Darnell Furlong
{{short description|English footballer (born 1995)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Darnell Furlong
| image = Darnellfurlongqpr2017.jpg
| caption = Furlong playing for Queens Park Rangers in 2017
| full_name = Darnell Anthony Furlong{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/1869523 |title=2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed |publisher=Premier League |date=20 October 2020 |access-date=25 October 2020}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|10|31|df=y}}{{cite web | title = Darnell Furlong | url = https://www.11v11.com/players/darnell-furlong-248792/ | publisher = 11v11 | access-date =7 November 2017}}
| birth_place = Luton, Bedfordshire, England
| height = {{convert|1.83|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |title=Darnell Furlong |url=https://www.wba.co.uk/west-bromwich-albion/d-furlong |access-date=20 August 2022 |publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.}}
| position = Right-back
| currentclub = West Bromwich Albion
| clubnumber = 2
| youthyears1 = 2006–2015
| youthclubs1 = Queens Park Rangers
| years1 = 2015–2019
| clubs1 = Queens Park Rangers
| caps1 = 64
| goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2015
| clubs2 = → Northampton Town (loan)
| caps2 = 10
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2016
| clubs3 = → Cambridge United (loan)
| caps3 = 21
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2016–2017
| clubs4 = → Swindon Town (loan)
| caps4 = 24
| goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2019–
| clubs5 = West Bromwich Albion
| caps5 = 220
| goals5 = 10
| club-update = 09:01, 22 January 2025 (UTC)
}}
Darnell Anthony Furlong (born 31 October 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back for {{English football updater|WestBrom}} club West Bromwich Albion.
Career
=Queens Park Rangers=
Having impressed at junior level, Darnell signed his first professional contract with the club in March 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/260314-darnell-furlong-aaron-mitchell-qpr-pro-contracts-1445732.aspx | publisher=Queens Park Rangers F.C. | title=Darnell Furlong Signs Professional Contract | access-date=23 February 2015}} Furlong's Premier League and senior debut for Queens Park Rangers came on 21 February 2015 at the age of 19 in the 2–1 defeat against Hull City at The KC Stadium. Furlong was named in the starting line up by Head Coach Chris Ramsey and played the full 90 minutes.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31466664 | publisher=BBC Sport | title=Hull City 2–1 QPR | date=21 February 2015 | access-date=22 February 2015}} Furlong's second senior appearance came on 4 March 2015 for Queens Park Rangers at home to Arsenal, the Hoops lost the game 2–1, with Furlong playing the full 90 minutes.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31617050 | publisher=BBC Sport | title=QPR 2–1 Arsenal | access-date=4 March 2015}}
==Northampton Town (loan)==
On 11 September 2015, Furlong joined Northampton Town on a month's loan to gain first team experience.{{Cite news |title=Cobblers bring in loan defender |url=http://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/article/darnell-furlong-2680622.aspx |publisher=Northampton Town FC |date=11 September 2015}} The following day, Furlong made his debut in a 1–0 victory over Oxford United, playing the full 90 minutes.{{Cite news |title=Northampton Town 1–0 Oxford United |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/34160566 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 September 2015 |access-date=22 August 2016}} Furlong went on to make nine more league appearances for Northampton Town before returning to Queens Park Rangers in November 2015. Northampton later went on to win the League Two title without Furlong.
