Sorba Thomas

Sorba Thomas
Thomas with Nantes in 2025
Personal information
Full name Benjamin Sorba William Thomas[1]
Date of birth (1999-01-25) 25 January 1999
Place of birth Barking, England[2]
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[3]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Stoke City
Youth career
2012–2015 West Ham United
2015–2017 Boreham Wood
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2021 Boreham Wood 77 (8)
2018 → Cheshunt (loan) 2 (0)
2021–2025 Huddersfield Town 114 (7)
2023 → Blackburn Rovers (loan) 17 (0)
2024–2025 → Nantes (loan) 25 (1)
2025– Stoke City 0 (0)
International career‡
2021– Wales 18 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:49, 8 June 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:48, 9 June 2025 (UTC)

Benjamin Sorba William Thomas (born 25 January 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for EFL Championship club Stoke City and the Wales national team.

After leaving the West Ham United Academy at 16, Thomas played for National League side Boreham Wood until he was signed by Championship side Huddersfield Town in January 2021. Thomas helped the Terriers reach the 2022 EFL Championship play-off final, losing to Nottingham Forest. He spent time out on loan at Blackburn Rovers and French Ligue 1 side Nantes before joining Stoke City in June 2025.

Club career

Early life & career

Thomas was born in Barking, London and attended St Margaret's Primary School and Eastbury Community School.[4] He played football for Barking & Dagenham District Schools team.[5] He began playing at West Ham United's Academy before being released at 16.[6]

Boreham Wood

Thomas joined the youth academy of Boreham Wood at the age of 16. He began his senior career at Boreham Wood aged 17. He was an instrumental part of the under-18 side that reached the FA Youth Cup second round in 2016–17, which included a win over English Football League side Northampton Town.[7] In January 2018, he spent a month on loan at Isthmian League North side Cheshunt.[7] Whilst in the youth team at Boreham Wood, Thomas worked at JD Sports in Oxford Circus and also as a scaffolder.[8] Thomas made his debut in the first team in September 2017 and came on as a substitute in the 2018 National League play-off final as Boreham Wood lost 2–1 to Tranmere Rovers.[9] He became a regular under Luke Garrard in 2018–19 and 2019–20. His performances attracted the attentions of English Football League clubs and in January 2021 a bid was accepted by Boreham Wood from Huddersfield Town.[9]

Huddersfield Town

On 13 January 2021, Thomas signed a contract with Huddersfield Town until the end of 2023–24 season with the club having the option of a further year's extension.[10][11] He made his professional debut for Huddersfield in a 3–2 EFL Championship loss to Wycombe Wanderers on 13 February 2021.[12] In the first Championship game of the 2021–22 season, a 1–1 draw with Derby County on 7 August 2021, Thomas got his first assist, supplying a cross from a free kick which was headed in by Naby Sarr.[13] In the following game, a 5–1 home defeat to Fulham, he overhit a backpass which ultimately resulted in Fulham's opening goal, but later provided the assist for Huddersfield's only goal from a corner kick, Matty Pearson scoring with a header.[13] On 28 August 2021, he scored his first goal (as well as providing two assists) in a 4–0 home victory against Reading: he took possession of the ball at the halfway line, dribbled into the penalty area and placed a low shot past the goalkeeper.[14][15] On 10 September 2021, Thomas was awarded EFL Championship Player of the Month for August 2021.[16] On 19 May 2022, one week before the 2022 EFL Championship play-off final, Thomas signed a new long-term contract with the club until summer 2026 with the club option to extend for a further year.[17] Huddersfield lost the final 1–0 to Nottingham Forest.[18]

In 2022–23 Huddersfield struggled at the lower end of the Championship, and on 25 January 2023, Thomas joined play-off chasing Blackburn Rovers on loan for the remainder of the 2022–23 season.[19] He played 17 times for Rovers as they missed out on a top six finish on goal difference.[20] Thomas was a regular back at Huddersfield in 2023–24, making 42 appearances, as the Terriers suffered relegation to League One.[21] On 30 July 2024, Thomas joined French Ligue 1 club Nantes on loan for the 2024–25 season.[22] Thomas played 27 times for Les Canaris, scoring once in a 2–2 draw against Saint-Étienne on 29 September 2024.[23]

Stoke City

Thomas joined Stoke City on 7 June 2025, signing a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[24]

International career

In March 2020, Thomas was called up to the England C team for the first time for a fixture against Wales C team however this match was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[25]

On 28 September 2021, Thomas was called up into the senior Wales squad for the first time for their 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Czech Republic and Estonia.[26] He made his international debut for Wales on 8 October 2021 as a second-half substitute in the 2–2 draw against Czech Republic,[27] and completed his first full 90 minutes three days later in the match against Estonia. In November 2022 he was named in the Wales squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[28] Thomas scored his first goal for Wales on 9 June 2025 in the 4-3 World Cup Qualifying match defeat to Belgium.[29]

