.jpg) Drinkwater withLeicester City in 2016 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Daniel Noel Drinkwater[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1990-03-05)5 March 1990 (age 35)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Manchester, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1999–2009 | Manchester United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2012 | Manchester United | 0 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | →Huddersfield Town (loan) | 33 | (2) |
| 2010–2011 | →Cardiff City (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2011 | →Watford (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | →Barnsley (loan) | 17 | (1) |
| 2012–2017 | Leicester City | 193 | (13) |
| 2017–2022 | Chelsea | 12 | (1) |
| 2019–2020 | →Burnley (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2020 | →Aston Villa (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2021 | →Kasımpaşa (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | →Reading (loan) | 33 | (1) |
| Total | 325 | (18) | |
| International career | |||
| 2007–2008 | England U18 | 2 | (1) |
| 2008–2009 | England U19 | 12 | (0) |
| 2016 | England | 3 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Daniel Noel Drinkwater (born 5 March 1990) is an English former professionalfootballer who played as amidfielder.
Having come through the youth academy atManchester United, he spent time on loan withHuddersfield Town,Cardiff City,Watford andBarnsley. He moved toLeicester City in 2012, where he was part of the Foxes side that was promoted to the top flight and later part of their Premier League title-winning team in 2016. After moving toChelsea in 2017 and making few appearances for the London-based club, he spent the remainder of his career on loan atBurnley,Aston Villa,Kasımpaşa andReading.
Drinkwater also played internationally for England atunder-18,under-19 andsenior levels, winning three caps in 2016 for the latter whilst a Leicester player.
Born inManchester,[4] Drinkwater joined theManchester United academy at the age of nine, progressing through the ranks before earning a trainee contract in July 2006.[5] In his first season at the club, he became a regular in the Manchester United under-18 team, making 27 appearances and scoring two goals.[5] He received his first taste of reserve team action that same season, coming off the bench to replaceRitchie Jones in a 5–2Premier Reserve League win at home toWigan Athletic.[5] The following season, Drinkwater consolidated his position in the under-18s team while increasing his presence in the reserves.[5] In the 2008Lancashire Senior Cup final againstLiverpool on 31 July 2008, he came on as a 56th-minute substitute forRodrigo Possebon before scoring the winning goal three minutes from full-time.[5][6] In the 2008–09 season, Drinkwater became a regular in the reserve team, making 18 appearances and getting on the scoresheet twice.[5]
At the end of the season, he was called up to the Manchester United first team for theirdead rubber league match againstHull City on 24 May 2009. He was named on the bench, but did not take to the field.[7]
To gain first-team experience, on 14 August 2009, Drinkwater joinedHuddersfield Town onloan for the duration of the 2009–10 season.[8] He made his debut for the club the very next day, coming on in the 72nd minute forGary Roberts in a 3–1 win at home toSouthampton.[9] His first goal for Huddersfield came three days later in a 7–1 home win overBrighton & Hove Albion, five minutes after coming on as a 64th-minute substitute.[10] He made his first start for Huddersfield in a 1–0 defeat atBristol Rovers on 22 August.[11]
On 8 July 2010, Manchester United agreed for Drinkwater to spend a season-long loan spell atCardiff City. As they were under a transfer embargo at the time, Cardiff said that the move would be completed once this had been lifted.[12] The move was eventually confirmed on 6 August 2010, once the embargo had been removed.[13] His competitive debut for Cardiff came two days later, in their 1–1 home draw withSheffield United on the opening day of the2010–11 Football League season.[14]
Despite the loan having originally been intended to last the entire season, Manchester United recalled Drinkwater from Cardiff on 25 January 2011. During his time with Cardiff, he made 12 appearances, including nine in theChampionship.[15]
Just three days after his return to Manchester United, Drinkwater joinedWatford on 28 January 2011 on loan until the end of the season.[16]
On 23 August 2011, Drinkwater joinedBarnsley on loan until 2 January 2012,[17] which was later extended until 30 June 2012.[18] He made 17 Championship appearances for the Tykes, scoring in a 5–3 loss at his former team Cardiff on 22 October.[19]
On 20 January 2012, Drinkwater joinedLeicester City from Manchester United for an undisclosed fee.[20]
After being namedChampionship Player of the Month for December 2013,[21] he was also one of three players who received a nomination for the Championship Player of the Year Award.[22] Drinkwater had his most successful year as a professional, scoring seven goals and being named to thePFA Championship Team of the Year alongside teammatesKasper Schmeichel andWes Morgan,[23] as Leicester were promoted to thePremier League after winning the Championship.[24] On 17 June 2014, he signed a new four-year deal with Leicester after helping the Foxes win promotion to the Premier League for the first time in ten years.[25]
Drinkwater played consistently as the Foxes won the Premier League title in2015–16, alongside his midfield partnersN'Golo Kanté,Marc Albrighton andRiyad Mahrez.[26][27] He scored his first top-flight goal on 23 January 2016, to open a 3–0 win overStoke City at theKing Power Stadium.[28]
On 25 August 2016, Drinkwater signed a contract to remain with the club until 2021.[29]
On 1 September 2017, Drinkwater signed for Premier League championsChelsea on a five-year contract, for a £35 million fee.[30] Due to a thigh injury that ruled him out previously, he made his debut on 25 October in the last 16 of the EFL Cup, playing an hour of a 2–1 home win over Everton.[31] Drinkwater made his first Premier League start for the Blues in a 1–1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield on 25 November.[32] On 30 December, he scored his first and only goal for Chelsea, a well-executed half volley, in a 5–0 home win overStoke City.[33] His first season at Chelsea saw him make 22 appearances in all competitions, including four in the Blues' triumphantFA Cup campaign. However, injury meant Drinkwater was not involved in the final, against his old clubManchester United.[34]