==Cambridge United (loan)==
On 5 January 2016, Furlong signed for Cambridge United on a one-month loan deal.{{Cite news |title=U'S SIGN QPR'S DARNELL FURLONG ON MONTH LOAN |url=http://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/news/article/us-sign-qprs-darnell-furlong-on-month-loan-2885430.aspx |publisher=Cambridge United F.C. |date=5 January 2016}} On 9 January 2016, Furlong made his Cambridge United debut in a 1–0 away defeat against Crawley Town, playing the full 90 minutes.{{Cite news |title=Crawley Town 1–0 Cambridge United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35211783 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 January 2016 |access-date=22 August 2016}} On 8 February 2016, after impressing within the first month of his loan spell with Cambridge United, Furlong's loan spell at the Abbey Stadium was extended for a further month.{{Cite news |title=Cambridge United: Ledson, Furlong & Page extend loans |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35521913 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 February 2016 |access-date=22 August 2016}} On 12 March 2016, Furlong started for Cambridge against Northampton, the team he had been on loan to at the start of the season. The match finished 1–1 with a dramatic late equaliser by Cambridge.{{Cite news |title=Northampton Town 1–1 Cambridge United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35733215 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=12 March 2016}} On 19 April 2016, Cambridge defeated Morecambe 7–0, with Furlong contributing with an assist. The result matched Cambridge's record of their biggest ever league victory.{{Cite news |title=Cambridge United 7–0 Morecambe |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36021675 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date= 19 April 2016}} After numerous loan extensions to Furlong's Cambridge United career, he returned to Queens Park Rangers at the end of the 2015–16 campaign having played for every minute of every league game for Cambridge since his signing.
==Swindon Town (loan)==
On 12 August 2016, Furlong joined League One side Swindon Town on a season-long loan.{{Cite news|title=QPR defender Darnell Furlong has joined Swindon Town on loan|url=http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/qpr-darnell-furlong-swindon-town-loan-3240856.aspx|publisher=Queens Park Rangers Official Site|date=12 August 2016|access-date=12 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813112727/http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/qpr-darnell-furlong-swindon-town-loan-3240856.aspx|archive-date=13 August 2016|url-status=dead}} A day later, Furlong made his debut in a 3–1 defeat against Chesterfield, in which he netted Swindon's consolation goal in the 88th minute, the first competitive professional goal of his career.{{Cite news |title=Chesterfield 3–1 Swindon Town |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36994128 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2016 |access-date=22 August 2016}} On 18 October 2016, Furlong opened the scoring for the Robins in the 24th minute, as Swindon went on to defeat Rochdale 3–0.{{Cite news |title=Swindon Town VS. Rochdale 3–0 |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2016/10/18/england/league-one/swindon-town-fc/rochdale-afc/2247447/ |publisher=SoccerWay |access-date=18 October 2016}} He was recalled by QPR on 2 January 2017, having started in all but three of Swindon's league games, and appearing in all but 1, from the time of his arrival, until his departure.{{Cite news |title=Doughty And Furlong Recalled By QPR |url=http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/doughty-and-furlong-recalled-by-qpr-3497284.aspx |publisher=Swindon Town F.C. |date=2 January 2017 |access-date=2 January 2017}}
==Return to Queens Park Rangers==
After Furlong was recalled from his loan at Swindon, he returned to the starting line up on 12 January 2017 (his first league appearance for the club in almost two years) as QPR pulled off an upset against promotion hopefuls Reading, 1–0 away from home, in which Furlong played the full 90 minutes.{{Cite news |title=Reading 0–1 QPR |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/reading-vs-qpr/teams/358418 |publisher=Sky Sports News |date=12 January 2017}} Under new boss Ian Holloway, Furlong saw a prolonged duration in the side in the form of a right back/right wing back. Shortly after returning from his loan spell, Furlong's sudden involvement with the first team earned him a two-year contract extension until the summer of 2019. On the contract extension, Furlong said "it's a massive boost for me personally and a fresh chance. I've really enjoyed the last few weeks and it's given me a taste of first team football at QPR. I've signed this new deal and I can really focus on kicking on."{{Cite news |title=Darnell Furlong signs new Queens Park Rangers deal |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11711/10743333/darnell-furlong-signs-new-queens-park-rangers-deal |publisher=Sky Sports News |date=26 January 2017}} He scored his first goal for QPR in an EFL Cup tie against Brentford on 22 August 2017.{{cite web
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40932133
|title=QPR 1–4 Brentford
|publisher=BBC
|date=22 August 2017 |access-date=29 August 2017}}
=West Bromwich Albion=
