| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matthew Ben Longstaff[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (2000-03-21)21 March 2000 (age 25)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Rotherham, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Toronto FC | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2019 | Newcastle United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2023 | Newcastle United | 14 | (2) |
| 2021 | →Aberdeen (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2022 | →Mansfield Town (loan) | 16 | (6) |
| 2022–2023 | →Colchester United (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2024– | Toronto FC | 38 | (2) |
| International career | |||
| 2019 | England U20 | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 April 2025 | |||
Matthew Ben Longstaff (born 21 March 2000) is an English professionalfootballer who plays as amidfielder forMajor League Soccer clubToronto FC.
Longstaff made his first-team debut forNewcastle United on 28 August 2019, starting againstLeicester City in theEFL Cup.[3] He scored in the 72nd minute of hisPremier League debut, in a 1–0 win againstManchester United on 6 October.[4][5] The powerful strike from outside the box was later voted asPremier League Goal of the Month.[6] He then went on to score in the reverse fixture atOld Trafford, the opening goal in a 4–1 defeat.[7]
Following the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2019–20 season, Longstaff signed a new two-year contract with Newcastle United on 22 August 2020.[8] In announcing their retained list for the 2023/24 season, Newcastle United released Longstaff at the end of his contract. However, the club continued to ensure he received treatment on hisanterior cruciate ligament injury, which Longstaff suffered in December 2022.[9]
On 27 August 2021, Longstaff joined Scottish clubAberdeen on a season-long loan.[10]
On 26 December 2021, Longstaff was recalled early by his parent clubNewcastle United, having only featured five times forAberdeen.[11]
On 31 January 2022, Longstaff joinedEFL League Two sideMansfield Town on loan for the remainder of the season.[12]
On 1 September 2022, Longstaff joinedEFL League Two sideColchester United on a short-term loan. He returned to Newcastle on 1 January 2023 following a knee injury.[13]
On 29 February 2024,Major League Soccer clubToronto FC announced the signing of Longstaff as a free agent on a two-year contract, with an option for an additional year.[14] On 5 May he scored his first goal for Toronto againstFC Dallas.
On 8 November 2019, Longstaff received his first international call up to theEngland U20 side.[15] He made his debut as a substitute during a 4–0 win over Portugal on 14 November 2019.[16]
Longstaff was born inRotherham, South Yorkshire[17] and raised inNorth Shields, Tyne and Wear.[18] Longstaff went to school atJohn Spence Community High School. Longstaff was a boyhood Newcastle United supporter and his older brotherSean is a footballer for Newcastle United.[18] Their fatherDavid is a former Great Britainice hockey player, who featured over 100 times for the national side, and is still active as coach for theWhitley Warriors.[19] David is the cousin of former England internationalAlan Thompson.[20]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Newcastle United U23 | 2018–19[21] | — | — | — | 5[a] | 1 | 5 | 1 | ||||
| Newcastle United | 2019–20[22] | Premier League | 9 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 15 | 3 | |
| 2020–21[23] | Premier League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22[24] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23[25] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 14 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 3 | ||
| Aberdeen (loan) | 2021–22[24] | Scottish Premiership | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Mansfield Town (loan) | 2021–22[24] | League Two | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 6 |
| Colchester United (loan) | 2022–23[25] | League Two | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Toronto FC | 2024[1] | Major League Soccer | 32 | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | 3[b] | 0 | 40 | 3 | |
| 2025[1] | Major League Soccer | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| Total | 38 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 46 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 80 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 102 | 12 | ||
Individual