Luke Chambers (footballer, born 2004)

Luke Chambers (born 24 June 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back for EFL League One club Wigan Athletic, on loan from Premier League club Liverpool. He was part of the England national under-19 football team that won the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.

Luke Chambers
Personal information
Full name Luke Chambers
Date of birth (2004-06-24) 24 June 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Preston, Lancashire, England
Position(s) Left-back
Team information
Current team
Wigan Athletic
(on loan from Liverpool)
Number 3
Youth career
2010–2022 Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Liverpool 0 (0)
2023Kilmarnock (loan) 14 (0)
2024Wigan Athletic (loan) 18 (1)
2024–Wigan Athletic (loan) 10 (1)
International career
2019 England U15 2 (0)
2019 England U16 2 (0)
2021 England U18 1 (0)
2021–2023 England U19 14 (1)
2023– England U20 6 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  England
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Winner 2022 Slovakia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:17, 5 October 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:17, 25 September 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Liverpool

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From Chorley, Lancashire, Chambers joined the Liverpool Academy when he was six years old. After moving through the age group teams, when he was aged 18 years old Chambers travelled with the first team Liverpool squad on their pre-season tour of Asia where he played in matches against Manchester United and Crystal Palace. In July 2022, he signed a professional contract with Liverpool.[1][2] During the 2022–23 season Chambers began to be involved in the first team squad for Premier League matches and being named among the match day substitutes.[3]

In September 2022, Chambers was name-checked by Liverpool's first team assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders, along with Bobby Clark and Stefan Bajcetic, as “stand out" players from the Liverpool Youth Team.[4] He also impressed Liverpool first team left-back Kostas Tsimikas who said “This kid [Chambers] impresses me a lot. He’s a very, very good player and always very focused in the training. For me, my personal advice for him is to never stop dreaming and never stop working hard, because in football that's the most important [thing]. I'm really sure the future is bright for him.”[5]

Loan to Kilmarnock

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On 30 January 2023, Chambers joined Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock on loan until the end of the season.[6] On 1 February, he made his senior debut against Dundee United and provided the assist for the only goal of the game. Afterwards, he received praise from manager Derek McInnes who said it was a “great debut” and added that Chambers “was making his senior debut at 18, there was a lot of nerves, but the level of performance was very mature”.[7] Chambers turned down the chance to represent England U-20s at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in order to finish the season with Kilmarnock as the tournament began on 20 May 2023, before Kilmarnock were safe from relegation.[8]

Return to Liverpool

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On 27 September 2023, Chambers made his senior Liverpool debut, coming on as a substitute in a 3–1 EFL Cup victory over Leicester City at Anfield.[9] He made his first start for the Reds in a 5–1 UEFA Europa League victory over Toulouse on 26 October 2023.[10]

Loans to Wigan Athletic

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On 12 January 2024, Chambers signed for EFL League One club Wigan Athletic on loan until the end of the season.[11] He was credited with his first senior league goal against Portsmouth on 20 April 2024.[12] Having participated in Liverpool's pre-season, he returned to Wigan on a season-long loan on 6 August 2024.[13]

International career

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Chambers was part of the England under-19 squad that won the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship held in Slovakia in June and July 2022.[14] He was a second-half substitute in the final as England defeated Israel in extra time to win the tournament.[15][16] He scored his first goal for England U19s in September 2022 against Montenegro U19.[17][18] In October 2023, he was called up to the England U-20 side for matches against Portugal U-20 and Romania U-20.[19]

Chambers made his U20 debut during a 3-0 defeat to Italy at the Eco-Power Stadium on 16 November 2023.[20]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 5 October 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Liverpool U21 2021–22[21] 1[a] 0 1 0
2022–23[22] 2[a] 0 2 0
2023–24[23] 1[a] 0 1 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 0
Kilmarnock (loan) 2022–23[22] Scottish Premiership 14 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 16 0
Liverpool 2023–24[23] Premier League 0 0 0 0 1 0 3[b] 0 4 0
Wigan Athletic (loan) 2023–24 League One 18 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 1
2024–25 League One 10 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 11 1
Total 28 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 29 2
Career total 42 2 2 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 53 2
Notes
  1. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League

Honours

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England under-19

References

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  1. ^ Andrew, Neil (26 July 2022). "Report: Liverpool Defender Signs New Contract". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Youngster Chambers extends Reds contract". BBC Sport. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  3. ^ Lord, Adam (6 August 2022). "Who is Luke Chambers? Preston teen named in Liverpool squad for Premier League opener at Fulham". Lancashire Evening Post. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  4. ^ MacDonald, Keifer (16 September 2022). "European champion who caught Pep Lijnders' eye could provide Liverpool with ultimate defensive balance". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Kostas Tsimikas: We will give everything to be ready". Liverpool F.C. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Chambers joins from Liverpool". BBC Sport. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Liverpool loanee Luke Chambers praised for 'outstanding' debut performance". Liverpool Echo. 2 February 2023.
  8. ^ Swan, Craig (20 March 2023). "Liverpool stance on Luke Chambers World Cup rejection revealed as turning England down for Kilmarnock wows Mcinness". The Daily Record. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Liverpool 3-1 Leicester: Player Ratings". This is Anfield. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Liverpool 5-1 Toulouse: Clinical Reds cruise to Europa League win". BBC Sport. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Wigan sign Liverpool defender Chambers on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Portsmouth 1-2 Wigan Athletic". BBC Sport. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Luke Chambers returns to Wigan Athletic on loan!". wiganathletic.com. 6 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  14. ^ Smith, Frank (17 June 2022). "England squad named for U19 EURO Finals". England Football. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  15. ^ a b Honeyman, Sam (1 July 2022). "Israel 1-3 England (aet): Chukwuemeka and Ramsey the extra-time heroes as Young Lions fight back". UEFA. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  16. ^ "Israel U19 1-3 England U19". BBC Sport. 2 July 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  17. ^ "England U19 2-0 Montenegro U19". Soccerway. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  18. ^ Smith, Frank (21 September 2022). "Report: England MU19s 2-0 Montenegro". England Football. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  19. ^ "Interim head coach Joe Edwards has picked a 21-man squad for their games with Romania and Portugal in October". Emglandfootball.com. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  20. ^ "Report: England Elite League squad 0-3 Italy". Emglandfootball.com. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  21. ^ "Games played by Luke Chambers in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  22. ^ a b "Games played by Luke Chambers in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  23. ^ a b "Games played by Luke Chambers in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
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