Sorba Thomas
{{Short description|Welsh footballer (born 1999)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Sorba Thomas
| image = Thomas asse fcn 2425.png
| caption = Thomas with Nantes in 2025
| fullname = Benjamin Sorba William Thomas{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce44/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Wales (WAL) |publisher=FIFA |page=32 |date=15 November 2022 |access-date=15 November 2022}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|01|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = Barking, England{{Cite web|url=https://mtagfootball.com/2020/09/03/interview-sorba-thomas/|title=Interview Sorba Thomas|first=Lars|last=Meijer|date=3 September 2020}}
| height =
| position = Winger
| currentclub = Stoke City
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = West Ham United
| youthyears2 = 2015–2017
| youthclubs2 = Boreham Wood
| years1 = 2016–2021
| clubs1 = Boreham Wood
| caps1 = 77
| goals1 = 8
| years2 = 2018
| clubs2 = → Cheshunt (loan)
| caps2 = 2
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2021–2025
| clubs3 = Huddersfield Town
| caps3 = 114
| goals3 = 7
| years4 = 2023
| clubs4 = → Blackburn Rovers (loan)
| caps4 = 17
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2024–2025
| clubs5 = → Nantes (loan)
| caps5 = 25
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2025–
| clubs6 = Stoke City
| caps6 = 0
| goals6 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2021–
| nationalteam1 = Wales
| nationalcaps1 = 18
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| club-update = 22:49, 8 June 2025 (UTC)
| ntupdate = 20:48, 9 June 2025 (UTC)
}}
Benjamin Sorba William Thomas (born 25 January 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for {{English football updater|StokeCty}} club Stoke City and the Wales national team.
Club career
=Early life & career=
Thomas was born in Barking, London and attended St Margaret's Primary School and Eastbury Community School.{{cite web |title=Copa America - Yunus Musah |url=https://eastbury.bardaglea.org.uk/News/Copa-America-Yunus-Musah/ |website=Eastbury Community School |access-date=8 June 2025}} He played football for Barking & Dagenham District Schools team.{{cite web |title=Barking & Dagenham boys to cheer Sorba Thomas at World Cup |url=https://www.barkinganddagenhampost.co.uk/news/23136847.barking-dagenham-boys-cheer-ex-teammate-world-cup/ |website=Barking & Dagenham Post |access-date=8 June 2025}} He began playing at West Ham United's Academy before being released at 16.{{cite web |title=Sorba Thomas' journey from JD Sports and scaffolding to play-off dream with Huddersfield Town |url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/sorba-thomas-jd-sports-scaffolding-24074379 |website=Yorkshire Live |access-date=8 June 2025}}
=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. In January 2018, he spent a month on loan at Isthmian League North side Cheshunt.{{Cite web |date=11 January 2018 |title=Ambers Bring In Wood Youngster On Loan |url=https://nonleague.pitchero.com/transfers/ambers-bring-wood-youngster-loan/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115065021/https://nonleague.pitchero.com/transfers/ambers-bring-wood-youngster-loan/ |archive-date=15 January 2018 |accessdate=11 October 2021 |website=Non League Pitchero}} Whilst in the youth team at Boreham Wood, Thomas worked at JD Sports in Oxford Circus and also as a scaffolder.{{cite web |title=Sorba Thomas to Stoke City transfer: from scaffolder to set piece specialist |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-transfer-sorba-thomas-10245952 |website=Stoke Sentinel |access-date=8 June 2025}}
=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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.htafc.com/news/2021/january/sorba-thomas-his-career-so-far/|title=Sorba Thomas: His Career So Far|website=www.htafc.com}}{{Cite web|title=Transfer: Sorba Thomas Arrives At Town|url=https://www.htafc.com/news/2021/january/transfer-sorba-thomas-arrives-at-town/|access-date=28 August 2021|website=www.htafc.com|language=en-gb}} He made his professional debut for Huddersfield in a 3–2 EFL Championship loss to Wycombe Wanderers on 13 February 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2021/02/13/england/championship/huddersfield-town-fc/wycombe-wanderers-fc/3345590/|title=Huddersfield Town vs. Wycombe Wanderers - 13 February 2021 - Soccerway|website=uk.soccerway.com}}
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.{{Cite news|title=Covid-hit Terriers fight back at Derby|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58035735|access-date=10 September 2021}} 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.
