 Pritchard playing forBrentford in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alex William Pritchard[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1993-05-03)3 May 1993 (age 31)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Orsett, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.71 m)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Sivasspor | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| West Ham United | |||
| 2009–2012 | Tottenham Hotspur | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2016 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2 | (0) |
| 2013 | →Peterborough United (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | →Swindon Town (loan) | 36 | (6) |
| 2014–2015 | →Brentford (loan) | 45 | (12) |
| 2016 | →West Bromwich Albion (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2016–2018 | Norwich City | 38 | (7) |
| 2018–2021 | Huddersfield Town | 80 | (3) |
| 2021–2024 | Sunderland | 99 | (9) |
| 2024 | Birmingham City | 9 | (0) |
| 2024– | Sivasspor | 16 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2013 | England U20 | 3 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | England U21 | 9 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:49, 27 February 2025 (UTC) | |||
Alex David Pritchard (born 3 May 1993) is an English professionalfootballer who plays as anattacking midfielder forSüper Lig clubSivasspor. He previously played forTottenham Hotspur,Peterborough United,Swindon Town,Brentford,West Bromwich Albion,Norwich City,Huddersfield Town,Sunderland andBirmingham City. He has represented England atU20 andU21 level.
Pritchard began his career in theacademy atWest Ham United, before transferring to theyouth setup atPremier League sideTottenham Hotspur in June 2009.[4] Pritchard quickly established himself in the U18 team.[4] He received his maiden call into the first team squad for aUEFA Europa League group stage game versusPAOK on 15 September 2011.[5] Awarded the number 54 shirt, he remained on the bench for the 0–0 draw.[6] He was called up for another Europa League group match versusRubin Kazan on 3 November, again remaining on the bench.[7] Pritchard made an impact in the2011–12 NextGen Series, where he ended up top-scorer for Spurs with four goals, three of which came against the eventual winnersInter Milan. Pritchard courted transfer interest from Premier League sideQueens Park Rangers in April 2012.[deprecated source] Pritchard added another four goals in the2012–13 edition of the NextGen Series, one of which came in a particularly notable 4–1 away victory againstBarcelona,[8] bringing his tally to eight goals in 11 NextGen Series appearances.[9] Following Pritchard's NextGen Series performances and with only half a year remaining on his contract, there was speculation that Spanish sidesReal Madrid and Barcelona would attempt to sign him.[10]Liverpool (with Pritchard's former Tottenham U18 managerAlex Inglethorpe on their staff) were also reported to be interested,[11] but Pritchard ended the speculation when he signed a new two-and-a-half-year deal with Spurs on 31 January 2013.[12] Pritchard also appeared for Tottenham's U21 team during the 2012–13 season, scoring five goals in 11 appearances to help the U21s to the U21 Premier League knockout stage final againstManchester United. Pritchard scored Tottenham's second goal and was substituted after 64 minutes forKenny McEvoy in the 3–2 defeat.[deprecated source]
After spending the majority of the2013–14 season out on loan, Pritchard received his first call into the first team squad in two and a half years when he was named as a substitute for a Premier League match versus his former side West Ham United on 3 May 2014.[13] Allotted the number 39 shirt, he remained on the bench for the 2–0 defeat.[14] Pritchard was called up again for the final game of the season againstAston Villa and made his debut for the club when he replacedGylfi Sigurðsson after 83 minutes of the 3–0 win.[15] After the match, he said "it was good to get my Spurs debut under my belt and to play alongside top quality players. It was a great way to finish the season and hopefully next year I can push on again and get even more game time".[16] On 21 August 2015, Pritchard agreed to a new four-year contract with Tottenham.[17]
On 31 January 2013, Pritchard signed onloan withChampionship sidePeterborough United until the end of the2012–13 season.[12] He had scored four goals for the Tottenham Development Squad in an 8–1 victory over Peterborough on 15 January.[18] Awarded the number 33 shirt, Pritchard was named on the bench for a league match versusBurnley two days later.[19] He made his professional debut when he replacedNathaniel Knight-Percival after 55 minutes of the 1–0 defeat.[20] He came on again as a substitute in the following game againstLeicester City, but lasted just 16 minutes before suffering torn ligaments in his ankle.[19][21] Pritchard returned to Tottenham Hotspur for treatment and didn't appear again for the Posh until a late cameo in a 3–2 victory overWatford on 13 April.[19] He made just six appearances for the club before returning to White Hart Lane at the end of the season.[22]
