Dwight Gayle facts for kids
Gayle playing for Newcastle United
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dwight Devon Boyd Gayle | ||
| Date of birth | 17 October 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Walthamstow, London, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.74 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Ridgeway Rovers | |||
| Arsenal | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007–2009 | Ryan | ||
| 2009–2011 | Stansted | ||
| 2011–2013 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 18 | (7) |
| 2011–2012 | → Bishop's Stortford (loan) | 42 | (29) |
| 2012–2013 | → Peterborough United (loan) | 9 | (7) |
| 2013 | Peterborough United | 20 | (6) |
| 2013–2016 | Crystal Palace | 64 | (15) |
| 2016–2022 | Newcastle United | 113 | (34) |
| 2018–2019 | → West Bromwich Albion (loan) | 39 | (23) |
| 2022–2024 | Stoke City | 45 | (3) |
| 2024 | Derby County | 6 | (3) |
| 2024–2025 | Hibernian | 28 | (6) |
| Total | 384 | (133) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:10 , 17 May 2025 (UTC) | |||
Dwight Devon Boyd Gayle (born on 17 October 1989) is an English former professional footballer. He played as a striker, which means he was a forward player whose main job was to score goals.
Gayle started his football journey in the Arsenal youth academy. After leaving Arsenal in 2007, he began his senior career with a team called Ryan. He then worked his way up through different levels of English football. He played for clubs like Stansted, Bishop's Stortford, Dagenham & Redbridge, and Peterborough United. Later, he became a well-known player in the Premier League with Crystal Palace. In 2016, he joined Newcastle United and scored 34 goals in 122 games over six years. He also played for Stoke City and Derby County. Gayle joined Hibernian in September 2024 and retired from playing at the end of the 2024–25 season.
Contents
Football Career Highlights
Starting Out in Football
Dwight Gayle was born in Walthamstow, London. He went to Chingford Foundation School. He began playing football with a youth club called Ridgeway Rovers. He also spent some time at the Arsenal academy. However, he was released from Arsenal when he was 12 years old because he was considered too short.
After leaving Arsenal, Gayle focused on his education. He studied carpentry and later worked on refurbishing offices. He continued to play semi-professional football for Ryan in the Essex Olympian Football League. In 2009, he moved to Essex Senior League club Stansted. There, he had an amazing season in 2010–11, scoring 57 goals!
Playing for Dagenham & Redbridge
In the summer of 2011, Gayle signed with League Two club Dagenham & Redbridge. In August 2011, he was loaned out to Bishop's Stortford for a whole season. During this loan, he scored 29 goals in 42 games in the Conference North.
After his successful loan, he signed a three-year professional contract with Dagenham & Redbridge in July 2012. He made his first professional appearance for the team on 18 August 2012. It was a 2–0 loss against Cheltenham Town.
Time at Peterborough United
In November 2012, Gayle joined Peterborough United on a loan deal. The club had the option to sign him permanently later. When he joined, he was described as a "fast, hardworking, and energetic striker" who was also a "natural goal scorer."
He made his debut for Peterborough on 24 November. His first goal for the club came on 1 December against Blackpool. He scored after picking up a poor pass from an opponent. The Peterborough manager, Darren Ferguson, praised Gayle, saying he "listens" and "picks up things quickly."
On 24 December, after scoring five goals in six loan matches, Gayle agreed to join Peterborough permanently. He officially signed on 2 January 2013, for a fee of £500,000. On 2 March, he scored a fantastic hat-trick in a 3–2 win against Blackburn Rovers.
Moving to Crystal Palace
On 3 July 2013, Dwight Gayle signed a four-year contract with Crystal Palace. This club had just been promoted to the Premier League. The transfer fee was reported to be a club record of £4.5 million. His old club, Dagenham & Redbridge, received £1 million from this transfer.
He made his debut for Palace on 18 August in a 1–0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur. On 31 August, he scored his first goal for the club and his first in the Premier League. It was a penalty kick against Sunderland. He also scored against Liverpool and Aston Villa that season. Despite some injuries, he returned at the end of the season to score two goals in a thrilling 3–3 draw against Liverpool. This result greatly affected Liverpool's chances of winning the league title.
