Matty Longstaff
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Matty Longstaff
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| full_name = Matthew Ben Longstaff{{soccerway|matthew-longstaff/453909}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|3|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = Rotherham, England
| height = 5 ft 7 in{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/matty-longstaff/|title=Matty Longstaff|website=MLSsoccer.com|access-date=28 August 2024}}
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Toronto FC
| clubnumber = 8
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2019
| youthclubs1 = Newcastle United
| years1 = 2019–2023
| clubs1 = Newcastle United
| caps1 = 14
| goals1 = 2
| years2 = 2021
| clubs2 = → Aberdeen (loan)
| caps2 = 5
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2022
| clubs3 = → Mansfield Town (loan)
| caps3 = 16
| goals3 = 6
| years4 = 2022–2023
| clubs4 = → Colchester United (loan)
| caps4 = 7
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2024–
| clubs5 = Toronto FC
| caps5 = 37
| goals5 = 2
| nationalyears1 = 2019
| nationalteam1 = England U20
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 19 April 2025
}}
Matthew Ben Longstaff (born 21 March 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Toronto FC.
Club career
=Newcastle United=
Longstaff made his first-team debut for Newcastle United on 28 August 2019, starting against Leicester City in the EFL Cup.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49416526 |title=Newcastle United v Leicester City |website=BBC Sport |date=28 August 2019 |access-date=28 August 2019}} He scored in the 72nd minute of his Premier League debut, in a 1–0 win against Manchester United on 6 October.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49868087 |title=Newcastle 1–0 Man Utd: Matty Longstaff scores winner on debut |website=BBC Sport |date=6 October 2019 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49955208 |title=Matty Longstaff: A day to remember for the Newcastle midfielder |website=BBC Sport |date=6 October 2019 }} The powerful strike from outside the box was later voted as Premier League Goal of the Month.{{Cite web|title=Longstaff claims Budweiser Goal of the Month for October 2019|url=http://www.premierleague.com/news/1486154|access-date=2021-03-05|website=Premierleague.com|language=en}} He then went on to score in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford, the opening goal in a 4–1 defeat.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50847256|title=Manchester United 4–1 Newcastle United: Anthony Martial stars in thumping win|date=2019-12-26|access-date=2020-01-17|language=en-GB}}
Following the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2019–20 season, Longstaff signed a new two-year contract with Newcastle United on 22 August 2020.{{cite web |title=Matty Longstaff signs new contract with the Magpies |url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/matty-longstaff-signs-new-contract-with-the-magpies/ |website=Newcastle United FC |access-date=9 September 2020}} In announcing their retained list for the 2023/24 season, Newcastle United released Longstaff at the end of his contract. However, the club continued to ensure he received treatment on his anterior cruciate ligament injury, which Longstaff suffered in December 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/magpies-confirm-retained-list-for-202324-season/|title=Magpies confirm retained list for 2023/24 season|date=14 June 2023|website=Nufc.co.uk|access-date=6 July 2023}}
==Aberdeen (loan)==
On 27 August 2021, Longstaff joined Scottish club Aberdeen on a season-long loan.{{cite web|url=https://www.afc.co.uk/2021/08/27/matty-longstaff-joins-the-dons/|title=MATTY LONGSTAFF JOINS THE DONS|publisher=Aberdeen FC|date=27 August 2021|access-date=27 August 2021}}
On 26 December 2021, Longstaff was recalled early by his parent club Newcastle United, having only featured five times for Aberdeen.{{cite web|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/aberdeen-fc/3794187/aberdeen-midfielder-matty-longstaff-recalled-by-newcastle/|title=Aberdeen midfielder Matty Longstaff recalled by Newcastle|website=pressandjournal.co.uk|first=Paul|last=Third|date=26 December 2021|access-date=27 December 2021}}
==Mansfield Town (loan)==
On 31 January 2022, Longstaff joined EFL League Two side Mansfield Town on loan for the remainder of the season.{{cite web|title=Stags land Newcastle midfielder |url=https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2022/january/stags-land-newcastle-midfielder/ |publisher=Mansfield Town F.C. |date=31 January 2022|access-date=31 January 2022}}
==Colchester United (loan)==
On 1 September 2022, Longstaff joined EFL League Two side Colchester United on a short-term loan. He returned to Newcastle on 1 January 2023 following a knee injury.{{cite news|url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/longstaff-returns-to-tyneside-following-knee-injury/|title=Longstaff returns to Tyneside following knee injury|date=1 January 2023|access-date=23 February 2023|publisher=Newcastle United F.C.}}
=Toronto FC=
On 29 February 2024, Major League Soccer club Toronto FC announced the signing of Longstaff as a free agent on a two-year contract, with an option for an additional year.{{cite news|url=https://www.torontofc.ca/news/toronto-fc-acquire-midfielder-matty-longstaff|title=Toronto FC acquire Midfielder Matty Longstaff|publisher=Toronto FC|date=29 February 2024|access-date=29 February 2024}}
On 5 May he scored his first goal for Toronto against FC Dallas.
