Benn Ward
English footballer (born 2003)
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Benn David Ward (born 31 October 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL League One club Reading.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Benn David Ward[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 31 October 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Hastings, England | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Reading | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2021 | Hastings United | 5 | (0) |
| 2021–2025 | Burnley | 0 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → Swindon Town (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2025–2026 | Accrington Stanley | 44 | (3) |
| 2026– | Reading | 8 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:31, 17 March 2026 (UTC) | |||
Career
Born in Hastings,[3] Ward began his career with Brighton & Hove Albion before joining Hastings United aged 16.[4] He made 10 appearances for the club, including five in the Isthmian League,[5] before signing for Burnley in January 2021,[6] where he signed his first professional contract in October 2022.[7][8] He moved on loan to Swindon Town in August 2023.[4] He was recalled in January 2024, having made 5 appearances for Swindon.[9]
On 20 January 2025, Ward signed for League Two club Accrington Stanley on an eighteen-month contract for an undisclosed fee.[3][10]
On 26 January 2026 Ward signed for Reading for an undisclosed fee.[11][12]
Career statistics
- As of match played 17 March 2026
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hastings United | 2020–21[13] | IL South East Division | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 2[a] | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| Burnley | 2020–21[14] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021–22[15] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2022–23[16] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023–24[17] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2024–25[18] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Swindon Town (loan) | 2023–24[17] | League Two | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Accrington Stanley | 2024–25[18] | League Two | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 1 |
| 2025–26[19] | League Two | 23 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 27 | 2 | |
| Total | 44 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 3 | ||
| Reading | 2025–26[19] | League One | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Career total | 60 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 71 | 3 | ||
- Appearances in the EFL Trophy.