against Sheffield United on 16 July 2020. He came on as a result of an injury to first team left back Ben Chilwell, providing an assist for the first goal, which was scored by Ayoze Pérez.[4] On 25 August, it was announced that he had signed a new long term deal with the club.[5]

On 29 October 2020, Thomas made his European debut in the UEFA Europa League during a 2–1 win over AEK Athens replacing Christian Fuchs in 46th minute. On 26 November, Thomas scored his first Leicester goal in a 3–3 away draw against Braga in the group stage of the Europa League.[6]

On 11 May 2021, Thomas scored his first Premier League goal for Leicester City in a 2–1 away victory over Manchester United, their first win at Old Trafford since 1998.[7] Four days later he started in the 2021 FA Cup final which saw Leicester beat Chelsea to win the trophy for the first time in their history.[8] On 7 August 2021 Thomas came off the bench as a second-half substitute as Leicester defeated Manchester City in the 2021 FA Community Shield.[9]

On 31 August 2023, Thomas joined Premier League club Sheffield United on a season long loan.[10] On 12 January 2024, his loan was mutually terminated and he returned to Leicester.[11] He joined Middlesbrough on loan for the rest of the season later in the same month.[12]

International career

Having represented England at U18 and U19 level, Thomas made his England U20 debut during a 2–0 victory over Wales at St. George's Park on 13 October 2020.[13]

On 27 August 2021, Thomas received his first call up for the England U21s.[14] On 7 September 2021, he made his England U21 debut during the 2–0 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification win over Kosovo U21s at Stadium MK.[15]

On 14 June 2023, Thomas was included in the England squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[16] [17] He started in the semi-final victory over Israel.[18] Thomas was an unused substitute in the final as England beat Spain to win the tournament.[19] [20]

Personal life

Thomas was included in the official UEFA Euro 2024 sticker book, despite never being selected for the senior England team. This was due to new manufacturers Topps not having the image rights to certain England players, whose rights were retained by Panini Group.[21] [22]

Career statistics

[23]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leicester City U232018–191010
2019–205050
2020–210000
Total6060
Leicester City2019–20Premier League30000030
2020–21Premier League141301071252
2021–22Premier League22010306010330
2022–23Premier League1703040240
Total561708013110852
Sheffield United (loan)2023–24Premier League 1201000130
Middlesbrough (loan)2023–241200000120
Career total8018080131701162

Honours

Leicester City

2020–21[8]

2021[9]

England U21

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists . Premier League . 26 June 2020 . 11 July 2020.
  2. News: Blackwell . Jordan . Leach . Tom . Leicester City 2-0 Sheffield United: Match report and post-match reaction. 16 July 2020 . Leicestershire Live . 16 July 2020.
  3. Web site: Luke Thomas . Leicester City . 7 July 2021.
  4. Web site: Syston Footballer Makes His Debut for Leicester City in Style. Syston Town News. 1 September 2020. 1 January 2021.
  5. Web site: Luke Thomas Signs Long-Term Contract With Leicester City. Leicester City F.C.. 25 August 2020. 10 May 2024.
  6. News: Begley. Emlyn. 26 November 2020. Sporting Braga 3-3 Leicester City. BBC Sport. 27 November 2020.
  7. News: Stone. Simon. 11 May 2021. Manchester United 1–2 Leicester City. BBC Sport. 11 May 2021.
  8. News: Chelsea 0–1 Leicester City. Phil. McNulty. BBC Sport. 15 May 2021. 15 May 2021.
  9. News: Leicester City 1–0 Manchester City. Shamoon. Hafez. BBC Sport. 7 August 2021. 9 August 2021.
  10. News: Luke Thomas Heads To Sheffield United On Loan . 31 August 2023 . Leicester City F.C. . 31 August 2023.
  11. News: Thomas Returns to Leicester. Sheffield United F.C. . 12 January 2024.
  12. News: Luke Thomas Joins Boro On Loan. Middlesbrough F.C.. 26 January 2024 . 10 May 2024.
  13. News: Veevers. Nicholas. 13 October 2020. Two quickfire goals in the first half seal win for Lee Carsley's young Lions at SGP. The Football Association. 13 October 2020.
  14. News: Veevers. Nicholas. 27 August 2021. Carsley names first MU21s squad. EnglandFootball.com. 27 August 2021.
  15. Web site: England U21 2-0 Kosovo U21. BBC Sport. 7 September 2021. 7 September 2021.
  16. News: Veevers. Nicholas. 14 June 2023. England MU21s squad named for EURO Finals. EnglandFootball.com. 26 June 2023.
  17. Web site: England Under-21s: Gibbs-White, Smith Rowe & Gordon in but Lewis left out. BBC Sport. 14 June 2023. 2 August 2023.
  18. News: Howell. Alex. 5 July 2023. Israel U21 0-3 England U21. BBC Sport. 2 August 2023.
  19. News: England beat Spain to win Euro U21 Championship. Alex. Howell. BBC Sport. 8 July 2023. 8 July 2023.
  20. News: Reid. James. 8 July 2023. England win U21 EURO title after 1-0 win over Spain. EnglandFootball.com. 10 July 2023.
  21. News: Quinlan . James . Shock Leicester City inclusion in Euro 2024 sticker book leaves England followers baffled . 12 May 2024 . Leicester Mercury . 10 May 2024.
  22. News: Johns . Craig . Bizarre reason Middlesbrough's Luke Thomas is in England's Euro 2024 sticker-album squad . 12 May 2024 . Gazette Live . 1 May 2024.
  23. Web site: Luke Thomas. Soccerway. 16 July 2020.