On 26 August 2014, Gayle scored his first hat-trick for Crystal Palace. He scored three goals in the first half against Walsall in the League Cup. Four days later, he scored his first Premier League goal of the 2014–15 season against Newcastle United. He also scored against Liverpool again that season. In 2015, he scored in an FA Cup match and then three goals in the next two league games. Gayle finished that season as Crystal Palace's top scorer in all competitions. This was impressive, as he often struggled to get a regular starting spot.
In August 2015, there was talk of Gayle moving to Bristol City, but the transfer did not happen. He continued to face injuries, which limited his playing time. On 12 April 2016, he signed a new contract with Crystal Palace until 2019. On 7 May 2016, he scored two goals in a 2–1 win over Stoke City. These goals helped Crystal Palace stay in the Premier League. For the third season in a row, Gayle was Crystal Palace's top scorer, even though he wasn't always in the starting team.
Joining Newcastle United
On 1 July 2016, Gayle signed a five-year contract with Newcastle United. The club had just been relegated to the Championship. He made his debut on 5 August in a 1–0 loss to Fulham. He scored his first goal for Newcastle on 13 August against Huddersfield Town.
Gayle scored in the next two matches, including two goals against Reading. A month later, he scored a hat-trick against Norwich City, helping Newcastle win 4–3 after being 3–1 down. In October, he scored two goals in wins against Brentford and Barnsley. On 20 November, he scored another two goals against Leeds United. On 10 December, Gayle scored a hat-trick against Birmingham City. He ended 2016 as the league's top scorer with 19 goals.
On 14 January 2017, Gayle scored his 20th league goal of the season against Brentford. This made him the first Newcastle player since Alan Shearer to achieve this. However, he got a hamstring injury in that game, which kept him out for four matches. This injury became a recurring problem for him. His goal tally also suffered, as he only scored twice more during this period. Gayle missed the rest of April but returned on the final day of the season. He scored in a 3–0 win over Barnsley, helping Newcastle win the Championship title.
In the 2017–18 season, Gayle scored the first goal in a 4–1 loss to Manchester United on 18 November 2017. This was the first goal Manchester United had conceded from open play in a long time. He also scored against Chelsea and was involved in both Newcastle goals in a 3–2 loss to Leicester City. In the second half of the season, he remained a regular player but only scored three more goals. These included two goals against AFC Bournemouth and one against Chelsea.
Loan to West Bromwich Albion
On 6 August 2018, Gayle joined West Bromwich Albion on a season-long loan. This was part of a deal where Salomón Rondón went to Newcastle. On 11 August, Gayle helped his team get a penalty against Norwich City. On 18 August, he scored his first goal for West Brom in a big 7–1 win over Queens Park Rangers.
In September, Gayle scored four goals in three home wins against Stoke City, Bristol City, and Millwall. On 29 September, he scored a free-kick in a 3–2 win over Preston North End. For his great performances, he was named the EFL Championship Player of the Month. On 6 October, he scored two goals in a 4–1 win over Reading.
He finished the regular season with 23 goals, including two hat-tricks. West Brom finished fourth in the Championship, leading to a playoff match against Aston Villa. In the first game on 11 May, Gayle scored but was later sent off. This was his last game for West Brom. Gayle was named the club's Supporters' Player of the Season and also won Goal of the Season for his goal against Stoke City.
Back at Newcastle
Gayle suffered a calf injury during Newcastle's pre-season tour in China. This meant he missed the first eight matches of the 2019–20 season. He returned to the team against Manchester United and made his first appearance against Chelsea. On 11 January 2020, he assisted a goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers but was substituted due to a thigh injury. This injury kept him out for six weeks.
When the Premier League restarted after the COVID-19 pandemic, Gayle played in eight matches. He scored four goals and provided one assist, helping Newcastle finish in thirteenth place.
On 26 August 2020, Gayle got a knee injury in a friendly match. This meant he missed the first thirteen matches of the 2020–21 season. He scored on his return against his former club, West Bromwich Albion. This was his only goal that season. He also provided an important assist for a last-minute equalizing goal against Liverpool on 24 April 2021. On 7 July, Gayle signed a contract extension with Newcastle.
Playing for Stoke City
On 22 July 2022, Gayle joined Stoke City on a two-year contract. The manager, Alex Neil, sometimes played him in a deeper midfield role. He scored his first goal for Stoke in a 4–0 win over Reading on 21 January 2023. This was his first goal in over two years. Gayle scored twice in a 5–1 win against Sunderland on 4 March 2023. He finished the 2022–23 season with 37 appearances. His contract with Stoke City ended on 1 February 2024.