On 23 July 2019, Furlong signed for West Bromwich Albion for an undisclosed fee, signing a four-year deal with the club.{{cite web |url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/2019/july/albion-seal-furlong-deal/ |title=Albion seal Furlong deal |publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C. |date=23 July 2019 |access-date=23 July 2019}} He made his debut for the club on 13 August 2019 in the EFL Cup, in a 2–1 defeat to Millwall.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49245467 |title=West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Millwall: Aiden O'Brien winner sends Lions through |website=BBC |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2019 |access-date=28 February 2025}} He scored his first goal for West Brom against Huddersfield Town in the Championship on 22 September 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49705117 |title=West Brom 4–2 Huddersfield |date=22 September 2019 |website=BBC|access-date=22 September 2019}}
On 5 August 2021, Furlong signed a new four-year contract until 2025.{{cite web |url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/furlong-extends-hawthorns-stay |title=Furlong extends Hawthorns stay |website=West Bromwich Albion FC |publisher=West Bromwich Albion FC |date=5 August 2021 |access-date=28 February 2025}} On 18 October 2024, he signed a further contract extension until 2027.{{cite web |url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/darnell-furlong-signs-contract-extension |title=Darnell Furlong signs contract extension |website=West Bromwich Albion FC |publisher=West Bromwich Albion FC |date=18 October 2024 |access-date=28 February 2025}}
Personal life
Furlong is the son of former Coventry, Chelsea, Watford, Queens Park Rangers and Birmingham City, Luton Town striker Paul Furlong, who is currently an academy coach at QPR.{{cite web|url=http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/260314-darnell-furlong-aaron-mitchell-qpr-pro-contracts-1445732.aspx | publisher=Queens Park Rangers F.C. | title=Paul Furlong's pride at son Darnell's debut | access-date=24 August 2015}}
He is also eligible to play for Montserrat.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/2019/october/so-darnell-furlong-what-do-you-think-about/|title = So Darnell Furlong, what do you think about…? | West Bromwich Albion}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 21 January 2025}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|FA Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="6"|Queens Park Rangers
|2014–15{{soccerbase season|80303|2014|access-date=7 November 2017}} |3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16{{soccerbase season|80303|2015|access-date=7 November 2017}}
|0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2016–17{{soccerbase season|80303|2016|access-date=7 November 2017}}
|Championship |14 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 15 | 0 | |||
| 2017–18{{soccerbase season|80303|2017|access-date=7 November 2017}}
|Championship |22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 24 | 1 | ||
| 2018–19{{soccerbase season|80303|2018|access-date=28 December 2020}}
|Championship |25 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 29 | 1 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!64 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 72 | 2 | ||
| Northampton Town (loan)
|10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
| Cambridge United (loan)
|League Two |21 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 21 | 0 | ||||
| Swindon Town (loan)
|24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 3Appearances in EFL Trophy | 0 | 28 | 2 | ||
| rowspan=7|West Bromwich Albion
|2019–20{{soccerbase season|80303|2019|access-date=28 December 2020}} |Championship |31 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 33 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21{{soccerbase season|80303|2020|access-date=28 December 2020}}
|Premier League |35 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 36 | 1 | ||
| 2021–22{{soccerbase season|80303|2021|access-date=17 October 2022}}
|Championship |41 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 42 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23{{soccerbase season|80303|2022|access-date=17 October 2022}}
|Championship |40 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 41 | 2 | ||
| 2023–24{{soccerbase season|80303|2023|access-date=12 August 2022}}
|Championship |46 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=CHPO|Appearances in the EFL Championship play-offs}} | 0 | 49 | 5 | |
| 2024–25{{soccerbase season|80303|2024|access-date=12 August 2024}}
|Championship |27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 28 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!220 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 229 | 10 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!339 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 361 | 14 |
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{West Bromwich Albion F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Furlong, Darnell}}
Category:Footballers from Luton
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. players
Category:Northampton Town F.C. players
Category:Cambridge United F.C. players
Category:Swindon Town F.C. players
Category:Premier League players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Black British sportsmen