With the arrival of new managerMaurizio Sarri, Drinkwater made no league appearances at all in the 2018–19 season. His only appearance in all competitions was during the 2018FA Community Shield againstManchester City in August 2018.[35]
Drinkwater signed for Premier League clubBurnley on 8 August 2019 on loan until 6 January 2020.[36] He made his Burnley debut on 28 August 2019, in a 3–1EFL Cup defeat toSunderland.[37]
On 31 August 2019, he was allegedly attacked outside a nightclub, resulting in injury and two weeks out-of-action.[38] He did not make his league debut until 3 December, in a 4–1 loss toManchester City.[39] Drinkwater was unable to get back into the team after that game, and on 3 January 2020, Burnley managerSean Dyche confirmed that Burnley would not extend his loan and he would return to Chelsea.[40]
On 7 January 2020, Drinkwater signed forAston Villa on loan until the end of the2019–20 season.[41] Aston Villa managerDean Smith watched Drinkwater train with the team before confirming his loan deal. Smith stated that he was confident that Drinkwater had put the issues that had affected his previous loan behind him and he would be ready to provide cover for the injuredJohn McGinn.[42] On 11 March, Drinkwater was told to leave Aston Villa's training ground following an altercation with teammateJota, in which Drinkwater reportedly directed a headbutt at the player.[43]
In May,ESPN named Drinkwater's move to Chelsea as the second-worst transfer inPremier League history, behind onlyAli Dia's move toSouthampton.[44] Drinkwater was not allocated a squad number for the2020–21 season, with his former number 6 allocated to new signingThiago Silva. In an interview withThe Telegraph in September 2020, he spoke of his off-field issues and stated his desire to get his career back on track, including the possibility of playing abroad.[45]
On 18 January 2021, Drinkwater signed for Turkish clubKasımpaşa on loan until the end of the season.[46] He made his debut as a substitute againstGöztepe on 28 February.[47]
On 30 August 2021, Drinkwater joinedReading on loan until the end of the season.[48] He scored his first goal for the club on 27 November 2021 in a 3–2 win againstSwansea City.[49]
On 10 June 2022, Chelsea announced that Drinkwater would leave the club when his contract expired at the end of June.[50]
On 30 October 2023, Drinkwater announced his retirement from football, aged 33.[51]
Drinkwater made his debut for theEngland under-18 team in their 2–0 win over Ghana, where he scored the second goal of the match.[52] His second under-18 cap came in a 2–0 win overAustria.[53]
He also made appearances for theEngland under-19s between 2008 and 2009. His first appearance came in their match againstAlbania on 8 October 2008. His final appearance for the England under-19s came againstUkraine on 2 August 2009.[53]
He was called up to the fullEngland squad for the first time on 17 March 2016, ahead of friendlies againstGermany and theNetherlands.[54] He made his debut 12 days later in the latter match, a 2–1 loss atWembley Stadium in which he wasman of the match.[55] Drinkwater was named inRoy Hodgson's 26-man provisional squad forUEFA Euro 2016 but was one of three players axed for the final selection.[56]
In April 2019, Drinkwater was charged with drunk-driving after crashing his Range Rover into a wall inMere, Cheshire. There were two other passengers in the car at the time of the accident, who were treated for minor injuries. Drinkwater appeared at Stockport Magistrates' Court on 13 May, where he pleaded guilty to drink-driving and received a 20-month driving ban.[57]
In September 2019, Drinkwater was attacked outside a Manchester nightclub, allegedly following a dispute with fellow footballerKgosi Ntlhe, which resulted in ankle ligament damage.[58]
As of July 2024, Drinkwater was working as a property developer following his retirement from playing.[59]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester United | 2008–09[60] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009–10[11] | Premier League | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 2010–11[61] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 2011–12[62] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Huddersfield Town (loan) | 2009–10[11] | League One | 33 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 37 | 2 | |
| Cardiff City (loan) | 2010–11[61] | Championship | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||
| Watford (loan) | 2010–11[61] | Championship | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||||
| Barnsley (loan) | 2011–12[62] | Championship | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 18 | 1 | |||
| Leicester City | 2011–12[62] | Championship | 19 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 19 | 2 | ||||
| 2012–13[63] | Championship | 42 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[d] | 0 | 46 | 1 | ||
| 2013–14[64] | Championship | 45 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 49 | 8 | |||
| 2014–15[65] | Premier League | 23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 0 | |||
| 2015–16[66] | Premier League | 35 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 2 | |||
| 2016–17[67] | Premier League | 29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10[e] | 0 | 1[f] | 0 | 43 | 1 | |
| Total | 193 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 218 | 14 | ||
| Chelsea | 2017–18[68] | Premier League | 12 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3[e] | 0 | — | 22 | 1 | |
| 2018–19[69] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[f] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2019–20[70] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21[71] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22[72] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 12 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 1 | ||
| Burnley (loan) | 2019–20[70] | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Aston Villa (loan) | 2019–20[70] | Premier League | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| Chelsea U23 | 2020–21[71] | — | — | — | — | 1[g] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Kasımpaşa (loan) | 2020–21[71] | Süper Lig | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||||
| Reading (loan) | 2021–22[72] | Championship | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 325 | 18 | 13 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 372 | 19 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 2016 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 3 | 0 | |
Leicester City
Chelsea
England U19
Individual
