Shandon Baptiste

Shandon Harkeem Baptiste (born 8 April 1998) is a Grenadian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Brentford.

Shandon Baptiste
Personal information
Full name Shandon Harkeem Baptiste[1]
Date of birth (1998-04-08) 8 April 1998
Place of birth Grenada[2]
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[3]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Brentford
Number 26
Youth career
2005–2013 Reading
2014–2015 JMA Reading
2015–2017 Oxford United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2020 Oxford United 26 (1)
2017–2018 → Hampton & Richmond Borough (loan) 18 (0)
2020– Brentford 59 (1)
International career
2017–2018 Grenada 3 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:51, 20 October 2023 (UTC)

Baptiste is a product of the Reading and Oxford United academies and began his senior career with the latter club in 2017. He transferred to Brentford in 2020. Baptiste was capped by Grenada at international level.

Club career

Early years

A midfielder, Baptiste began his youth career with Reading at the age of seven and deemed "too small" by the club, he was released at age 15.[4] After a spell in park football and the John Madejski Academy,[5][6][7] Baptiste undertook a scholarship with Oxford United in September 2015.[8] Despite suffering two successive dislocated shoulder injuries during the 2016–17 season,[9] he signed a six-month professional contract in May 2017, which commenced in August 2017.[10]

Baptiste made two EFL Trophy appearances during the first half of the 2017–18 season and he signed a new 18-month contract, with the option of a further year,[11] in December 2017.[12] On 22 December 2017, Baptiste joined National League South club Hampton & Richmond Borough on a one-month loan,[12] which was later extended until the end of the 2017–18 season.[13] He made 23 appearances in a season which ended in defeat on penalties to Braintree Town in the National League South play-off Final.[14][15]

2018–19

Baptiste began the 2018–19 League One season as a regular in the team and scored his first senior goal in a 3–0 EFL Cup second-round victory over Newport County on 28 August 2018.[16] After his sixth appearance of the season, he signed a four-year contract extension.[17] Baptiste missed two months with a third shoulder dislocation and upon his return in January 2019,[18] he suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury during an FA Cup third round match versus Brentford.[19] He made 14 appearances and scored one goal during the 2018–19 season.[16]

2019–20

Baptiste returned to full training in early August 2019 and was a virtual ever-present for the club through the first half of the 2019–20 season.[20][21] He was heavily involved in the Us' run to the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup, scoring in a 4–0 victory over Premier League club West Ham United in the third round and captaining the team versus Manchester City in the quarter-finals.[22] Baptiste made 27 appearances and scored four goals during the 2019–20 season,[21] before departing the club on 31 January 2020.[22] During 2+1⁄2 seasons as a professional at the Kassam Stadium, Baptiste made 43 appearances and scored five goals.[3]

2020–2021

On 31 January 2020, Baptiste transferred to Championship club Brentford for an undisclosed fee (reported to be £2.25 million, plus add-ons) and signed a 4+1⁄2-year contract, with the option of a further year.[23][24][25] He made 13 appearances during what remained of the 2019–20 season,[21] which ended with defeat in the 2020 Championship play-off final.[26] Baptiste began the 2020–21 season principally involved in Brentford's EFL Cup campaign,[27] before suffering a tear to his lateral meniscus in a match versus West Bromwich Albion on 22 September 2020,[28] which ultimately required surgery.[29] In his absence, Brentford secured promotion to the Premier League with victory in the 2021 Championship play-off final.[30]

2021–22

Baptiste entered the 2021–22 pre-season fully fit and made his return to match play as a second half substitute in a 1–0 friendly win over AFC Wimbledon on 17 July 2021,[31] though an ankle injury ruled him out of the beginning of the regular season.[32] Baptiste made his first competitive appearance in 11 months as a late substitute in a 1–1 Premier League draw with Aston Villa on 28 August 2021.[33] 29 minutes into his fifth appearance of the season (a 2–1 victory over West Ham United on 3 October),[33] Baptiste suffered a dislocated left shoulder, which kept him out for seven weeks.[34] He played much of the remainder of the season in a substitute role and scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw with Leeds United on 5 December.[35] Baptiste finished the 2021–22 season with 25 appearances and one goal.[33]

2022–present

Either side of missing the middle third of the season with a groin injury,[36][37][38] Baptiste was predominantly deployed as a substitute during the 2022–23 season.[35] He made 24 appearances, without scoring.[39] Following a substitute appearance in Brentford's 2023–24 season opener,[40] Baptiste suffered the fourth shoulder dislocation of his career.[41] He returned to part-training in mid-October 2023.[42]

International career

In November 2014, Baptiste was included in the English Schools' U18 squad for a development weekend at Lilleshall.[43] Three years later and having graduated to professional football, he made three friendly appearances for Grenada during the 2017–18 season and scored one goal.[44] Baptiste was named in the squad for four 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying matches in September 2019,[45] but later declined the call up, in order to maintain his potential eligibility for England.[46]

