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Chris Mepham

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Wales international footballer (born 1997)

Chris Mepham
Mepham with AFC Bournemouth in 2019
Personal information
Full name Christopher James Mepham
Date of birth (1997-11-05) 5 November 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Harrow, England
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team Sunderland (on loan from AFC Bournemouth)
Number 26
Youth career
2008–2012 Chelsea
2012–2016 Brentford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 Brentford 43 (1)
2019– AFC Bournemouth 107 (2)
2024– → Sunderland (loan) 15 (0)
International career
2017 Wales U20 1 (0)
2017 Wales U21 4 (0)
2018– Wales 47 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:53, 14 December 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:48, 9 September 2024 (UTC)

Christopher James Mepham (/ˈmɛpəm/ MEHP-əm; born 5 November 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre back for EFL Championship club Sunderland, on loan from Premier League club AFC Bournemouth, and the Wales national team.

Club career

Early years

A centre back and occasional right back, Mepham began his career in the academy at Premier League club Chelsea at the age of 10. He was released at the age of 14 and was then turned down by Watford and Queens Park Rangers.

Brentford

Youth years (2012–2016)

Mepham joined the academy at Brentford in 2012, after being spotted by the club's Head of Academy Recruitment while making a one-off appearance for North Greenford United's reserve team. After making three appearances for the youth team as an U16, Mepham signed a scholarship deal in June 2014. On 2 February 2016 it was announced that Mepham had signed his first professional contract to be a member of the club's development squad and he finished his scholarship having made 43 appearances and scored two goals for the youth team. After consistently good performances for the reformed B team during the first half of the 2016–17 season, Mepham signed a two-year contract extension on 6 January 2017 and the following day, he made his senior debut as a late substitute for Harlee Dean during a 5–1 FA Cup third round victory over Eastleigh. A successful 2016–17 season saw Mepham named as the club's B Team Player of the Year.

Breakthrough (2016–2019)

After the departure of centre-back Harlee Dean on 30 August 2017, Mepham was promoted into the first team squad and signed a new five-year contract. He made his first start for the club in a 3–1 EFL Cup third round defeat to Norwich City on 19 September 2017 and gave away the penalty which led to the Canaries' opening goal. After appearing sporadically throughout the autumn, a head injury suffered by John Egan in December allowed Mepham a run in the team from the Christmas period until early February 2018. An achilles injury suffered by Andreas Bjelland in mid-March allowed Mepham back into the team and he scored the first senior goal of his career with the equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Sheffield United on Good Friday. He finished the 2017–18 season with 23 appearances and one goal.

Mepham began the 2018–19 season as the Bees' undisputed first-choice centre back in league matches, but was sent off for the first time in his career for two bookable offences committed during a 1–0 defeat to Bristol City on 20 October 2018. He made 27 appearances before departing the club for a club-record transfer fee in January 2019. During his two and a half seasons as a professional at Griffin Park, Mepham made 48 appearances and scored one goal.

AFC Bournemouth

On 22 January 2019, Mepham signed a long-term contract with Premier League club AFC Bournemouth for an undisclosed fee, reported to be £12 million. Eight days later, he made his debut for the club as a substitute for Junior Stanislas late in a 4–0 win over Chelsea. He continued to be regularly selected within the back line at Bournemouth due to the absence of Steve Cook through injury. Mepham finished the 2018–19 season with Bournemouth having made 13 Premier League appearances in total.

On 10 August 2019, Mepham scored his first Premier League goal, and his first ever goal for the Cherries, in a 1–1 home draw against newly promoted Sheffield United. Mepham made a further ten appearances in the Premier League for the Cherries throughout the first half of the 2019–20 season, including a starring role in a 1–0 away win and clean sheet at Chelsea on 14 December. However, Mepham would suffer a "significant knee injury" in the FA Cup game against Luton Town on 4 January, which would potentially rule him out for up to three months.

Sunderland (loan)

On 30 August 2024, Mepham joined Sunderland on a season-long loan. He made his debut in the 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough on 21 September 2024.

International career

Mepham (N°22, center right) with Wales at UEFA Euro 2020

Mepham was called into the Wales U20 squad for the 2017 Toulon Tournament and made one appearance, in a 2–2 group stage draw with Ivory Coast on 5 June 2017. He made his U21 debut with a start in a 3–0 2019 UEFA U21 Championship qualifying victory over Switzerland on 2 September 2017. Mepham captained the U21 team for the first time in a 0–0 qualifying draw with Romania six weeks later.

In March 2018, Mepham won his maiden call-up to the senior team for the 2018 China Cup. He made his debut as a substitute for Ben Davies after 70 minutes of a 6–0 victory over China on 22 March 2018. Two months later, he made his first international start, in a 0–0 friendly draw with Mexico on 28 May.

In May 2021, he was selected for the Wales squad for the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 tournament. In November 2022, he was named in the Wales squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Personal life

Mepham was born in Northwick Park, the London Borough of Harrow. He attended Queensmead School in South Ruislip and grew up as a Queens Park Rangers supporter. His uncle Roy was a member of the Brentford youth team in the 1960s.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 14 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brentford 2016–17 Championship 0 0 1 0 0 0 — 1 0
2017–18 Championship 21 1 1 0 1 0 — 23 1
2018–19 Championship 22 0 0 0 2 0 — 24 0
Total 43 1 2 0 3 0 — 48 1
AFC Bournemouth 2018–19 Premier League 13 0 — — — 13 0
2019–20 Premier League 12 1 1 0 2 0 — 15 1
2020–21 Championship 24 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 28 1
2021–22 Championship 22 0 1 0 1 0 — 24 0
2022–23 Premier League 26 0 0 0 2 0 — 28 0
2023–24 Premier League 10 0 1 0 2 0 — 13 0
Total 107 2 5 0 7 0 2 0 121 2
Sunderland (loan) 2024–25 Championship 15 0 0 0 0 0 — 15 0
Career total 165 3 7 0 10 0 2 0 184 3
  1. Appearances in Championship play-offs

International

As of match played 9 September 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Wales 2018 4 0
2019 6 0
2020 4 0
2021 12 0
2022 10 0
2023 8 0
2024 3 0
Total 47 0

Honours

AFC Bournemouth

Individual

Notes

References

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  37. 2022 Wales World Cup squad
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External links

Sunderland A.F.C. – current squad
Wales squads
Wales squad – UEFA Euro 2020
Wales
Wales squad – 2022 FIFA World Cup
Wales
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