Will Lankshear
English footballer (born 2005)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Terence Lankshear (born 20 April 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL Championship club Middlesbrough.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Terence Lankshear[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 20 April 2005[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Welwyn Garden City, England[2] | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Position | Striker[2] | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Middlesbrough | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2021–2022 | Sheffield United | ||
| 2022–2024 | Tottenham Hotspur | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024–2026 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | (0) |
| 2025 | → West Bromwich Albion (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 2025–2026 | → Oxford United (loan) | 44 | (11) |
| 2026– | Middlesbrough | 2 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023–2024 | England U19 | 5 | (3) |
| 2024– | England U20 | 4 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15:54, 22 August 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 13:35, 12 December 2024 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Early career
Lankshear agreed a scholarship contract with Sheffield United in February 2021.[3] Lankshear was the top scorer in the division as he captained Sheffield United to the under-18 Professional Development League Division 2 title in 2021–22. He scored 38 goals in 48 appearances for the Sheffield United age-group teams in total. Sheffield United first team manager Paul Heckingbottom described him as having "a good gift to score goals", and Sheffield United were ready to offer him a new contract.[4] However, amid interest from Premier League club Brentford, Tottenham Hotspur agreed to pay £2 million to Sheffield United for him on 31 August 2022,[5] with £1 million of the fee guaranteed and further payments thought to be performance-related bonuses.[5] Some reports suggest the fee could rise to £2.5 million with Heckingbottom admitting it was "a good deal" for the youngster considering they had picked him up for free only a year previously.[6] Lankshear signed a contract with Tottenham running until the summer of 2025.[7]
Tottenham Hotspur
On 8 October 2022, Lankshear made his debut as a substitute for Spurs' under-18s with his team 3–1 down against the Wolverhampton Wanderers youth side, and scored a quick-fire brace to level the match.[8] Lankshear paid tribute to the strength and conditioning work he had undertaken since joining Tottenham Hotspur.[8] Playing in the UEFA Youth League against Sporting Lisbon, Lankshear scored after 46 seconds.[9]
Lankshear scored 23 goals for Tottenham's U21 team in the 2023–24 Premier League 2 season, including a brace in the 3–1 play-off final victory against Sunderland. His performances saw him named as the league's Player of the Season.[10][11]
On 3 October 2024, Lankshear made his senior debut for Tottenham, starting a 2–1 away win over Hungarian champions Ferencvárosi TC in the UEFA Europa League.[12] He scored his first goal for the club on 7 November in a 3–2 away defeat to Galatasaray in the same competition, before being sent off for receiving two yellow cards.[13]
Loan to West Bromwich Albion
On 31 January 2025, Lankshear joined Championship club West Bromwich Albion on loan for the remainder of the 2024–25 season.[14] He made his first appearance for the club on 8 February 2025 as a substitute for Isaac Price, in a 2–1 home win over Sheffield Wednesday.[15]
Loan to Oxford United
On 5 August 2025, Lankshear joined Championship side Oxford United on a season-long loan.[16] He made his debut on the opening day of the 2025–26 season, a 1–0 home defeat to Portsmouth.[17] Although the season ended in relegation for the club, he was named as the club's Young Player of the Season.[18]
Middlesbrough
On 22 July 2026, Lankshear joined Championship club Middlesbrough on a five-year contract for an initial fee that was reported to be around £10m, which could rise to a club-record £20m if various performance-related add-ons are met.[19][20] He scored on his debut during the 1–0 victory against Wrexham in the EFL Cup first round on 7 August 2026.[21]
International career
Lankshear scored on his debut for England U19 on 15 November 2023, in a 6–0 win over Romania U19.[22]
On 10 October 2024, Lankshear made his U20 debut during a 2–1 win over Italy in Frosinone.[23]
On 29 August 2025, Lankshear was called up to the England under-21s.[24]
Style of play
Lankshear has been described as a "poacher" who is "outstanding in front of goal".[25]
Personal life
Lankshear is reportedly a Tottenham Hotspur supporter.[26]
He is the younger brother of Gateshead defender Alex Lankshear.[27]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 25 August 2026
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Tottenham Hotspur U21 | 2022–23[28] | — | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 2023–24[29] | — | — | — | — | 3[a] | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||||||
| 2024–25[30] | — | — | — | — | 1[a] | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | — | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | ||||||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2024–25[30] | Premier League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[b] | 1 | — | 6 | 1 | |
| West Bromwich Albion (loan) | 2024–25[30] | Championship | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||||
| Oxford United (loan) | 2025–26[31] | Championship | 44 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 47 | 12 | ||
| Middlesbrough | 2026–27[32] | Championship | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | |
| Career total | 60 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 72 | 20 | ||
- Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League