 Taylor withLeeds United in 2016 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Charles James Taylor[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1993-09-18)18 September 1993 (age 32)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | York, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.76 m)[3] | ||
| Position | Left-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | West Bromwich Albion (on loan fromSouthampton) | ||
| Number | 29 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2011 | Leeds United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2017 | Leeds United | 93 | (3) |
| 2012 | →Bradford City (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2012 | →York City (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2013 | →Inverness Caledonian Thistle (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | →Fleetwood Town (loan) | 32 | (0) |
| 2017–2024 | Burnley | 194 | (1) |
| 2024– | Southampton | 8 | (0) |
| 2025– | →West Bromwich Albion (loan) | 19 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2011 | England U19 | 2 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 06:15, 11 February 2026 (UTC) | |||
Charles James Taylor (born 18 September 1993) is an English professionalfootballer who plays as aleft-back forEFL Championship clubWest Bromwich Albion, on loan fromEFL Championship clubSouthampton. He is a formerEngland U19 international.
Born inYork,[4] Taylor attendedTadcaster Grammar School and played in the junior teams atLeeds United before signing as a scholar with the club upon leaving school in the summer of 2010.[5] During his first year in the youth team, Taylor was a regular for the under-18s, and in the second half of the2010–11 season established himself in the reserve team, featuring in nine matches.[5] While playing for the under-18s againstNewcastle United he scored a goal which would be awarded the LFE's 2010–11 Academy & Youth Alliance Goal of the Season in April 2011, with LFE chief executive Alan Sykes describing it as an "incredible strike".[6]
He capped his first year as a scholar by turning professional after signing a three-year contract at the club in May 2011.[7] The length of the contract reflected the club's value of the player with fellow youngstersAlex Cairns and twins Lewis and Nathan Turner earning only one-year deals initially.[8]
At 17 years of age, Taylor made his first-team debut for Leeds as a second halfsubstitute against local rivalsBradford City in theLeague Cup on 9 August 2011.[9] He made hisChampionship debut for Leeds atleft-back on 10 September againstCrystal Palace, replacing the suspendedAidy White.[10] He gained an assist forRoss McCormack's goal who scored the opener of the match in Leeds' 3–2 victory.[10] Despite a promising debut, Taylor was dropped for the following match againstBristol City with White coming back into the team.[11] Taylor was named as an unused substitute in the 3–0 loss against rivalsManchester United in the League Cup on 20 September 2011.[12] His appearances in the senior team would lead Taylor to being called up to theEngland under-19 squad the following month for the Limoges Tournament.[13][14]
Taylor joinedLeague Two outfit Bradford City on an initial one-monthloan on 1 January 2012 to gain further first-team experience.[15][16] Bradford decided against extending the loan after it expired, having made four appearances.[17]
Taylor joined hometown clubYork City, who were newlypromoted to League Two, on an initial one-month loan on 30 August 2012.[18] He made his debut two days later in a 3–1 home victory overOxford United.[19] Despite being second toJamal Fyfield in the left-back pecking order, the loan was extended for a second month on 28 September 2012.[20] Having made five appearances for York, Taylor returned to Leeds on 26 October 2012, shortly before the expiration of the loan.[19][21]
He joinedScottish Premier League clubInverness Caledonian Thistle on loan until the end of the2012–13 season on 25 January 2013.[22]
On 18 October 2013, Taylor joinedFleetwood Town on a one-month loan after being signed by managerGraham Alexander.[23] Taylor made his debut for Fleetwood Town on the same day, playing in a 2–0 defeat againstSouthend United.[24] After impressing in his first month at the club, on 6 November, Taylor's loan was extended until January 2014.[25] After extending Taylor's loan, manager Graham Alexander announced his delight in being able to keep Taylor,[26] with Taylor earning rave reviews for his performances.[27] On 17 December, his loan was extended to the end of the season.[28]
Taylor's form helped Fleetwood Town qualify for the play-off's with a fourth-placed finish in League Two. Fleetwood Town semi-final opponents were Taylor's old clubYork City, with Taylor revealing in an interview on 10 May that he wanted to prove people wrong at his former club.[29] On 13 May, it was reported that Taylor had impressed new Leeds United ownerMassimo Cellino who was looking at offering Taylor an extended three-year contract, with Taylor's current contract due to expire.[30]
After helping guide Fleetwood Town to the League Two play-off's final againstBurton Albion, on 20 May Taylor signed a three-year contract extension at his parent club Leeds United. The deal would keep Taylor at the club until 2017.[31]
On 26 May, Taylor started the League Two play-off final against Burton Albion. Fleetwood gained promotion with a 1–0 victory after a goal from Taylor's teammateAntoni Sarcevic.[32]
On 1 August, Taylor was assigned the number 21 shirt for the 2014–15 season.[33] Taylor made his first start for Leeds since returning from loan on 12 August 2014, starting the League Cup match againstAccrington Stanley.[34] Taylor replacedStephen Warnock in Leeds' 1–0 victory againstBolton Wanderers on 30 August.[35]
After the then captain Stephen Warnock suffered an injury in a league match againstDerby County on 30 December 2014, Taylor came back into the starting line-up on 4 January 2015 in Leeds'FA Cup 1–0 defeat againstSunderland.[36] The form of Taylor coming into the team saw regular left-back Warnock sold to Derby.[37]
After impressing at left-back, Taylor was played as aleft winger for Leeds under CoachNeil Redfearn as part of a new 4–2–3–1 formation, withGaetano Berardi filling in the left-back slot. Taylor scored his first goal for Leeds in a 4–3 loss againstWolverhampton Wanderers.[38]
