Brandon Wilson (footballer, born 1997)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Brandon Wilson

| image = Brandon_Wilson.jpg

| caption = Wilson in 2023

| fullname = Brandon James Wilson{{cite news|url=http://www.efl.com/news/article/2016/efl-club-retained-and-released-lists-published-3151313.aspx|publisher=English Football League|accessdate=22 August 2016|date=23 June 2016|title=EFL: Club retained and released lists published}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|1|28|df=y}}

| birth_place = Gaborone, Botswana

| height = 1.85 m

| currentclub = Bali United

| clubnumber = 6

| position = Defensive midfielder

| youthyears1 = 2013–2016

| youthclubs1 = Burnley

| years1 = 2016

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| clubs1 = Burnley

| years2 = 2016

| caps2 = 7

| goals2 = 1

| clubs2 = → Stockport County (loan)

| years3 = 2016–2019

| caps3 = 17

| goals3 = 2

| clubs3 = Perth Glory NPL

| years4 = 2016–2020

| caps4 = 45

| goals4 = 0

| clubs4 = Perth Glory

| years5 = 2020

| caps5 = 4

| goals5 = 0

| clubs5 = Wellington Phoenix

| years6 = 2020

| caps6 = 2

| goals6 = 0

| clubs6 = → Wellington Phoenix Reserves

| years7 = 2020–2021

| caps7 = 17

| goals7 = 1

| clubs7 = Perth Glory

| years8 = 2021

| caps8 = 13

| goals8 = 0

| clubs8 = SJK

| years9 = 2021

| caps9 = 1

| goals9 = 0

| clubs9 = SJK Akatemia

| years10 = 2022

| caps10 = 11

| goals10 = 0

| clubs10 = Newcastle Jets

| years11 = 2022–2023

| clubs11 = Lampang

| caps11 = 11

| goals11 = 0

| years12 = 2023

| clubs12 = SHB Da Nang

| caps12 = 7

| goals12 = 0

| years13 = 2023–2024

| clubs13 = Hanoi FC

| caps13 = 10

| goals13 = 0

| years14 = 2024–

| clubs14 = Bali United

| caps14 = 28

| goals14 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2015

| nationalteam1 = Australia U20

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2017–2019

| nationalteam2 = Australia U23

| nationalcaps2 = 7

| nationalgoals2 = 2

| nationalcaps3 = 1

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| club-update = 1 May 2025

| ntupdate =

}}

Brandon James Wilson (born 28 January 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Liga 1 club Bali United.

Wilson moved to Australia at a young age and later moved to England to play youth football for Burnley before making his senior debut for Stockport County. In 2016, he returned to Australia to play for Perth Glory.

Early life

Wilson was born in Gaborone, Botswana, to English parents and grew up in Doncaster, England, from the age of two. He moved to Western Australia at age ten.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/burnleys-boys-down-under|title=Burnley's boys from Down Under|date=9 February 2014|accessdate=18 August 2016|magazine=FourFourTwo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911202330/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/burnleys-boys-down-under|archive-date=11 September 2016|url-status=dead}}

Club career

Wilson joined Burnley in 2013.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/burnleys-brandon-wilson-keeping-options-open|title=Burnley's Brandon Wilson keeping options open|date=9 February 2014|accessdate=18 August 2016|magazine=FourFourTwo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911220044/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/burnleys-brandon-wilson-keeping-options-open|archive-date=11 September 2016|url-status=dead}} He was loaned to Stockport County in 2016.{{cite news|url=http://www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk/sport/burnley-fc/latest-news/aussie-wilson-links-up-with-stockport-1-7820530|title=Aussie Wilson links up with Stockport|publisher=Clitheroe Advertiser and Times|date=28 March 2016|accessdate=18 August 2016}}

In July 2016, Wilson returned to Western Australia signing with Perth Glory to play in the A-League.{{cite news|url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/football/a-league/teams/perth/perth-glory-signs-wabred-midfielder-brandon-wilson-with-english-side-burnley/news-story/90536d9c0c082844544b80038920131b|title=Perth Glory signs WA-bred midfielder Brandon Wilson with English side Burnley|date=1 July 2016|accessdate=18 August 2016|newspaper=The Sunday Times}} He made his professional debut for Perth Glory on 10 August 2016 in a 2–0 win against Brisbane Roar in the 2016 FFA Cup.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theffacup.com.au/matchcentre/Brisbane-Roar-FC-v-Perth-Glory/862148|title = Brisbane Roar FC vs Perth Glory, FFA Cup, Round of 32, 10th Aug 2016|date = 31 July 2017}} Mainly playing as a midfielder, Wilson showed his versatility in December by filling in as the starting right back against Melbourne Victory.

On 28 February 2022, Newcastle Jets announced Wilson had signed with the club on a short-term deal until the end of the 2021–22 A-League Men.{{cite news|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/7636972/former-olyroo-to-add-starch-to-jets-midfield/|title=Former Olyroo to add starch to Jets midfield|first=James|last=Gardiner|website=The Newcastle Herald|accessdate=28 February 2022|date=28 February 2022}}

International career

In September 2015, Wilson was named in the Australian under-20 side to travel to Laos for 2016 AFC U-19 Championship qualification.{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/breaking-news/young-socceroos-squad-named-for-upcoming-afc-u19-championship-qualifiers-in-laos/news-story/67f30a9fd8dd95835e3d1fee11a84475|title=Young Socceroos squad named for upcoming AFC U19 Championship Qualifiers in Laos|work=Fox Sports|date=25 September 2015|access-date=18 August 2016}} He made his debut for the side in a win over Laos.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=9672&stageid=374&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary|title=Laos 0–2 Australia|date=4 October 2015|access-date=18 August 2016|publisher=Asian Football Confederation}} He is also eligible to represent Botswana and England at senior level.{{cite web|url=http://www.thegazette.news/?p=16105|title=I would love to play for the Zebras – Wilson|date=25 August 2016|access-date=26 October 2016}}

In November 2019, he was one of four players suspended by the Australia U23 due to "unprofessional conduct".{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50471012|title=Four Australia Under-23 players banned after complaint from woman|work=BBC Sport|date=19 November 2019}}

In November 2023, he received a call up for Botswana national team but has not yet been able to play due to issues gaining Botswana citizenship and receiving a Botswana passport as an Australian citizen, with Botswana currently not allowing dual citizenship. Despite this, Wilson has participated in training camps with the squad.{{Cite web |last=Mosekiemang |first=Kenneth |date=5 December 2023 |title=Immigration Law Delays Wilson's Zebras Debut |url=https://www.weekendpost.co.bw/38979/sport/immigration-law-delays-wilsons-zebras-debut/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214120806/https://www.weekendpost.co.bw/38979/sport/immigration-law-delays-wilsons-zebras-debut/ |archive-date=14 December 2023 |access-date=17 April 2024 |website=Weekend Post}}{{Cite web |last=Dube |first=Mqondisi |date=2024-02-10 |title=No progress in Wilson's citizenship push |url=https://www.mmegi.bw/sports/no-progress-in-wilsons-citizenship-push/news |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Mmegi Online |language=en}}