On 9 July 2013, Pritchard joinedLeague One sideSwindon Town on a season long loan deal,[23] linking up with fellow Tottenham loaneesMassimo Luongo,Grant Hall,Ryan Mason and former teammatesNathan Byrne andJack Barthram at theCounty Ground.[24] Wearing the number 11 shirt, Pritchard scored his first goal for the club on 27 August, in a 2–0 win againstQueens Park Rangers in theLeague Cup second round.[25] Pritchard's form led to interest from Championship sidesHuddersfield Town,Blackburn Rovers and League One leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers in January 2013.[26] Pritchard wassent off for the first time in his career in a league match versusBristol City on 15 March, receiving a straightred card for a shove onWade Elliott.[27] Earlier in the season, managerMark Cooper stated that Pritchard would need to "curb his temper", after he picked up five bookings in seven league matches.[28] Pritchard won rave reviews for his performances during the season, receiving nominations for theLeague One Player of the Year andFootball League Young Player of the Year awards.[29][30] Of the nominations, he said "I'm absolutely chuffed to be nominated, I've worked hard all season and with the amount of players of my age doing so well, it's great to get that recognition".[31] Pritchard was a key player for Swindon over the course of the2013–14 season, making 44 appearances and scoring eight goals.[32] Looking back on his time with the Robins, Pritchard said "it was great for me to be playing first team football at Swindon this season, I needed to get out and play competitively and I loved every minute of it".[16]
After transfer interest fromWolverhampton Wanderers andWigan Athletic,[33] Pritchard signed for Championship sideBrentford on a season-long loan on 17 July 2014.[34] ManagerMark Warburton (who helped create the now-defunct NextGen Series) said Pritchard "is very good tactically and technically with excellent dead ball delivery. He showed his quality while he was on loan at Swindon last year. Alex will add to the quality in our squad".[34] Pritchard scored two goals in a 3–2pre-season friendly victory overNice atGriffin Park on 26 July.[35] He made his competitive debut for the club on the opening day of the2014–15 season, lasting 79 minutes of a 1–1 draw withCharlton Athletic before being replaced byTommy Smith.[36] Pritchard scored his first competitive goal for the Bees with the equaliser in a 2–1 victory overBlackpool on 19 August.[37] He scored his second goal a 3–1 win overReading on 4 October, slotting the ball throughAdam Federici's legs afterAndre Gray had slipped.[38] On 24 January 2015, Pritchard's performance and winningpenalty in a 2–1 win overNorwich City earned him a place in the Football League Team of the Week.[39] Another good performance and a goal in a 3–1 victory overAFC Bournemouth in late February saw him named in the Football League Team of the Week for the second time of the season.[40] Pritchard went on a run of four goals in seven games in March and April, but his season ended in disappointment with defeat toMiddlesbrough in theplayoff semi-finals.[41] He made 47 appearances and scored 12 goals.[41] Pritchard won much recognition for his performances during the 2014–15 season, winning a place in the ChampionshipPFA Team of the Year,[42] the Brentford Players' and Social Media Player of the Year awards,[43] a nomination for the London Football Awards Young Player of the Year award and separate awards for Player of the Year from the Irish and Italian Brentford supporters' clubs.[44][45][46][47] He was named eighth best Championship player at the2015 Football League Awards and one of the top 20 players in the Football League and 'FL Wonderkid' byFourFourTwo andMatch respectively.[48][49][50]
On 1 February 2016, Pritchard signed forWest Bromwich Albion on loan.[51] He made his debut in the 1–0 loss toNewcastle United.[52]
On 4 August 2016, Pritchard joinedChampionship clubNorwich City on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[53][54] However some news agencies such asThe Mirror have reported the fee as being £8,000,000.[55] Pritchard scored his first goal for Norwich in anEFL Cup tie againstLeeds United on 25 October 2016.[56] Pritchard scored the final goal in a 5–0 victory over one of his old loan clubs, Brentford, on 3 December 2016.
