Ben Close
English footballer (born 1996)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ben Easton Close (born 8 August 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for League One club Doncaster Rovers.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ben Easton Close[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 8 August 1996[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Portsmouth, England[3] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[4] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Doncaster Rovers | ||
| Number | 33 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2014 | 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 | 91 | (6) |
| 2025 | → Eastleigh (loan) | 16 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14 December 2025 (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] He made his first competitive appearance for the club on 7 August 2021 against AFC Wimbledon [14]
Close featured regularly in the side until 27 November 2021, he was forced off at half-time in a 2–0 away defeat to Burton Albion with a knee injury shortly after returning to the side from a hamstring problem. The knock sustained at the Pirelli Stadium ended his involvement for the remainder of Doncaster’s League One campaign, compounding an injury-hit season and requiring assessment and rehabilitation. [15]
After recovering, Close resumed first-team duties in the 2022–23 season in League Two following Doncaster’s relegation, making 36 league appearances and scoring twice as he re-established himself in the side. Following the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, Close earned the Player of the Year award. [16]
On 16 September 2023, Close made his first appearance of the 2023–2024 season and scored a dramatic injury-time winner in a 2–1 away victory at Forest Green Rovers. [17] The following week, he scored a brace in a 2–1 home win over Gillingham, with well-taken strikes in both halves including a long-range finish to seal the victory.[18]
On 30 January 2024, Close suffered another injury which side-lined him for seven months. He later made his return in the EFL Trophy against Huddersfield Town on the 7 September 2024.[19]
On 12 January 2025, Close featured in FA Cup third-round tie against Hull City. After the match finished level following extra time, the tie was decided by a penalty shoot-out. Close stepped up during the shoot-out and successfully converted his effort with a composed Panenka penalty, delicately chipping the ball down the centre of the goal. Rovers won the game 5-4 on penalties.[20]
On 1 February 2025, Close joined Eastleigh on loan for the remainder of the season.[21]
During the 2025–2026 season, Close scored back to back goals in the EFL cup in a 4-0 win against Middlesbrough and a 2-0 against Accrington Stanley.[22]
Career statistics
- As of 12 January 2025[23]
| 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[a] | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | League Two | 36 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 38 | 2 | |
| 2023–24 | League Two | 20 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5[a] | 1 | 27 | 4 | |
| 2024–25 | League Two | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 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 | ||
- Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