Time at Derby County
On 16 February 2024, Gayle agreed to join League One club Derby County until the end of the 2023–24 season. He made his debut as a substitute in a 2–1 loss to Barnsley.
He scored his first goal for Derby in a 3–0 win against Port Vale on 8 March. This goal was special because it meant he had scored in all four of the top tiers of English football! The Derby head coach, Paul Warne, said Gayle was a "threat" and gave the team a "boost."
Gayle continued his good form, scoring in a 3–0 win at Bristol Rovers. He then scored the first goal and won a penalty in a 2–1 home win over Reading. This was his first time scoring in consecutive games since April 2019. Gayle said this "dream come true" form helped him love football again. He got a hamstring injury on 16 March 2024, which kept him out for three weeks. He did not play any more games for Derby. He made six appearances and scored three goals, helping Derby get promoted to the Championship.
On 18 May 2024, it was announced that Gayle would leave Derby when his contract ended on 30 June 2024.
Playing for Hibernian
On 12 September 2024, Gayle joined Scottish Premiership club Hibernian on a one-year contract. He scored the winning goal in the Edinburgh derby on 26 December 2024. He also helped Hibs qualify for European competitions. During the season, Gayle said he would retire from playing football at the end of the 2024–25 season, and this decision was later confirmed.
Personal Life
Dwight Gayle's father is from Jamaica, so he has Jamaican heritage. He is married to Stefanie, and they have three children. They got married in Portugal in 2024.
Career Statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 2011–12 | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012–13 | League Two | 18 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 7 | |
| Total | 18 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 7 | ||
| Bishop's Stortford (loan) | 2011–12 | Conference North | 42 | 29 | 3 | 1 | — | 10 | 12 | 55 | 42 | |
| Peterborough United | 2012–13 | Championship | 29 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 29 | 13 | |
| Crystal Palace | 2013–14 | Premier League | 23 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 25 | 8 | |
| 2014–15 | Premier League | 25 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | — | 29 | 10 | ||
| 2015–16 | Premier League | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | — | 20 | 7 | ||
| Total | 64 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 8 | — | 74 | 25 | |||
| Newcastle United | 2016–17 | Championship | 32 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 34 | 23 | |
| 2017–18 | Premier League | 35 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 37 | 6 | ||
| 2018–19 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20 | Premier League | 20 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 22 | 4 | ||
| 2020–21 | Premier League | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 20 | 1 | ||
| 2021–22 | Premier League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| Total | 113 | 34 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 122 | 34 | |||
| West Bromwich Albion (loan) | 2018–19 | Championship | 39 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 24 |
| Stoke City | 2022–23 | Championship | 35 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 37 | 3 | |
| 2023–24 | Championship | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | ||
| Total | 45 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 50 | 3 | |||
| Derby County | 2023–24 | League One | 6 | 3 | — | — | — | 6 | 3 | |||
| Hibernian | 2024–25 | Scottish Premiership | 28 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 29 | 6 | |
| Career total | 384 | 133 | 16 | 3 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 426 | 157 | ||
Awards and Achievements
Dwight Gayle has won several awards and helped his teams achieve success:
With Stansted
- Essex Senior League: 2009–10 (Champions)
With Bishop's Stortford
- Herts Senior Cup: 2011–12 (Winners)
With Crystal Palace
- FA Cup runner-up: 2015–16 (Reached the final)
With Newcastle United
- EFL Championship: 2016–17 (Champions)
With Derby County
- EFL League One second-place promotion: 2023–24 (Promoted to the Championship)
Individual Awards
- Football League / EFL Championship Player of the Month: December 2012, September 2018, April 2019
- Crystal Palace Goal of the Year: 2014
- EFL Championship Goal of the Month: August 2016
- PFA Fans' Player of the Month: October 2016
- EFL Team of the Season: 2016–17
- PFA Team of the Year: 2016–17 Championship
- PFA Fans' Player of the Year: 2016–17 Championship
- West Bromwich Albion Supporters' Player of the Season: 2018–19
- West Bromwich Albion Goal of the Season: 2018–19
See also
In Spanish: Dwight Gayle para niños
