Misplaced Pages

Dion Sanderson

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
English footballer (born 1999)

Dion Sanderson
Personal information
Full name Dion Dannie Leonard Sanderson
Date of birth (1999-12-15) 15 December 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Wednesfield, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team Birmingham City
Number 5
Youth career
2007–2019 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2023 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 (0)
2020 → Cardiff City (loan) 10 (0)
2020–2021 → Sunderland (loan) 26 (1)
2021–2022 → Birmingham City (loan) 15 (0)
2022 → Queens Park Rangers (loan) 11 (0)
2022–2023 → Birmingham City (loan) 31 (2)
2023– Birmingham City 39 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:55, 10 December 2024 (UTC)

Dion Dannie Leonard Sanderson (born 15 December 1999) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League One club Birmingham City. He began his career as a youngster with Wolverhampton Wanderers and later spent time on loan at Cardiff City, Sunderland, Birmingham City (two spells) and Queens Park Rangers, before leaving for Birmingham City in 2023.

Career

Wolverhampton Wanderers and loan spells

Sanderson joined Wolverhampton Wanderers' academy as an eight-year-old, signed his first professional contract in 2018, and a year later signed a two-year contract with a 12-month option. He was a member of the senior squad for their pre-season tour of China, where he played in the club's Premier League Asia Trophy Final victory over Manchester City. He made his competitive debut on 30 October 2019 in an EFL Cup tie against Aston Villa.

Sanderson joined EFL Championship club Cardiff City on 31 January 2020 on loan to the end of the season.

Sunderland (loan)

After Sanderson's contract with Wolves was extended until 2022, he joined League One club Sunderland in October 2020 on a season-long loan. He scored his first goal for Sunderland, and his first professional goal, in a 2–0 win against Rochdale on 6 March 2021. He was cup-tied for Sunderland's victory in the 2021 EFL Trophy Final.

Near the end of April, Sanderson was ruled out for the rest of the season due to a back injury, so missed out on Sunderland's unsuccessful play-off campaign. He was voted as Sunderland's Supporters' Young Player of the Year.

Birmingham City (loan)

Sanderson signed a new four-year deal with Wolves before joining Championship club Birmingham City on 19 July 2021 on a season-long loan. He made his first-team debut for Birmingham in the EFL Cup second-round match at home to Fulham. Starting in a three-man defence alongside the experienced George Friend and fellow debutant Mitch Roberts, he played for 73 minutes before being replaced by another newcomer, Alfie Chang. He made his first league appearance on 18 September in a 3–0 defeat away to Peterborough United, replacing the injured Marc Roberts at half-time with the score 2–0, and established himself as a regular member of the starting eleven. However, on 4 January 2022, with several Wolves defenders injured or away on international duty, Sanderson was recalled on 4 January 2022.

Queens Park Rangers (loan)

Sanderson joined another Championship club, Queens Park Rangers, on 25 January 2022 on loan for the remainder of the season. He made 12 appearances, all but one in league competition.

Birmingham City (second loan)

Sanderson rejoined Championship club Birmingham City on 5 July 2022 on a season-long loan. As he did during his previous loan, he started regularly, and was described in the Birmingham Mail's mid-season assessment as "a classy presence on the right side of the back three", more athletic but less physically dominant than Marc Roberts or Harlee Dean when played centrally. By February 2023, he was struggling both with a back injury and the need to avoid a tenth yellow card and resultant two-match ban. He remained on nine cards, but after 33 starts and one goal, he returned to Wolves for treatment to his back. Despite being initially ruled out for the season, he was able to start and score a late volleyed goal in Birmingham's final fixture, a 2–1 defeat at home to already promoted Sheffield United.

Birmingham City

After lengthy negotiations, Sanderson joined Birmingham City on a four-year contract on 15 July 2023; the fee was undisclosed. He was appointed captain.

Personal life

He is a nephew of the 1984 Olympic javelin gold medallist Tessa Sanderson.

In April 2024, Sanderson was charged with drink-driving.

