Lewis Baker (footballer)

Lewis Baker

Baker with Vitesse Arnhem in 2015
Personal information
Full name Lewis Renard Baker[1]
Date of birth (1995-04-25) 25 April 1995[2]
Place of birth Luton, England[2]
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Vitesse
(on loan from Chelsea)
Number 34
Youth career
2004–2005 Luton Town[3]
2005–2014 Chelsea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014– Chelsea 0 (0)
2015 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 4 (0)
2015 → Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 12 (4)
2015– → Vitesse (loan) 46 (12)
National team‡
2011 England U17 7 (1)
2013–2014 England U19 14 (9)
2014–2015 England U20 7 (1)
2015– England U21 8 (4)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 December 2016 (UTC).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19:50, 31 August 2016 (UTC)

Lewis Renard Baker (born 25 April 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Vitesse on loan from Chelsea.

Career

Chelsea

Baker joined Chelsea as a nine-year-old in 2005, having previously attended Luton Town's "centre of excellence" and attracted the attention of Queens Park Rangers, Charlton Athletic, Aston Villa, Derby County, Wimbledon, and Arsenal.[3] He subsequently progressed through Chelsea's academy and reserve teams.[2]

2013–14 season

On 5 January 2014, Baker made his professional debut as an 87th-minute substitute for Oscar in a 2–0 FA Cup third round win over Derby County at Pride Park.[4]

On 24 April 2014, Baker scored a wonder goal against Arsenal Under 21 in the Barclays Under 21 League, which was voted to be the goal of the season.[5]

2014–15 season

On 29 July 2014, Chelsea manager José Mourinho said that he should be blamed if Baker would not become a senior England international under his management.[6] He became a permanent member of Chelsea's first team squad at the beginning of the 2014–15 season.[7] He was named on the bench for Chelsea's games against Bolton Wanderers and Shrewsbury Town in the League Cup, but he did not make an appearance in either match.

Although Baker did not make a single appearances before his loan moves, Mourinho stated that he would receive a winner's medal for his contributions this season.[8]

Loan to Sheffield Wednesday

On 8 January 2015, Baker was loaned to Sheffield Wednesday until 2 May 2015.[9][10] He made his league debut as a second-half substitute, replacing Jacques Maghoma in the Owls 2–0 away win at Nottingham Forest two days later. On 27 January 2015, he made his first start against Birmingham City which ended 0–0 draw. On 10 February 2015, he was recalled by his parent club after spending a month in Sheffield and making 4 appearances.[11]

Loan to MK Dons

On 25 February 2015, Baker joined Milton Keynes Dons on loan until the end of the season.[12] After making his debut in a 2–1 loss to Coventry City,[13] He scored his first senior goal on his second appearance for the club, in a 2–1 defeat at home to Chesterfield.[14] On 21 March, he scored his second goal for the club during a 4–1 win at home to Notts County, keeping alive the club's chances of automatic promotion.[15] He was earned the praise of MK Dons's manager, Karl Robinson; in his interview, Robinson stated that "he's very fortunate to have him playing for him" and that he is "one of the hardest working players he's ever worked with".[16] On 14 April 2015 during the game against Fleetwood Town, Baker hit the crossbar in the first half; but in the second half, he scored the opening goal as MK Dons went on to win 3–0.[17]

Loan to Vitesse

On 26 June 2015, Baker joined Vitesse Arnhem on a season-long loan to gain first team experience abroad.[18] On 4 July 2015, he made his debut for Vitesse in a friendly against KV Oostende, playing the first half.[19] He made his competitive debut 26 days later in a UEFA Europa League third qualifying round first leg against Southampton at St. Mary's, playing the full 90 minutes of a 3–0 defeat and giving away the ball to Shane Long to score the final goal.[20] On 9 August, he made his Eredivisie debut in a 1–1 draw against Willem II where he played the full 90 minutes; five days later he scored a penalty after Ard van Peppen's handball to open a 3–0 home victory over Roda JC.[21] On 30 August, he scored the opener of a 4–1 victory over SC Cambuur, he also had another goal ruled out.[22] On 18 October, he again scored the opener in a 5–1 victory over PEC Zwolle.[23] On February 21 2016, he scored late in the game against De Graafschap, saving Vitesse from a loss to their local rivals. At the end of the season, this goal was voted Goal of the Season at the Dutch club.[24] On April 3, he set a record for the season creating 9 chances in a single game; he also scored a magnificent free-kick from 27 yards, but his performance was not enough to save Vitesse from a 2–1 loss against NEC.[25]

On 24 June 2016, Baker's loan at Vitesse was extended for the 2016–17 campaign.[26] Baker continued his role in the three-man midfield in the first match of the season against Willem II in a 4–1 win.[27] On 20 August 2016, Baker scored his first goal of the season in a 1–0 win against Roda JC.[28]

International career

Baker has represented England at under-17, under-19 and England under-20 levels.[29] In August 2014, he was called up to the England under-20 squad and named as captain of the side for the forthcoming season, making a goalscoring debut against Romania on 5 September.[30] In September 2014, he was called up to the England under-21 squad for the first time for a two legged 2015 European U21 Championship play-off tie against Croatia.[31]

