Benicio Baker-Boaitey

Benicio Baker-Boaitey
Personal information
Full name Benicio Baker-Boaitey[1]
Date of birth (2004-01-09) 9 January 2004 (age 20)[2]
Place of birth Hammersmith, England[3]
Position(s) Left winger
Team information
Current team
 Port Vale
(on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion)
Number 37
Youth career
–2020 West Ham United
2020–2022 Porto
2022 → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan)
2022–2023 Brighton & Hove Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Brighton & Hove Albion 5 (0)
2024– → Port Vale (loan) 10 (0)
International career
2019 England U16 2 (0)
2024 England U20 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:15, 4 December 2024 (UTC)

Benicio Baker-Boaitey (born 9 January 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left winger for EFL League Two club Port Vale, on loan from Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion. He previously had spells in the youth academies of West Ham United and Porto. He is also an England youth international.

Career

Early career

Having come through the youth academy of West Ham United, Baker-Boaitey was 16 when he rejected a professional contract with them to join FC Porto in 2020.[4] He also had the opportunity to join Bundesliga sides Bayern Munich and Borussia Mönchengladbach, though opted for the Primeira Liga side.[5][6][7] Porto paid West Ham compensation in the region of £190,000.[8]

Brighton & Hove Albion

Baker-Boaitey signed for the academy of Brighton & Hove Albion on transfer deadline day in January 2022, initially on a six-month loan deal.[9][10] The move became permanent in June 2022 after he impressed academy coach Andrew Crofts.[11][12] He played in the Sussex Community Shield final and scored his penalty in the shoot-out victory over Littlehampton Town.[13] He featured ten times for Brighton under-21's in Premier League 2 during the 2022–23 season. He signed a new one-year contract with the club in July.[14] On 12 November 2023, he was named among the match day squad in the Premier League as Brighton played against Sheffield United at Falmer Stadium.[15] Three weeks later on 3 December, Baker-Boaitey made his senior and professional debut with the Albion, coming on as a late substitution in a 3–2 loss to Chelsea.[16] He featured in six games under manager Roberto De Zerbi and agreed a new contract at the end of the 2023–24 season.[17]

Port Vale (loan)

On 7 August 2024, Benicio completed a season-long loan move to League Two club Port Vale.[18] On 7 September, he started in a 4–1 win at Newport County and was subsequently named in the EFL League Two Team of the Week.[19]

Style of play

Baker-Boaitey has been described as a left-footed wide player, with comparisons made in his style of play to former Juventus player Douglas Costa.[20] He has pace and can play as a wide or inside winger.[21]

International career

On 7 June 2024, Baker-Boaitey made his England U20 debut in a 2–1 win over Sweden at Stadion ŠRC Sesvete.[22]

Personal life

From London, he has Ghanaian heritage.[23][24]

Career statistics

As of match played 3 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brighton & Hove Albion 2023–24[25] Premier League 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
2024–25[26] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Brighton & Hove Albion U21 2022–23[27] — — — — 1[a] 0 1 0
2023–24[25] — — — — 3[a] 0 3 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 0
Port Vale (loan) 2024–25[26] League Two 10 0 1 0 1 0 2[a] 0 14 0
Career total 15 0 2 0 1 0 6 0 24 0
  1. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy

References

  1. ^ Squad Lists 2024/25 & U21 Unregistered Contract Players (PDF). EFL. September 2024. p. 79. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  2. ^ Benicio Baker-Boaitey at Soccerway
  3. ^ "Squads - English Premier League 2022/2023". Football Squads. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  4. ^ Thomas, Roshane. "West Ham are famed as the academy of football, so why are so many youngsters leaving?". The Athletic. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  5. ^ Nana Yaw Kwafo, Eric (2 September 2020). "Teenager Benicio Baker-Boaitey Joins FC Porto On A Free Transfer". Modrrnghana. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Ghanaian youngster Benicio Baker-Boaitey confirms talk with Borrusia Monchengladbach". Ghanaweb. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  7. ^ Heywood Okine, Sammy (4 September 2020). "Ghanaian Teen Benicio Baker-Boaitey Swerves Bayern Munich To Join FC Porto". Modernghana. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  8. ^ Howard, Derren (31 January 2022). "Brighton make late deadline day swoop for ex-West Ham and Porto attacker with hours to spare". Sussex World. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  9. ^ Mills, Richard (31 January 2022). "Brighton sign former West Ham youngster and Bayern Munich target on loan from Porto". Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  10. ^ Howard, Derren (5 February 2022). "Graham Potter lays out plan for Benicio Baker-Boaitey after surprise swoop for ex-West Ham and Porto attacker". Sussex World. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  11. ^ Harris, Richard (20 June 2022). "Brighton sign former West Ham youngster and FC Porto talent on permanent deal". Sussex Live. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  12. ^ Owen, Brian (20 June 2022). "Albion complete permanent deal for hard-working winger". The Argus. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  13. ^ "Albion forced to shootout in Community Shield win". sussexfa.com. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  14. ^ "Benicio Baker-Boaitey extends contract with Brighton". Ghanaweb. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  15. ^ "BRIGHTON VS. SHEFF UTD". Soccerway. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Match report: Chelsea 3 Brighton 2". Chelseafc.com. 3 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  17. ^ Howard, Derren (5 June 2024). "Four in and five out: Brighton confirm contract decisions for nine talents ahead of new season". Sussex World. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Baker-Boaitey joins Port Vale on loan". Brighton & Hove Albion FC. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  19. ^ Baggaley, Mike (9 September 2024). "Plans coming together for Vale". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Benicio Baker-Boaitey: West Ham winger set for Bayern Munich talks". Sky Sports. 12 July 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  21. ^ Baggaley, Mike (9 August 2024). "Ready to go for new Vale era". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  22. ^ Drury, Adam (7 June 2024). "Report: Sweden 1-2 England Elite League Squad". englandfootball.com. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  23. ^ "English-Ghanaian youngster Benicio Baker-Boaitey extends contract with Brighton". Footballghana. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  24. ^ "Ghanaian youngster Benicio Baker-Boaitey extends Brighton contract". Ghanasoccernet. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  25. ^ a b "Games played by Benicio Baker-Boaitey in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  26. ^ a b "Games played by Benicio Baker-Boaitey in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  27. ^ "Games played by Benicio Baker-Boaitey in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2020.