Ben Close

Ben Easton Close (born 8 August 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Doncaster Rovers.

Ben Close
Personal information
Full name Ben Easton Close[1]
Date of birth (1996-08-08) 8 August 1996[2]
Place of birth Portsmouth, England[3]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[4]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Doncaster Rovers
Number 33
Youth career
Portsmouth
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2021 Portsmouth 138 (14)
2015 → Poole Town (loan) 7 (1)
2017 → Eastleigh (loan) 9 (0)
2021– Doncaster Rovers 52 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:53, 24 September 2023 (UTC)

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 7 April 2023[14]
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 6010002090
2015–16 70302020140
2016–17 0010003040
2017–18 League One 402101030452
2018–19 348301081469
2019–20 293523170446
2020–21 221200040281
Total 138141627129119018
Poole Town (loan) 2014–15 SFL - Premier Division 5000003181
Eastleigh (loan) 2016–17 National League 9000000090
Doncaster Rovers 2021–22 League One 14 0 0 0 2 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 17 0
2022–23 League Two 31 2 1 0 0 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 33 2
Total 452102020502
Career total 197161729134225721
  1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Honours

Portsmouth

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