Benjamin Arthur (footballer)
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Benjamin Kristian Arthur[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 9 October 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Warwickshire, England[2] | ||
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)[3] | ||
| Position | Central defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Celtic (on loan from Brentford) | ||
| Number | 43 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Leamington Hibernian | |||
| Coventry Sphinx | |||
| –2023 | Peterborough United | ||
| 2023–2025 | Brentford | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2025– | Brentford | 0 | (0) |
| 2026– | → Celtic (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023 | England U18 | 3 | (0) |
| 2024 | England U19 | 1 | (0) |
| 2025– | England U20 | 1 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:07, 19 April 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:32, 14 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Benjamin Kristian Arthur (born 9 October 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Scottish Premiership club Celtic, on loan from Premier League club Brentford.
Arthur is a product of the Peterborough United academy and began his professional career with Brentford in 2023. He has been capped by England at youth level.
Early years
Initially a midfielder,[4] Arthur began his youth career with Leamington Hibernian and Coventry Sphinx,[5][6] before entering the Peterborough United academy at the age of 13.[7] Despite "injury and other struggles" and with the club considering his release,[8][9] he progressed to sign a scholarship deal in 2022 and was a central defender in the 2022–23 U18 Professional Development League Cup-winning U18 squad.[10][11] Shortly after winning his maiden call into a first team matchday squad,[12] Arthur turned down a "substantial offer" to sign a professional contract and departed London Road on 31 August 2023.[8][13]
Brentford
On 31 August 2023, Arthur transferred to the B team at Premier League club Brentford and signed a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[14] The fee was reported to be "close to £1 million" and "nearly a record for a League One scholar, plus millions in add-ons".[15][16] Arthur missed the first half of the 2023–24 season with a stress fracture to his back and returned to match play in early January 2024.[9][17][18] An injury crisis in defence saw Arthur win his maiden call into the first team squad for a Premier League match versus Arsenal on 9 March 2024.[19][20] He remained an unused substitute during the 2–1 defeat.[12]
Following an injury suffered during the 2024 off-season,[21] Arthur returned to match play with the B team on 23 September 2024.[22] He made 27 appearances during the 2024–25 season and was a part of the Professional Development League-winning squad.[23] Arthur's performances were recognised with the club's U21 Player of the Year award.[23] Arthur was an unused substitute in five first team matchday squads during the 2024–25 season.[23]
In July 2025, Arthur was promoted to the first team squad and signed a new six-year contract, with the option of a further year.[23] He made three cup appearances during the first half of the 2025–26 season,[24] before joining Scottish Premiership club Celtic on loan for the remainder of the season on the final day of the winter transfer window.[25]
International career
Arthur was part of England's U18 squad at the 2023 International Tournament of Lisbon and he appeared in each of the team's three matches at the tournament.[26] He won his maiden U19 call-up for a training camp and two friendlies in September 2023,[27] but was not named in either matchday squad.[28][29] Arthur received his second call-up for two friendlies in March 2024 and won his only U19 cap with a start in a 3–2 defeat to the United States.[30][31] Arthur won his maiden U20 cap with a start in a friendly versus Japan on 14 November 2025.[32]
Personal life
Arthur is of Ghanaian descent through his father.[33] He grew up in Lillington, Warwickshire.[2] While a Brentford B player, Arthur shared accommodation with teammate Ashley Hay.[34]