International career
On 8 November 2019, Longstaff received his first international call up to the England U20 side.{{cite news |url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2019/nov/08/england-mu20s-squad-for-portugal-iceland-081119 |title=KEITH DOWNING PICKS HIS SQUAD FOR GAMES IN PORTUGAL AND WITH ICELAND IN WYCOMBE |website=TheFA.com |date=8 November 2019 }} He made his debut as a substitute during a 4–0 win over Portugal on 14 November 2019.{{cite news |url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2019/nov/14/england-mu20s-portugal-report-141119 |title=A FOUR-STAR PERFORMANCE FROM THE YOUNG LIONS SAW THEM PICK UP VICTORY IN PORTUGAL |website=TheFA.com |date=14 November 2019 |access-date=16 November 2019}}
Personal life
Longstaff was born in Rotherham, South Yorkshire{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/matty-longstaff-262867/ |title=Matty Longstaff |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |access-date=8 November 2019}} and raised in North Shields, Tyne and Wear.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/oct/17/sean-matty-longstaff-newcastle-united |title=Sean and Matty Longstaff: 'Knowing your brother has got your back is special' |first=Louise |last=Taylor |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=17 October 2019 |access-date=8 November 2019}} Longstaff went to school at John Spence Community High School. Longstaff was a boyhood Newcastle United supporter and his older brother Sean is a footballer for Newcastle United. Their father David is a former Great Britain ice hockey player, who featured over 100 times for the national side, and is still active as coach for the Whitley Warriors.{{cite web |url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/teams/under-23s/matthew-longstaff |title=Newcastle United – Matthew Longstaff |publisher=Newcastle United F.C. |access-date=18 January 2018 |archive-date=19 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121154/https://www.nufc.co.uk/teams/under-23s/matthew-longstaff |url-status=dead }} David is the cousin of former England international Alan Thompson.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/feb/28/newcastle-sean-longstaff-rafael-benitez-midfielder |title=Newcastle's Sean Longstaff: the new Carrick with added ice in his veins |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=28 February 2019 |access-date=6 July 2019}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 19 April 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"|National cup !colspan="2"|League cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle United U23
|2018–19{{soccerbase season|115848|2018|Matthew Longstaff|access-date=28 December 2019}} |colspan="3"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 5{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearances in EFL Trophy}} | 1 | 5 | 1 | ||||
| rowspan="5"|Newcastle United
|2019–20{{soccerbase season|115848|2019|Matthew Longstaff|access-date=27 October 2019}} |9 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 15 | 3 | ||
| 2020–21{{soccerbase season|115848|2020|Matthew Longstaff|access-date=29 January 2021}}
|Premier League |5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22
|Premier League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23{{soccerbase season|115848|2022|Matthew Longstaff|access-date=6 September 2022}}
|Premier League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!14 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 3 | |
| Aberdeen (loan)
|2021–22{{soccerbase season|115848|2021|Matthew Longstaff|access-date=27 August 2021}} |5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Mansfield Town (loan)
|16 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 6 | |
| Colchester United (loan)
|League Two |7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| rowspan="3"|Toronto FC
|2024 |32 | 2 | 5 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 3{{efn|Appearances in Leagues Cup}} | 0 | 40 | 3 | ||
| 2025
|Major League Soccer |5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!37 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 3 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!79 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 101 | 12 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{soccerway|matthew-longstaff/453909}}
{{Toronto FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Longstaff, Matty}}
Category:Footballers from Rotherham
Category:Footballers from North Shields
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Newcastle United F.C. players
Category:Aberdeen F.C. players
Category:Mansfield Town F.C. players
Category:Colchester United F.C. players
Category:Premier League players
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players
Category:English Football League players
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:English expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Canada