.jpg) Heaton playing forBurnley in 2015 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas David Heaton[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1986-04-15)15 April 1986 (age 39)[2] | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Chester, England | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[3] | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Goalkeeper[4] | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | Manchester United | ||||||||||||||||
| Number | 22 | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| Wrexham | |||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2005 | Manchester United | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2005–2010 | Manchester United | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | →Swindon Town (loan) | 14 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2006 | →Royal Antwerp (loan) | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | →Cardiff City (loan) | 21 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2009 | →Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | →Rochdale (loan) | 12 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2010 | →Wycombe Wanderers (loan) | 16 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2010–2012 | Cardiff City | 29 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | Bristol City | 43 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2013–2019 | Burnley | 188 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | Aston Villa | 20 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2021– | Manchester United | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | England U16 | 4 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2002–2003 | England U17 | 9 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2004 | England U18 | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2004 | England U19 | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | England U21 | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | England | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 13:34, 12 January 2023 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||
Thomas David Heaton (born 15 April 1986) is an English professionalfootballer who plays as agoalkeeper forPremier League clubManchester United.
Heaton began his career in theManchester United academy but was unable to break into the first team and spent time on loan withSwindon Town,Royal Antwerp,Cardiff City,Queens Park Rangers,Rochdale, andWycombe Wanderers, before joining Cardiff permanently after his release by Manchester United in July 2010. He then joinedBristol City on a one-year deal with an option of a second year but turned it down in May 2013 in favour of a move toBurnley, where he remained for six years before joining Aston Villa in 2019. After two years with Aston Villa, he returned to Manchester United in July 2021.
Formerly an international from under-16 to under-21 level, Heaton has been involved insenior England squads since 2015, finally making his senior debut in a friendly match againstAustralia on 27 May 2016.
Born inChester, Cheshire,[5] Heaton began his football career withWrexham, for whom he played both in goal and in midfield, but, after making 20 appearances for theManchester United Under-17 team in the previous two seasons, he signed for United as a trainee on 8 July 2002. He became a regular in the Under-17 team during the 2002–03 season, and picked up anFA Youth Cup winner's medal despite playing second fiddle toLuke Steele throughout the entire competition.[citation needed] He made his first appearance in the reserve team the following season, starting in a 3–1 home win overBirmingham City in the Premier Reserve League on 2 October 2003.[citation needed] At the end of the 2003–04 season, Heaton was named on the bench for the final of theManchester Senior Cup againstManchester City, and won a winner's medal despite not taking the field.[citation needed]
By the 2004–05 season, Heaton had become the first-choice goalkeeper for the Manchester United reserve team, and was named on the bench forStan Ternent's testimonial on 20 August 2004, coming on as a 76th-minute substitute for Luke Steele after Steele had earlier come on forTim Howard.[6] With Heaton in goal for 17 of the 28Premier Reserve League North matches and 12 of the 22Central League matches, the team went on to win both league titles by nine and five points respectively.[citation needed]
Heaton's form for the reserves resulted in him being loaned out toSwindon Town at the start of the2005–06, initially until 1 January 2006.[7] Heaton made his professional debut in aLeague Cup tie againstWycombe Wanderers,[8] and in his second appearance againstYeovil Town in the league he saved a penalty fromLee Johnson.[9] During his time at Swindon, he played over 20 matches, and was described as "one for the future" by managerIffy Onuora.[10] He returned to Manchester United,[11] but, after the recall ofRitchie Jones fromRoyal Antwerp, Heaton was sent there for the rest of the season after United rebuffed an approach fromHuddersfield Town.[7]
Heaton spent the2007–08 season with the first team-squad at Manchester United, appearing on the bench whenEdwin van der Sar was out due to injury.[12]
At the end of the 2007–08 season, Heaton agreed to move toChampionship clubCardiff City on loan for the duration of the2008–09 season.[13] He was chosen as the club's first choice goalkeeper, abovePeter Enckelman, for the start of the season by managerDave Jones.[14] He played in every match until late November, with the exception of theLeague Cup third round tie againstSwansea City, when he was replaced by Enckelman.[15] However, late on in Cardiff's 2–1 away defeat toPlymouth Argyle on 22 November 2008, Heaton picked up an injury and was forced off.[16] The injury would go on to cost Heaton his place in the team as the club went unbeaten with Enckelman in goal for over two months.[citation needed]
In February, Enckelman was forced to undergo knee surgery which saw Heaton return in goal on 16 February 2009, when he put up an impressive performance despite the 4–0 defeat at the hands ofArsenal.[17] However, he tore his thigh muscle during the match, ruling him out for up to five weeks.[18] On his return, Heaton found himself on the bench behind loaneeStuart Taylor but, following a 6–0 defeat againstPreston North End, he replaced Taylor for the final three matches of the season.[19] However, he was unable to keep Cardiff in the play-off places and he returned to Manchester United at the end of the season.[20]