On 9 April, after rumoured Premier League interest in Taylor and teammatesLewis Cook,Alex Mowatt andSam Byram, head coachNeil Redfearn challenged Leeds United's owners to keep a hold of their home grown talents.[39]
Taylor scored his second goal for the club on 25 April in a 2–1 win against Yorkshire rivalsSheffield Wednesday.[40] On 2 May 2015, Taylor was also nominated for Young Player of the Year Award, but missed out to Lewis Cook.[41]
On 19 September 2015, Taylor scored the winner for Leeds againstMilton Keynes Dons in a 2–1 victory, with an impressive solo goal running from his own half before scoring a left footed shot.[42]
On 19 April, Taylor was nominated for the Leeds United player of the year award, alongsideMirco Antenucci,Liam Bridcutt,Gaetano Berardi andLewis Cook.[43]
On 30 April 2016, at the club's annual Player of the Year Awards, Taylor was named The Fans Player of the Year for the 2015–16 season. On the same day Taylor also won theYorkshire Evening Post's Player of the Year Award.[44]
After Taylor had been linked with severalPremier League clubs includingLiverpool,West Bromwich Albion andStoke City, Leeds ownerMassimo Cellino said in June 2016 that he had approached Taylor's agent about extending Taylors contract.[45]
On 2 August 2016, with speculation still linking Taylor with a move to the Premier League, Leeds announced they had rejected a transfer request from Taylor to leave the club, with the club advising that chairmanMassimo Cellino had said Taylor would not be sold.[46] On 22 August, after Leeds's 2–0 victory against Sheffield Wednesday Taylor proclaimedI am contracted until the end of this season, so if they (Leeds) do not want to sell me, then I am under contract. It is up to them and their decision and if they keep me, then I will be until then.[47]
Taylor stayed at the club. On 29 December 2016, Taylor missed his first Leeds match after 52 consecutive starts, in the match againstAston Villa in a 1–1 draw after picking up an achilles injury againstPreston North End in the previous match.[48] The injury would keep Taylor out for several months, also added to the form of Left-backGaetano Berardi, Taylor was unable to reclaim his place in the team.
In the final match of the season with Leeds missing out on the play-offs bar an almost impossible mathematical goal difference swing, it was revealed by Head coachGarry Monk that Taylor had refused to play for Leeds in the final match. As a result of the refusal, Taylor was fined two weeks wages by the club with Monk proclaiming "I'm hugely disappointed with Charlie. I think he's been terribly advised all season."[49]
On 17 May 2017, it was announced that Taylor had been offered a two-year contract with the club in line with EFL regulations.[50]
On 6 July 2017, Taylor signed a four-year contract with Premier League clubBurnley. Since Taylor was under 24, Burnley owed Leeds United compensation, which was due to be set at atribunal.[51][52][53] On 25 July 2017, it was reported by theYorkshire Evening Post that the clubs had agreed on a compensation of between £6 million and £7 million to be paid by Burnley to Leeds United for the player, avoiding the need for a tribunal decision.[54]
On 28 October 2023, in a 2–1 loss toAFC Bournemouth, Taylor scored his first goal for Burnley in his 198th appearance for the club.[55] On 21 May 2024, after Burnley's relegation, the club said they offered him a new contract.[56]
On 1 July 2024, Taylor signed a two-year contract with Premier League clubSouthampton, following the expiry of his contract at Burnley.[57] He made his debut for the club on 24 August 2024 in a 1–0 home defeat againstNottingham Forest after he replacedJoe Aribo in the 76th minute.[58]
On 1 September 2025, Taylor joinedWest Bromwich Albion on loan for the remainder of the season.[59]
In October 2011, Taylor made his debut for the England under-19 team, playing in two of the three matches in the Limoges Tournament to help England earn a win in the overall tournament.[14] His debut came as a substitute againstPortugal, before starting againstUkraine.[14]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | League Cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Leeds United | 2011–12[60] | Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |
| 2012–13[19] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14[61] | Championship | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2014–15[62] | Championship | 23 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 25 | 2 | ||
| 2015–16[63] | Championship | 39 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 43 | 1 | ||
| 2016–17[64] | Championship | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 32 | 0 | ||
| Total | 93 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | 104 | 3 | |||
| Bradford City (loan) | 2011–12[60] | League Two | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| York City (loan) | 2012–13[19] | League Two | 4 | 0 | — | — | 1[c] | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle (loan) | 2012–13[19] | Scottish Premier League | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |
| Fleetwood Town (loan) | 2013–14[61] | League Two | 32 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 7[d] | 0 | 42 | 0 | |
| Burnley | 2017–18[65] | Premier League | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | |
| 2018–19[66] | Premier League | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5[e] | 0 | 45 | 0 | |
| 2019–20[67] | Premier League | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 26 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21[68] | Premier League | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 32 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22[69] | Premier League | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 32 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23[70] | Championship | 33 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 41 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24[71] | Premier League | 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 30 | 1 | ||
| Total | 194 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 220 | 1 | ||
| Southampton | 2024–25[72] | Premier League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | |
| 2025–26[73] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 12 | 0 | |||
| West Bromwich Albion (loan) | 2025–26[73] | Championship | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 359 | 4 | 20 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 414 | 4 | ||
Fleetwood Town
Burnley
Individual
