Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 9 January 2004 | ||
Position(s) | Winger | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Brighton & Hove Albion | ||
Number | 47 | ||
Youth career | |||
–2020 | West Ham | ||
2020–2022 | Porto | ||
2022– | Brighton & Hove Albion | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2023– | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 | (0) |
International career | |||
2019 | England U16 | 2 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 December 2023 (UTC) |
Benicio Baker-Boaitey (born 9 January 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays for the academy of Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion. He previously had spells in the youth academies of West Ham United and FC Porto. He is an England youth international.[1]
Having come through the youth academy of West Ham United, Baker-Boaitey was only 16 when he rejected a professional contract with them to join FC Porto in 2020.[2] He also had the opportunity to join Bundesliga sides Bayern Munich and Borussia Monchengladbach, but opted for the Primeira Liga side.[3][4][5]
He signed for the academy of Brighton & Hove Albion on transfer deadline day in January 2022, initially on a six-month loan deal.[6][7] The move became permanent in June 2022.[8] He featured ten times for Brighton U21 in Premier League 2 during the 2022-23 season and in July 2023, he signed a new one-year contract with the club.[9]
On 12 November 2023, he was named among the match day squad in the Premier League as Brighton played at home against Sheffield United.[10] Three weeks later on 3 December, Baker-Boaitey made his senior and professional debut with the Albion, coming on as a late substitution in a 3-2 loss to Chelsea.[11]
He has been described as a left-footed wide player, with comparisons made in his style of play to Juventus player Douglas Costa.[12]