Career statistics

As of match played 10 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
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2019–20 Premier League 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
2020–21 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2021–22 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2022–23 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 2019–20 — — — 3 0 3 0
2020–21 — — — 1 0 1 0
Total — — — 4 0 4 0
Cardiff City (loan) 2019–20 Championship 10 0 0 0 0 0 — 10 0
Sunderland (loan) 2020–21 League One 26 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 27 1
Birmingham City (loan) 2021–22 Championship 15 0 0 0 1 0 — 16 0
Queens Park Rangers (loan) 2021–22 Championship 11 0 1 0 — — 12 0
Birmingham City (loan) 2022–23 Championship 31 2 3 0 0 0 — 34 2
Birmingham City 2023–24 Championship 37 1 1 0 2 0 — 40 1
2024–25 League One 2 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 7 0
Total 71 3 5 0 3 0 3 0 81 3
Career total 132 4 7 0 5 0 7 0 151 4
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

References

  1. "2019/20 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 3 September 2019.
  2. "Dion Sanderson". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  3. "Sanderson signs contract extension". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  4. "Asia Trophy: Wolves beat Man City in bizarre penalty shootout". BBC Sport. 20 July 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  5. Sutcliffe, Steve (30 October 2019). "Aston Villa 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  6. "Cardiff City sign Albert Adomah and Dion Sanderson in loan deals". BBC Sport. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  7. "Dion Sanderson: Sunderland sign Wolves defender on loan". BBC Sport. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  8. Wilson, Scott (16 October 2020). "Sanderson joins on a deadline-day loan deal". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  9. Hunter, James (6 March 2021). "Sunderland 2-0 Rochdale player ratings as Wyke and Sanderson earn important win". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  10. Donnelly, Mark (14 March 2021). "The brilliant story of the day as Sunderland finally win at Wembley – as Lynden Gooch's strike downs Tranmere Rovers". Sunderland Echo. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  11. Hunter, James (27 April 2021). "'Big blow' for Sunderland as Dion Sanderson is ruled out of the run-in and any play-off games". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  12. "Sunderland 2–1 Lincoln City (2–3 agg.)". BBC Sport. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  13. Jamieson, Stuart (11 May 2021). "Dion Sanderson's message to 'class' Sunderland fans after landing award". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  14. "New contract and loan move for Sanderson". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  15. "EFL Cup: Birmingham City 0–2 Fulham". BBC Sport. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  16. Townley, John (18 September 2021). "Gardner red, Roberts injury – every word from Lee Bowyer on Blues' unexpected Peterborough defeat". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  17. Reis, Bruna (10 November 2021). "Wolves could deal Birmingham City January transfer blow". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  18. Dicken, Alex (4 January 2022). "Wolves have a new plan for Dion Sanderson after Birmingham City loan is cancelled". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  19. "Dion Sanderson: Queens Park Rangers sign Wolves defender on loan until the end of the season". BBC Sport. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Games played by Dion Sanderson in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  21. "Dion Sanderson is back at Blues". Birmingham City F.C. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  22. Dick, Brian (16 November 2022). "Birmingham City midseason player ratings as Hogan shines and Man Utd teen plays with 'hair on fire'". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  23. Dick, Brian (13 February 2023). "Explained: What EFL yellow card rules mean for Birmingham City and Dion Sanderson". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  24. Dick, Brian (23 February 2023). "John Eustace sends Wolves transfer message as Birmingham City loanee ruled out for the season". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  25. Dicken, Alex (8 May 2023). "Birmingham City player ratings vs Sheffield United after Tom Wagner watches final day defeat". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  26. Chapman, Joseph (15 July 2023). "Birmingham City complete seventh summer transfer as defender confirms he's 'home'". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  27. "Dion Sanderson named Blues men's captain". Birmingham City F.C. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  28. Swarbrick, Rosie (4 November 2019). "Olympian Tessa Sanderson so proud to see nephew Dion Sanderson flying the family flag with Wolves". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  29. Dicken, Alex (22 April 2019). "Birmingham City defender Dion Sanderson to appear in court on drink-driving charge". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  30. ^ "Games played by Dion Sanderson in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  31. ^ "Games played by Dion Sanderson in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  32. ^ "Games played by Dion Sanderson in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  33. "Games played by Dion Sanderson in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  34. "Games played by Dion Sanderson in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 December 2024.

External links

Birmingham City F.C. – current squad
Categories: