Sammy Braybrooke

Samuel Charles Braybrooke (born 12 March 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Leicester City. He has previously played on loan for Dundee.

Sammy Braybrooke

Braybrooke in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Samuel Charles Braybrooke
Date of birth	(2004-03-12) 12 March 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth	Leicester, England
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Leicester City
Number	44
Youth career
	Leicester City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–	Leicester City	0	(0)
2024–2025	→ Dundee (loan)	7	(0)
International career‡
2021–2022	England U18	10	(0)
2022	England U19	3	(0)
2024–	England U20	5	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:44, 13 January 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:30, 15 November 2024 (UTC)

Early and personal life

From Wigston, his father is a coach in nearby Oadby for the Oadby Owls. It was at the Owls where Braybrooke was spotted by Leicester scout Bill Ward playing at the age of six. After this he joined the Leicester Academy. He attended Wigston Academy.^[1] Standing at a height of 5 ft 7in with medium long blonde hair in a centre parting, due to his appearance he has been nicknamed "Modric" by former Leicester City teammate Çağlar Söyüncü.^[2] He has also been called the "Leicester Iniesta" by teammates in the England youth set up.^[3]

Club career

Braybrooke was revealed to have signed a new professional contract with Leicester City in February 2022, running into 2024.^[4] Braybrooke was first named as part of the Leicester City match day squads as a substitute for Premier League matches in October 2022. At the time he was England under-19 captain and had been appearing regularly for Leicester City's under-23 team, as well as appearing on the substitutes bench in the UEFA Europa League.^[5] Prior to that he had also captained England under-18s.^[6] Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has described him as "an outstanding player".^[7] Braybrooke has stated that training regularly with the first team and learning from players such as James Maddison, Youri Tielemans, and Wilfred Ndidi has allowed him to develop his skills.^[8]

Braybrooke made his professional debut on 8 November 2022 in the EFL Cup against Newport County.^[9] On 1 February 2023, he announced that he had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury and "will be out for a long period of time".^[10]

On 28 August 2024, Braybrooke joined Scottish Premiership side Dundee on a season-long loan deal.^[11] Braybrooke made his first Dundee and senior start on three days later at home in a 2–2 draw with St Mirren in the league.^[12] On 13 January 2025, Braybrooke was recalled by Leicester and left Dundee.^[13] Upon his return, new Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy confirmed that Braybrooke would remain with the first team for the rest of the season.^[14]

International career

Braybrooke has been captain of the England national under-18 football team.^[6][15] In September 2022, he played for the first time for the England U19 team, against Montenegro U19.^[16][17] In January 2023, Braybrooke briefly went viral in Mexico when Premier League documentation erroneously stated that he was eligible to play for the Mexico national football team, before the mistake was rectified.^[18]

On 7 June 2024, Braybrooke made his England U20 debut during a 2-1 win over Sweden at Stadion ŠRC Sesvete.^[19]

Career statistics

As of match played 9 January 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Leicester City U21	2022–23[20]	—			—		—		2[a]	0	2	0
	2023–24[21]	—			—		—		0	0	0	0
	2024–25[22]	—			—		—		1[a]	0	1	0
	Total		—		—		—		3	0	3	0
Leicester City	2022–23[20]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
	2023–24[21]	EFL Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
Dundee (loan)	2024–25[22]	Scottish Premiership	7	0	0	0	1	0	—		8	0
Career total			7	0	0	0	2	0	3	0	12	0

1. Appearances in EFL Trophy

References

1. Tanner, Rob. "Meet Sammy Braybrooke, the England U18 captain who looks like Modric and plays like Iniesta". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
2. Cran, George (29 August 2024). "Who is Dundee loanee Sammy Braybrooke? 'Outstanding player' for Brendan Rodgers who got nickname from Leicester legend". The Courier. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
3. Tanner, Rob (20 November 2021). "Meet Sammy Braybrooke, the England U18 captain who looks like Modric and plays like Iniesta". The Athletic. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
4. Blackwell, Jordan (22 February 2022). "England youth stars, debutants and Man United signings among 15 new Leicester City contracts". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
5. Pawley, Luke (8 October 2022). "Who is Sammy Braybrooke? The Leicester City teenager on the bench against Bournemouth". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
6. Clapson, Sarah (17 November 2021). "Leicester City rising star makes 'decision' on future amid transfer interest". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
7. Blackwell, Jordan (13 October 2022). "Brendan Rodgers won't hesitate over Leicester City debut for future 'outstanding player'". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
8. Blackwell, Jordan (2 November 2022). "Future 'outstanding' Leicester City player eyes reward as he learns from quartet". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
9. Wilson, Amie (9 November 2022). "Sammy Braybrooke sums up Leicester City debut after Jamie Vardy comments". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
10. Blackwell, Jordan (1 February 2023). "Leicester City hit with ACL injury blow to another bright prospect". Leicestershire Live. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
11. "Braybrooke joins The Dee". Dundee F.C. 28 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
12. "Dundee 2-2 St Mirren: Scottish Premiership". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
13. "Braybrooke leaves Dundee". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. 13 January 2025. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
14. Blackwell, Jordan (14 January 2025). "Braybrooke plan confirmed by van Nistelrooy as rules prevent Leicester decision". Leicestershire Live. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
15. Dean, Sam (28 July 2022). "The 20 young Premier League stars ready to light up this season". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
16. "England U19 2-0 Montenegro U19". Soccerway. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
17. Smith, Frank (21 September 2022). "Report: England MU19s 2-0 Montenegro". England Football. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
18. "Sammy Braybrooke, the 'Mexican' who breaks it at Leicester City". Wdeportes.com. 6 January 2023.
19. "Report: Sweden 1-2 England Elite League Squad". www.englandfootball.com. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
20. "Games played by Sammy Braybrooke in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
21. "Games played by Sammy Braybrooke in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
22. "Games played by Sammy Braybrooke in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 August 2024.