| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ben Easton Close | ||
| Date of birth | 8 August 1996 | ||
| Place of birth | Portsmouth, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Eastleigh FC | ||
| Number | 22 | ||
| 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 | 77 | (5) |
| 2025 | → Eastleigh (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:00, 12 January 2025 (UTC) | |||
Ben Easton Close (born 8 August 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for National League club Eastleigh, on loan from Doncaster Rovers.
Career
Portsmouth
Born in Portsmouth, Close signed a two-year scholarship deal after spending many years in Portsmouth's youth categories. He was an unused substitute for a first team game on 3 May 2014 for a league game against Plymouth Argyle.
On 9 May 2014, Close was offered a one-year professional contract with the club, alongside Bradley Tarbuck. 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.
Close made his League Two debut on 16 September, again from the bench in a 3–0 home success against Dagenham & Redbridge. 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.
On 26 May 2017 Close signed a new one-year contract at Pompey, with the club holding an option for an additional year. On 17 December, after becoming a starter under new manager Kenny Jackett, he extended his contract until 2020.
On 2 March 2019, Close scored his first professional brace in a 5–1 home victory over Bradford City.
Doncaster Rovers
Close signed for Doncaster Rovers on a three-year deal on 7 June 2021. On 1 February 2025, Close joined Eastleigh on loan for the remainder of the season.
Career statistics
- As of 12 January 2025
| 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 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 2015–16 | League Two | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2016–17 | League Two | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2017–18 | League One | 40 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 2 | |
| 2018–19 | League One | 34 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 46 | 9 | |
| 2019–20 | League One | 29 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 44 | 6 | |
| 2020–21 | League One | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 28 | 1 | |
| Total | 138 | 14 | 16 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 29 | 1 | 190 | 18 | ||
| Poole Town (loan) | 2014–15 | SFL - Premier Division | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| Eastleigh (loan) | 2016–17 | National League | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Doncaster Rovers | 2021–22 | League One | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | League Two | 36 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 2 | |
| 2023–24 | League Two | 20 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 27 | 4 | |
| 2024–25 | League Two | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Total | 77 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 93 | 6 | ||
| Career total | 229 | 19 | 20 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 42 | 3 | 300 | 25 | ||
- ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
Honours
Portsmouth
- EFL Trophy: 2018–19; runner-up: 2019–20
References
- ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Portsmouth" (PDF). English Football League. p. 56. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
- ^ "Ben Close - profile". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Eight get blues apprenticeships". www.portsmouthfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 August 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ^ "Ben Close - Midfielder - First Team - Portsmouth". www.portsmouthfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ^ Portsmouth 3–3 Plymouth; BBC Sport, 9 May 2014
- ^ Nine players released; Portsmouth FC, 9 May 2014
- ^ "Yeovil 1-3 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
- ^ "Portsmouth 3–0 Dag & Red". BBC Sport. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ^ "Close loaned to Eastleigh". Portsmouth FC. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
- ^ "New Deal for Close". Portsmouth FC. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
- ^ "Close Extends Pompey Contract". Portsmouth FC. 17 December 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
- ^ "Portsmouth 5-1 Bradford City". 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
- ^ "Close becomes first summer signing". 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2025/february/01/ben-close-heads-out-on-loan/. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Ben Close at Soccerway
- ^ Williams, Adam (31 March 2019). "Portsmouth 2–2 Sunderland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- ^ Williams, Adam (13 March 2021). "Portsmouth 0–0 Salford City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
External links
- Ben Close at Soccerbase