Matt Baker (footballer, born 2003)

Matthew Baker (born 6 February 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League Two club Newport County on loan from EFL Championship club Stoke City[2] and the Wales under-21 national team.

For other people named Matthew Baker, see Matthew Baker (disambiguation).

Matt Baker
Personal information
Full name Matthew Baker[1]
Date of birth (2003-02-06) 6 February 2003
Place of birth Kent, England
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Newport County
(on loan from Stoke City)
Number 28
Youth career
2011–2021 Gillingham
2021–2022 Stoke City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Stoke City 0 (0)
2023 → Newport County (loan) 18 (0)
2023– → Newport County (loan) 2 (0)
International career‡
Wales U17
Wales U19
2023– Wales U21 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 08:33, 21 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:10, 20 June 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Baker progressed through the Gillingham youth system and signed for Stoke City in June 2021.[3][4] He moved on loan to Newport County in January 2023 for the remainder of the 2022–23 season.[5][6][7][8] He made his Football League debut for Newport on 14 February 2023 in the League Two 2–2 draw against Stevenage.[9] Baker made 18 appearances for Newport helping them finish in 15th position.[10] In September 2023 Baker rejoined Newport County on loan for the remainder of the 2023–24 season.[11]

International career

Baker is from Kent and qualifies for Wales through his mother who was born in Narberth, Pembrokeshire.[12] He is a Wales youth international and captained them at under-19 level.[13] On 26 March 2023 Baker made his Wales under-21 debut in the starting line-up for the 3–0 friendly match win against Scotland in Spain.[14]

Career statistics
As of match played 20 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City 2022–23[10] Championship 000000—00
2023–24[15] Championship 000000—00
Total 0000000000
Newport County (loan) 2022–23[10] League Two 180000000180
Newport County (loan) 2023–24[15] League Two 2000001[lower-alpha 1]030
Career total 200000010210
  1. Appearance in the EFL Trophy.

References
  1. "EFL Squad List: Season 2021/22" (PDF). EFL. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  2. Matt Baker at Soccerway
  3. Smith, Peter (28 June 2021). "Stoke City complete double swoop for Roney and Baker". StokeonTrentLive.
  4. "Stoke City sign Gillingham defender and Northern Ireland youth international". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  5. "Newport sign Stoke defender Baker on loan" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  6. "Stoke City defender Matt Baker moves on loan to Newport County". South Wales Argus.
  7. "CONFIRMED: County make Wales prospect with a mean streak their second signing". uk.sports.yahoo.com.
  8. "Matt Baker arrives on loan!". Newport County. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  9. "Newport County 2–2 Stevenage as a second-half substitute". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  10. "Games played by Matt Baker in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  11. "Newport seal Thomas and Baker loan deals" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  12. "Bright prospect Baker needed a County reality check – Wales U21s boss". South Wales Argus.
  13. "County linked with loan move for Stoke's promising Wales U21s defender". South Wales Argus.
  14. "Wales Football – dragonsoccer – Welsh International Football". dragonsoccer.co.uk.
  15. "Games played by Matt Baker in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
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