Ben Johnson (footballer, born 2000) facts for kids
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Johnson playing for West Ham United in 2019
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||
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| Full name | Benjamin Anthony Johnson | ||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 24 January 2000 | ||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Waltham Forest, England | ||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Full back | ||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||
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Current team
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Ipswich Town | ||||||||||||
| Number | 18 | ||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||
| 2007–2018 | West Ham United | ||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||
| 2019–2024 | West Ham United | 69 | (2) | ||||||||||
| 2024– | Ipswich Town | 20 | (1) | ||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | England U21 | 10 | (0) | ||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:43, 14 April 2025 (UTC) | |||||||||||||
Benjamin Anthony Johnson, born on January 24, 2000, is an English professional footballer. He plays as a full-back, which is a defensive position, for League One club Ipswich Town.
Contents
About Ben Johnson
Early Life and Family
Ben Johnson was born in Waltham Forest, a part of London, England. He has some famous relatives in football. His second cousins are Paul Parker, who played for Manchester United and England, and Ledley King, a defender for Tottenham Hotspur and England.
Ben went to Davenant Foundation School in Loughton, Essex. He is a Christian and is a member of All Saints Church in Woodford Green.
Starting His Football Journey
Ben Johnson joined West Ham United when he was just seven years old. When he first started, he played as an attacking winger, trying to score goals. However, as he grew older and continued his training, he changed his position. He became a full-back, which is a player who helps defend and also runs forward to help with attacks.
In January 2018, when Ben turned 18, he signed his first professional contract with West Ham. This was a big step in his career.
Ben's Club Career
Playing for West Ham United
Ben made his first big appearance in the Premier League for West Ham on February 27, 2019. He started as a left-back against Manchester City, who were the champions at the time. West Ham lost that game 1–0.
After his debut, Ben faced some challenges. He had two serious hamstring injuries, which kept him from playing. Another defender, Jeremy Ngakia, was also playing very well. Because of these things, Ben did not play another game until July 17, 2020. He returned in a 3–1 win against Watford.
On December 27, 2020, Ben scored his first ever professional goal for West Ham. It was against Brighton & Hove Albion, and his goal helped West Ham draw the game 2–2.
Awards and Achievements at West Ham
In August 2021, Ben was recognized for his hard work. He won West Ham's Young Player of the Season award. This was after he played 20 games for the first team during the 2020–21 season.
On March 20, 2022, Ben reached an important milestone. He played his 50th game for West Ham's first team. This happened during a match against Tottenham, which West Ham lost 3–1. A month before this, the club had already extended his contract for two more years.
In May 2022, Ben won the Young Player of the Season award again. This time, the award was newly named the Mark Noble Award, after a famous West Ham player.
Ben left West Ham United in June 2024 after his contract ended. He played a total of 109 games for the club and scored two goals. He was also part of the team that won the Europa Conference League in 2023, which was a huge achievement for the club.
Joining Ipswich Town
On July 1, 2024, Ben Johnson joined Ipswich Town. Ipswich Town had just been promoted to the Premier League. Ben signed a four-year contract with them as a free transfer, meaning Ipswich did not have to pay a fee to West Ham.
On April 13, 2025, Ben scored his first goal for Ipswich Town. It was in a 2–2 draw against Chelsea.
International Football
Playing for England U21
Ben Johnson received his first call-up to play for his country on March 18, 2022. He was chosen for the England U21 squad. They were playing important qualification matches for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship against Andorra and Albania.
Ben made his debut for England U21 on March 29, 2022. This was in a 3–0 victory away against Albania.
On June 14, 2023, Ben was selected to be part of the England squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. This was a big tournament for young players. The England U21 team, also known as the Young Lions, went on to win the championship!
Honours and Awards
West Ham United
- UEFA Europa Conference League: 2022–23
England U21
Individual Awards
- West Ham United Young Player of the Year: 2020–21, 2021–22
See also
In Spanish: Ben Johnson (futbolista) para niños