On 15 August 2009, Heaton was signed byQueens Park Rangers on an emergency three-month loan deal,[21] the terms of which allowed him to compete in theLeague Cup.[22] Heaton's loan spell ended on 8 November 2009.[citation needed] He made one first-team appearance during his loan, in the 1–0 defeat atChelsea in the League Cup on 23 September 2009.[23]
After returning from QPR, Heaton joinedRochdale on 13 November 2009 until the end of December 2009.[24] He made his debut in a 3–2 loss againstChesterfield on 14 November 2009.[23] The loan was then extended until 23 January 2010,[25] before a further extension pushed the end date back to 31 January.[26] In his 12 appearances for Rochdale, Heaton conceded only ten goals – including four clean sheets – and finished on the losing team just once.[23]
Heaton spent less than two weeks back at Manchester United before going back out on loan to Wycombe Wanderers on 12 February 2010.[27] He went straight into the Wycombe starting line-up for their away match againstBrentford the following day, which they drew 1–1.[28] Heaton made his second appearance for the Chairboys in their 0–0 draw against Southampton on Tuesday 23 February 2010.[23] He made a great save from a volley to keep the Chairboys on even terms with the Saints.[29]
Meeting with Manchester United managerSir Alex Ferguson on his future at the club amidst an expiring contract, Heaton declined an offer to stay atOld Trafford, deciding instead to leave on free transfer in pursuit of regular playing time.[30] Following his release by United, Heaton agreed a deal on 15 June 2010 to return to Cardiff City on 1 July 2010.[31] He made his second debut in 4–1 win overBurton Albion in the League Cup on 11 August.[32] After first-choice goalkeeperDavid Marshall suffered an elbow injury, Heaton established himself as Cardiff's new number one starter.[32] In late February, however, he suffered a groin injury, soJason Brown andStephen Bywater were brought in as cover on loan.[33] Upon his return, Heaton went into the team againstDerby County, where they won 4–1, their first win in four matches.[34] Heaton's performances during the 2010–11 season earned him the club's Young Player of the Year award.[35]
Under new manager,Malky Mackay, Heaton found himself as cover for David Marshall, but he played a key part in the club'sLeague Cup run in which they reached the final thanks to two saves from Heaton in a semi-finalpenalty shoot-out againstCrystal Palace.[36] He suffered an ankle injury just before the final, but he overcame the injury to start atWembley Stadium.[37] Heaton followed his penalty heroics against Crystal Palace when he started the penalty shoot-out by pushingSteven Gerrard's effort onto the bar, but he ultimately ended up on the losing team as Liverpool won the shoot-out 3–2.[38] Despite the successful cup run, Heaton still found himself second string to Marshall and was released at the end of the season after rejecting a new contract in the Welsh capital.[39]
In July 2012, Heaton held talks withWatford over a potential move; however, Watford's new owners decided to pull out of the move.[40] Later that month, Heaton went on trial withBristol City during their pre-season training camp in Spain and they opened contract talks soon after.[41] On 27 July, Heaton signed a one-year deal with the club, with the option for a further 12 months.[42] He made his debut on 18 August 2012, in a 1–0 defeat away toNottingham Forest.[43] A disappointing season in Bristol led to the club owning the worst defensive record in the league with 84 goals allowed, and they were relegated at the end of the season.[citation needed] Heaton started 43 of Bristol City's 46 matches in the Championship that season, and was viewed as one of the club's best players that season.[44][45]
Heaton signed with Burnley in May 2013,[46] joining them in July, after turning down a further one-year deal at Bristol City.[47] He decided to stay in the Championship, and Burnley offered Heaton a two-year contract attaching him to the club until June 2015, with an option of a third year.[47] A target of managerSean Dyche while at Watford, Dyche's first Burnley signing was described as a "good technician" with a "great pedigree".[48] Heaton immediately became the first-choice goalkeeper for Burnley following the departures ofLee Grant andBrian Jensen.[citation needed] He made his Burnley debut againstBolton Wanderers on 3 August 2013.[49] On 24 August, he was the recipient of a rare technical caution (his second of the match) for handling the ball after releasing it whilst playing against Brighton, a match they lost 2–0.[50] Heaton was a part of Burnley's defence that allowed only 37 goals, the fewest in the league, as Burnley returned to thePremier League for the first time since 2009–10.[citation needed] Heaton also picked up 19 clean sheets, the most by any keeper in the regular season.[citation needed]
Heaton made his Premier League debut on 18 August against Chelsea in a 3–1 loss.[51][52] Heaton played in every minute of Burnley's Premier League campaign,[53] the only goalkeeper in the league to do so,[54] but his efforts would not be enough, as Burnley and their league-worst offence were relegated at the end of the season.[55] After the season, Heaton was voted by his teammates as Burnley's Players' Player of the Year.[56]
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On 30 June 2015, Heaton signed a new three-year deal at the club through to the summer of 2018.[57][58] Taking over forJason Shackell, Heaton was named as captain for the2015–16 season, captaining the team for the first time on 8 August 2015, on the opening day of the2015–16 Championship season againstLeeds United in a 1–1 draw.[59] Heaton kept 20 clean sheets during the season, second only toDimitrios Konstantopoulos ofMiddlesbrough,[60] as Burnley did not lose in the second half of the Championship season on their way to becoming champions and earning promotion back to thePremier League at their first attempt.[61] Towards the end of the season, Heaton was named in theChampionship PFA Team of the Year.[62]