Style of play

Baptiste is a box-to-box midfielder and has been described as "energetic, great on the ball and works very hard pressing".[22][47]

Personal life

Baptiste was born in Grenada and moved to England at the age of three.[2]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 7 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Oxford United 2017–18[11] League One 0000002[lower-alpha 1]020
2018–19[16] League One 9010311[lower-alpha 1]0141
2019–20[21] League One 17131413[lower-alpha 1]1274
Total 26 1 4 1 7 2 6 1 43 5
Hampton & Richmond Borough (loan) 2017–18[14] National League South 180——5[lower-alpha 2]0230
Brentford 2019–20[21] Championship 12 0 — — 1[lower-alpha 3] 0 13 0
2020–21[27] Championship 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 4 0
2021–22[33] Premier League 22 1 2 0 1 0 — 25 1
2022–23[39] Premier League 23 0 0 0 1 0 — 24 0
2023–24[40] Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
Total 59 1 2 0 5 0 1 0 67 1
Career total 1032611221211336
  1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. 3 appearances in National League South play-offs, 2 appearances in Middlesex Senior Cup
  3. Appearance in Championship play-offs

International
As of match played 23 March 2018[44]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Grenada 201721
201810
Total31
Scores and results list Grenada's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Baptiste goal.
List of international goals scored by Shandon Baptiste
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1. 12 November 2017 Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, Trinidad and Tobago  Trinidad and Tobago 1–0 2–2 Friendly [44]

References
  1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Oxford United" (PDF). English Football League. p. 52. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  2. Pritchard, David (24 October 2017). "Oxford United's Shandon Baptiste in line for 'dream' international debut tonight". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  3. Shandon Baptiste at Soccerbase
  4. "I was released for being too small" | My Journey | Shandon Baptiste (Interview). brentfordfc.com. 12 January 2022. Event occurs at 1:18. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  5. "I was released for being too small" | My Journey | Shandon Baptiste (Interview). brentfordfc.com. 12 January 2022. Event occurs at 2:57. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  6. "Youth coach recalls first impressions of Jack Stevens and Shandon Baptiste". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  7. "Shandon Baptiste player stats | National Football Youth League". fulltime.thefa.com. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  8. "New Scholar Joins the U's". Oxford United F.C. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  9. "Oxford United hand professional contracts to trio". Bicester Advertiser. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  10. "Three Scholars Sign". www.oufc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  11. "Games played by Shandon Baptiste in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  12. "Shandon Signs New Contract". www.oufc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  13. "Baptiste Loan Extended". www.oufc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  14. "Shandon Baptiste". Hampton & Richmond Borough F.C. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  15. "Play-off final heartache as beavers lose on penalties". www.hamptonfc.net. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  16. "Games played by Shandon Baptiste in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  17. "Shandon Baptiste Signs New Deal". www.oufc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  18. "Shandon Sidelined". www.oufc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  19. "Shandon Sidelined For Rest of Season". Oxford United F.C. 8 January 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  20. "Baptiste Bounces Back". www.oufc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  21. "Games played by Shandon Baptiste in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  22. "Shandon Baptiste completes move to Brentford from Oxford". Brentford FC. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  23. "Brentford sign Baptiste and Fosu". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  24. Elek, George. "Is the sale of Baptiste and Fosu a better deal for Oxford...". The Athletic. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  25. "Oxford United to miss pay-out if Brentford win Championship play-off final". Witney Gazette. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  26. "Brentford 1 Fulham 2". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  27. "Games played by Shandon Baptiste in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  28. EP3: Workmode (video). Shandon Baptiste. 15 May 2021. Event occurs at 4:26.
  29. "Brentford's Baptiste confirms lengthy injury lay-off". West London Sport. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  30. "Bees beat Swans to reach Premier League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  31. "AFC Wimbledon 0 Brentford 1". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  32. "Match Preview: Crystal Palace vs Brentford". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  33. "Games played by Shandon Baptiste in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  34. "Thomas Talks… psychic powers, supersubs and trust in the squad". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  35. Shandon Baptiste at Soccerway. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  36. "Frank on City and Haaland". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  37. "Schade in FA Cup squad". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  38. "Match Preview: Arsenal". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  39. "Games played by Shandon Baptiste in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  40. "Games played by Shandon Baptiste in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  41. "Brentford duo set for spell on the sidelines". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  42. "Flekken and Mee in contention for Burnley clash". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  43. "England Under 18 Boys – Final 67 Announced". English Schools' Football Association (ESFA). Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  44. "Shandon Baptiste". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  45. "Shandon's Call Up". www.oufc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  46. Pritchard, David (8 October 2019). "Oxford United's Shandon Baptiste turns down Grenada to keep England options open". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  47. "Shandon Baptiste – Midfielder – First Team". Oxford United F.C. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
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