In the 2017–18 season, Pritchard made nine appearances for Norwich in all competitions, scoring once, after returning from a knee injury that had sidelined him at the start of the season.[57]
On 12 January 2018, Pritchard joinedPremier League clubHuddersfield Town for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract with the Yorkshire club.[58][57] later estimated to amount to 11M.[59] His debut versus West Ham United ended in a 4–1 home defeat.[60] On 11 February, he scored his first Premier League goal in a 4–1 home win over Bournemouth, while also winning apenalty.[61]
In July 2021 he joined Sunderland.[62] He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw withShrewsbury Town on 23 November 2021.[63] On 26 January 2024, Pritchard notified Sunderland that he would not be available for selection (starting with the fixture against Stoke City) and wishes to leave with immediate effect.[64]
On 1 February 2024, Pritchard signed for Championship clubBirmingham City for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half-year contract. The move reunited him withTony Mowbray, under whose management he had played at Sunderland.[65] By the time he recovered from a calf injury sustained on debut, Mowbray had taken medical leave, and a further calf strain added to a surfeit of midfielders meant he took little part in Birmingham's unsuccessful relegation battle.[66][67][68]
Pritchard signed for TurkishSüper Lig clubSivasspor on 1 July; the fee was undisclosed.[69]
On 27 May 2013, Pritchard was named in managerPeter Taylor's 21-man squad for the2013 U20 World Cup.[70] He made his debut on 16 June, in a 3–0 pre-tournament friendly win overUruguay.[71] He made two appearances in the group stage of the U20 World Cup, againstChile andEgypt. Pritchard received his first call into theU21 squad on 28 August 2014 and made his debut in a 1–02015 European U21 Championshipqualifying victory overLithuania on 5 September, coming on forNathan Redmond after 79 minutes.[72][73] Pritchard made his first U21 start on his fourth cap, starting in a friendly versusFrance on 17 November.[74] He was replaced byDanny Ings at half time during the 3–2 defeat.[75] In mid-December, Pritchard received a 2014 England U21 Player of the Year award nomination.[76]
Pritchard was born in the village ofOrsett, and grew up inThurrock,Essex.[77] He attendedBelhus Chase Specialist Humanities College inAveley prior to signing for West Ham United.[78]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2012–13[79] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013–14[80] | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2014–15[81] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015–16[82] | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Peterborough United (loan) | 2012–13[79] | Championship | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||
| Swindon Town (loan) | 2013–14[80] | League One | 36 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4[a] | 1 | 44 | 8 |
| Brentford (loan) | 2014–15[81] | Championship | 45 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 47 | 12 |
| West Brom (loan) | 2015–16[82] | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | |
| Norwich City | 2016–17[83] | Championship | 30 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 34 | 7 | |
| 2017–18[84] | Championship | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | |
| Total | 38 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 8 | ||
| Huddersfield Town | 2017–18[84] | Premier League | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 1 | ||
| 2018–19[85] | Premier League | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 32 | 2 | ||
| 2019–20[86] | Championship | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 18 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21[87] | Championship | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 19 | 0 | ||
| Total | 80 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 83 | 3 | ||
| Sunderland | 2021–22[88] | League One | 36 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 4 |
| 2022–23[89] | Championship | 40 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 42 | 4 | |
| 2023–24[68] | Championship | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 | |
| Total | 99 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 112 | 9 | ||
| Birmingham City | 2023–24[68] | Championship | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||
| Sivasspor | 2024–25[90] | Süper Lig | 16 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |
| Career total | 332 | 36 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 367 | 39 | ||
Sunderland
Individual
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)