In 2016, Baker was part of the England squad for the Toulon Tournament and scored the opening goal in the 2-1 victory over France in the final. His tally of four goals throughout the competition also earned him the Golden Boot award.[32]

Career statistics

As of 3 December 2016.[33]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chelsea 2013–14[34] Premier League 001[lower-alpha 1]00000 10
2014–15[35] 00000000 00
Total 00100000 10
Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 2014–15[35] Championship 4000—— 40
Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 2014–15[35] League One 12300—— 123
Vitesse (loan) 2015–16[36] Eredivisie 3151[lower-alpha 2]02[lower-alpha 3]0— 345
2016–17[36] 1572[lower-alpha 2]2—— 179
Totals 4612322000 5114
Career totals 62154220006817
  1. ↑ Appearance(s) in FA Cup
  2. 1 2 Appearance(s) in KNVB Cup
  3. ↑ Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Club

Chelsea Reserves[37]
Milton Keynes Dons

International

England U21

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Barclays Premier League Squad Lists 2013/14 are revealed". Premier League. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Lewis Baker player profile". Chelsea FC. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Striker, 9, joins league leaders". BBC. 2 March 2005. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "Derby 0 – 2 Chelsea". BBC. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Baker's wonder goal". YouTube. 24 Apr 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  6. ↑ Todd, Oliver. "Jose Mourinho says if Chelsea kids Lewis Baker, Izzy Brown and Dominic Solanke don't play for England, 'blame me!'". Daily Mail. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "Academy graduates in first team squad". Chelsea FC. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  8. ↑ Every Chelsea player to get a Premier League medal says Jose Mourinho | ESPN
  9. ↑ "Baker loan to Owls". Chelsea. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  10. ↑ "Lewis Baker: Chelsea midfielder joins Sheffield Wednesday on loan". BBC Sport. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  11. ↑ "Chelsea recall midfielder Lewis Baker from Sheffield Wednesday loan". Sky Sports. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  12. ↑ "Chelsea midfielder Lewis Baker makes MK Dons loan move". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  13. ↑ "Coventry City 2–1 Milton Keynes Dons" BBC Sport. 28 February 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  14. ↑ "Milton Keynes Dons 1–2 Chesterfield" BBC Sport. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  15. ↑ "Milton Keynes Dons 4–1 Notts County" BBC Sport. 21 March 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  16. ↑ " CHELSEA: MK Dons loanee Lewis baker hailed for work rate as player misses England v USA victory" MK Dons. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  17. ↑ "Fleetwood Town 0–3 MK Dons: Rampant Dons move within three points" MK Dons. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  18. ↑ "Netherlands loan for Baker". Chelsea F.C. 26 June 2015.
  19. ↑ "Samenvatting Vitesse vs KV Oostende" (in Dutch). Vitesse. 4 July 2015.
  20. ↑ Williams, Adam (30 July 2015). "Southampton 3-0 Vitesse". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  21. ↑ "Chelsea loanees among the goals as Vitesse win". Eurosport. Reuters. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  22. ↑ "Vitesse vs Cambuur". Vitese. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  23. ↑ "PEC Zwolle 1-5 Vitesse". Soccerway. 18 October 2015.
  24. ↑ "Lewis Baker claims Goal of the Season award at Vitesse Arnhem". HITC Sports. 7 June 2016.
  25. ↑ "Chelsea youngster Lewis Baker scores magnificent free-kick on loan at Vitesse". 3 April 2016.
  26. ↑ "Vitesse extension for Baker". Chelsea F.C. 24 June 2016.
  27. ↑ "Willem II 1-4 Vitesse". Vitesse. 6 August 2016.
  28. ↑ "Roda JC 0 – 1 Vitesse". Vitesse. 20 August 2016.
  29. ↑ "Lewis Baker". The FA. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  30. ↑ "Boothroyd's boys hit Romania for six in Telford". The Football Association. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  31. ↑ "England Under-21s squad selected for Euro play-off tie". The FA. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  32. ↑ Maston, Tony (29 May 2016). "Chelsea's Loftus-Cheek named Player of the Toulon Tournament". Goal. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  33. ↑ Lewis Baker profile at Soccerway
  34. ↑ "Games played by Lewis Baker in 2013/2014". Soccerbase (Centurycomm). Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  35. 1 2 3 "Games played by Lewis Baker in 2014/2015". Soccerbase (Centurycomm). Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  36. 1 2 "Games played by Lewis Baker in 2015/2016". Soccerbase (Centurycomm). Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  37. ↑ Lewis Baker Profile, Chelsea, retrieved 24 July 2016
  38. ↑ "MK Dons 5–1 Yeovil (Match Report)". BBC Sport. 3 May 2015.
  39. ↑ "England beat France to win Toulon Tournament for first time in 22 years". The Guardian. 29 May 2016.
  40. ↑ Lewis Baker Profile, Chelsea, retrieved 24 July 2016
  41. 1 2 "Player of the Year Awards 2014". Chelsea FC. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  42. ↑ "England beat France to win Toulon Tournament for first time in 22 years". The Guardian. 29 May 2016.
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