On 20 July 2016, Heaton signed another new contract, this time a four-year deal running until the summer of 2020.[63] On 29 October, Heaton made numerous saves during the match against former club Manchester United, the highlight being a mid-air, fully extended save ofZlatan Ibrahimović that Heaton claimed "nearly broke [his] arm".[64] Afterwards, Heaton required medical attention but remained in the match to lead Burnley to a 0–0 draw, being named Man of the Match in the process.[65] In the same season on 22 January 2017, Heaton made his 150th league appearance for the club as he was beaten by a 97th-minute penalty fromAlexis Sánchez that saw Arsenal win 2–1.[66][67]
Heaton signed for newly promoted Premier League clubAston Villa on 1 August 2019 for an undisclosed fee,[68] believed to be £8 million.[69][70] On 1 January 2020, Heaton suffered a season-ending knee injury during a 2–1 win against his former teamBurnley, a game which also saw his teammateWesley suffer a similarly serious knee injury.[71] In September 2020, with Heaton still injured, Villa signedEmiliano Martínez fromArsenal as their new first choice goalkeeper.[72] On 10 November 2020, after over ten months out, Heaton made his return to football forAston Villa U23s – in a 2–2 draw away atBurnley U23s in thePremier League 2.[73] On 26 December 2020, Heaton returned to the first team squad for the first time since his injury, featuring as an unused substitute in a 3–0 home win overCrystal Palace.[74]
On 28 May 2021, it was announced that Heaton would leave Aston Villa at the end of his contract.[75]
Following his release by Aston Villa, Heaton agreed to return to Manchester United on 2 July 2021,[76] 11 years after first leaving them.[77] He signed a two-year contract with the option of an extra year.[78] On 8 December 2021, Heaton made his first-team debut, replacingDean Henderson in the 68th minute of the2021–22 UEFA Champions League match againstYoung Boys.[79]
On 10 January 2023, Heaton started his first match for United in theEFL Cup game againstCharlton Athletic, keeping a clean sheet in a 3–0 victory to help United qualify for the semi-finals.[80] On 1 February 2023, he started in the second leg of the semi-final againstNottingham Forest, keeping another clean sheet as his team won 2–0 on the night (5–0 on aggregate) to reach thefinal.[81]
On 2 July 2024, he signed a one-year contract extension with the club.[82][83] A year later, on 27 June, he signed a one-year extension until 2026.[84]
Having played for England at various youth levels, Heaton was handed hisEngland under-21 debut in March 2008 by managerStuart Pearce when he replacedJoe Hart as a substitute during a match againstPoland.[85] However, he did not make the final squad for the2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[citation needed]
On 21 May 2015, Heaton was called up to theEngland senior team for the first time ahead of a friendly against theRepublic of Ireland and aUEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match againstSlovenia.[86] Heaton continued to be included inRoy Hodgson's squads before finally making his debut as an 87th-minute substitute in place ofFraser Forster in England's Euro 2016 warm-up match againstAustralia, played atSunderland'sStadium of Light.[87] He was named in the squad for theUEFA Euro 2016 and wore the number 23.[88]
On 16 May 2018, he was one of five players named on standby for the 23-man England squad for the2018 FIFA World Cup.[89] Heaton was also part of the squad which finished third at the2019 UEFA Nations League Finals in Portugal.[90][91]
On 10 June 2024, Heaton was called up by England to work as a training goalkeeper forUEFA Euro 2024.[92][93]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester United | 2005–06[94] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006–07[95] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2007–08[96] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2008–09[97] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2009–10[23] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Swindon Town (loan) | 2005–06[94] | League One | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Royal Antwerp (loan) | 2005–06[98] | Belgian Second Division | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Cardiff City (loan) | 2008–09[97] | Championship | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 24 | 0 | |
| Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 2009–10[23] | Championship | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Rochdale (loan) | 2009–10[23] | League Two | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||
| Wycombe Wanderers (loan) | 2009–10[23] | League One | 16 | 0 | — | — | — | 16 | 0 | |||
| Cardiff City | 2010–11[32] | Championship | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| 2011–12[37] | Championship | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| Total | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | ||
| Bristol City | 2012–13[99] | Championship | 43 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 44 | 0 | |
| Burnley | 2013–14[100] | Championship | 46 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 50 | 0 | |
| 2014–15[101] | Premier League | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 40 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16[102] | Championship | 46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 48 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17[103] | Premier League | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 36 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18[104] | Premier League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19[105] | Premier League | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| Total | 188 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 200 | 0 | ||
| Aston Villa | 2019–20[106] | Premier League | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 20 | 0 | |
| 2020–21[107] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 20 | 0 | |||
| Manchester United | 2021–22[108] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022–23[109] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2023–24[110] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2024–25[111] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 343 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 380 | 0 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 2016 | 2 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 3 | 0 | |
Cardiff City
Burnley
Manchester United
England
Individual
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