Personal life

Thomas was born in England to a Sierra Leonean father and Welsh mother.[2] He qualifies to play for Wales through his mother who was born in Newport.[30]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 17 May 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Boreham Wood 2017–18[31][32] National League 3 0 0 0 — 5[c] 0 8 0
2018–19[33] National League 32 0 2 0 — 3[d] 0 37 0
2019–20[34] National League 32 5 1 0 — 3[e] 0 36 5
2020–21[35] National League 10 3 4 0 — 0 0 14 3
Total 77 8 7 0 — 11 0 95 8
Cheshunt (loan) 2017–18[36][37] Isthmian League North 2 0 — — — 2 0
Huddersfield Town 2020–21[35] Championship 7 0 — — — 7 0
2021–22[38] Championship 43 3 3 0 2 0 3[f] 0 51 3
2022–23[39] Championship 23 0 1 0 1 0 — 25 0
2023–24[40] Championship 41 4 1 0 0 0 — 42 4
2024–25[41] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 114 7 5 0 3 0 3 0 125 7
Blackburn Rovers (loan) 2022–23[39] Championship 17 0 0 0 0 0 — 17 0
Nantes (loan) 2024–25[41] Ligue 1 25 1 2 0 — — 27 1
Stoke City 2025–26[42] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Career total 235 16 14 0 3 0 14 0 266 16
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup, Coupe de France
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ Two appearances in National League play-offs, one appearance in FA Trophy; two appearances in Hertfordshire Senior Cup
  4. ^ Two appearances in FA Trophy; one appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup
  5. ^ Two appearances in National League play-offs; one appearance in FA Trophy
  6. ^ Appearance(s) in Championship play-offs

International

As of match played 9 June 2025[43]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Wales 2021 2 0
2022 5 0
2023 1 0
2024 6 0
2025 4 1
Total 18 1

Scores and results list Wales' goal tally first.

List of international goals scored by Sorba Thomas
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 9 June 2025 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium 18  Belgium
2–3
3–4
 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Individual

See also

References

  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Wales (WAL)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 32. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b Meijer, Lars (3 September 2020). "Interview Sorba Thomas".
  3. ^ https://www.whoscored.com/players/366114/history/sorba-thomas
  4. ^ "Copa America - Yunus Musah". Eastbury Community School. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Barking & Dagenham boys to cheer Sorba Thomas at World Cup". Barking & Dagenham Post. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  6. ^ "Sorba Thomas' journey from JD Sports and scaffolding to play-off dream with Huddersfield Town". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Ambers Bring In Wood Youngster On Loan". Non League Pitchero. 11 January 2018. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Sorba Thomas to Stoke City transfer: from scaffolder to set piece specialist". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  9. ^ a b "One of our own becomes a Terrier". Boreham Wood. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  10. ^ "Sorba Thomas: His Career So Far". www.htafc.com.
  11. ^ "Transfer: Sorba Thomas Arrives At Town". www.htafc.com. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Huddersfield Town vs. Wycombe Wanderers - 13 February 2021 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
  13. ^ a b "Covid-hit Terriers fight back at Derby". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  14. ^ ⚽️ Extended Highlights Huddersfield Town 4-0 Reading, 28 August 2021, retrieved 10 September 2021
  15. ^ "Thomas stars as Terriers thrash Reading". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Sorba Thomas Named Sky Bet Championship Player Of The Month". www.htafc.com. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  17. ^ "NEW LONG-TERM CONTRACT FOR SORBA THOMAS!". www.htafc.com. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Championship play-off final: Huddersfield Town 0-1 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  19. ^ "LOAN: SORBA THOMAS JOINS BLACKBURN ROVERS". Huddersfield Town AFC. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  20. ^ "Millwall 3-4 Blackburn Rovers: Lions denied play-off spot by Rovers comeback". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  21. ^ "Ipswich Town Ipswich Town 2–0 Huddersfield Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  22. ^ "LOAN: SORBA THOMAS JOINS NANTES". www.htafc.com. 30 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  23. ^ "Nantes 2–2 St. Étienne". ESPN. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  24. ^ "Potters sign Wales international Sorba Thomas". Stoke City. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  25. ^ "ENGLAND C COME CALLING FOR WOOD TRIO". www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  26. ^ "Gareth Bale: Real Madrid forward misses Wales' October World Cup qualifiers with injury". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  27. ^ "Thomas Wales debut - World Cup qualifying: Czech Republic 2-2 Wales". BBC Sport. 8 October 2021.
  28. ^ 2022 Wales World Cup squad
  29. ^ Thomas first Wales goal
  30. ^ "Sorba Thomas: Wales boss Page monitors Huddersfield winger". BBC Sport.
  31. ^ "Games played by Sorba Thomas in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  32. ^ "Sorba Thomas Profile | Aylesbury United FC". www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  33. ^ "Games played by Sorba Thomas in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  34. ^ "Games played by Sorba Thomas in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  35. ^ a b "Games played by Sorba Thomas in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  36. ^ "Cheshunt | Appearances | Ben Sorba | 2017-2018". FootballWebPages. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  37. ^ "Cheshunt | Appearances | Sorba Thomas | 2017-2018". FootballWebPages. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  38. ^ "Games played by Sorba Thomas in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  39. ^ a b "Games played by Sorba Thomas in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  40. ^ "Games played by Sorba Thomas in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  41. ^ a b "Games played by Sorba Thomas in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  42. ^ "Games played by Sorba Thomas in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  43. ^ "Sorba Thomas". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
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