// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Benn Ward? A guardian of words.
| 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) | |||
Benn David Ward (born 31 October 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL League One club Reading.
Career
[edit]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
[edit]- 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 FA Trophy
- 1 2 Appearances in the EFL Trophy.
References
[edit]- ↑ Benn Ward at Soccerway
- ↑ "Benn Ward Football Statistics | WhoScored.com". www.whoscored.com.
- 1 2 "SIGNING: Benn's a Red". www.accringtonstanley.co.uk. 20 January 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
- 1 2 "Swindon sign Burnley defender Ward on loan" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ↑ "Hastings United – Appearances – Benn Ward – 2020-2021". footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ↑ "Benn Ward joins Burnley". 13 January 2021. Archived from the original on 5 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ↑ "WARD SIGNS FIRST PROFESSIONAL DEAL". Burnley Football Club.
- ↑ "Ex-Hastings defender signs first professional deal with Championship outfit". The Argus. 14 October 2022.
- ↑ "Burnley recall Benn Ward". www.swindontownfc.co.uk.
- ↑ "Benn Ward: Accrington Stanley sign Burnley defender for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 20 January 2025.
- ↑ https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2026/january/26/benn-ward-is-a-royal/
- ↑ "Reading sign Accrington Stanley defender Benn Ward". BBC Sport. 26 January 2026.
- ↑ "Hastings United – Appearances – Benn Ward – 2020-2021". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
- ↑ "Games played by Benn Ward in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ↑ "Games played by Benn Ward in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ↑ "Games played by Benn Ward in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- 1 2 "Games played by Benn Ward in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- 1 2 "Games played by Benn Ward in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
- 1 2 "Games played by Benn Ward in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
Categories:
- 2003 births
- Living people
- English men's footballers
- Men's association football defenders
- Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players
- Hastings United F.C. players
- Burnley F.C. players
- Swindon Town F.C. players
- Accrington Stanley F.C. players
- Reading F.C. players
- Isthmian League players
- English Football League players
- 21st-century English sportsmen