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.{{Citation|title=⚽️ Extended Highlights {{!}} Huddersfield Town 4-0 Reading| date=28 August 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqjDDCFoZQ8|language=en|access-date=10 September 2021}}{{Cite news|title=Thomas stars as Terriers thrash Reading|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58289216|access-date=10 September 2021}}
On 10 September 2021, Thomas was awarded EFL Championship Player of the Month for August 2021.{{Cite web|title=Sorba Thomas Named Sky Bet Championship Player Of The Month |url=https://www.htafc.com/news/2021/september/sorba-thomas-named-sky-bet-championship-player-of-the-month/|access-date=10 September 2021|website=www.htafc.com|language=en-gb}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.htafc.com/news/2022/may/new-long-term-contract-for-sorba-thomas/|title=NEW LONG-TERM CONTRACT FOR SORBA THOMAS!|website=www.htafc.com|date=19 May 2022|accessdate=22 May 2022}}
On 25 January 2023, he joined fellow EFL Championship side Blackburn Rovers on loan for the remainder of the 2022–23 season.{{cite news |title=LOAN: SORBA THOMAS JOINS BLACKBURN ROVERS |url=https://www.htafc.com/news/2023/january/loan-sorba-thomas-joins-blackburn-rovers/ |access-date=26 January 2023 |publisher=Huddersfield Town AFC |date=25 January 2023}}
On 30 July 2024, Thomas joined Ligue 1 club Nantes on a season-long loan deal with an option to buy.{{cite web|url=https://www.htafc.com/news/2024/july/30/loan--sorba-thomas-joins-nantes/|title=LOAN: SORBA THOMAS JOINS NANTES|website=www.htafc.com|date=30 July 2024|accessdate=31 July 2024}}
=Stoke City=
Thomas joined Stoke City on 7 June 2025, signing a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web |title=Potters sign Wales international Sorba Thomas |url=https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2025/june/07/potters-sign-wales-international-sorba-thomas/ |website=Stoke City |access-date=7 June 2025}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk/uncategorized/england-c-come-calling-for-wood-trio/|title=ENGLAND C COME CALLING FOR WOOD TRIO|website=www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk|date=2 March 2020|access-date=2 January 2022}}
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.{{Cite news|title=Gareth Bale: Real Madrid forward misses Wales' October World Cup qualifiers with injury|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58708812|access-date=28 September 2021|language=en-gb}} He made his international debut for Wales on 8 October 2021 as a second-half substitute in the 2–2 draw against Czech Republic,{{cite news|title=Thomas Wales debut - World Cup qualifying: Czech Republic 2-2 Wales|date=8 October 2021|work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/56117260 }} 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.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63545011 2022 Wales World Cup squad] Thomas scored his first goal for Wales on 9 June 2025 in the 4-3 World Cup Qualifying match defeat to Belgium.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c7539d4zw4dt Thomas first Wales goal]
Personal life
Thomas was born in England to a Sierra Leonean father and Welsh mother. He qualifies to play for Wales through his mother who was born in Newport.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58258631|title=Sorba Thomas: Wales boss Page monitors Huddersfield winger|work=BBC Sport}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 17 May 2025}}
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 9 June 2025}}{{NFT|84241|access-date=22 May 2022}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year ! National team !! Year !! Apps !! Goals | ||
| rowspan="5" |Wales
|2021 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 6 | 0 |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 |
| colspan="2" | Total | 18 | 1 |
|---|
Scores and results list Wales' goal tally first.
| class="wikitable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Sorba Thomas ! scope="col" |No. ! scope="col" |Date ! scope="col" |Venue ! scope="col" |Cap ! scope="col" |Opponent ! scope="col" |Score ! scope="col" |Result ! scope="col" |Competition |
| align="center" |1
|9 June 2025 |King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium | align="center" |18 |{{fb|BEL}} |{{center|2–3}} |{{center|3–4}} |
Honours
Individual
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|sorba-thomas/469590}}
{{Stoke City F.C. squad}}
{{Wales squad 2022 FIFA World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Sorba}}
Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Newham
Category:Welsh men's footballers
Category:Wales men's international footballers
Category:Welsh people of Sierra Leonean descent
Category:Sierra Leone Creole people
Category:English people of Sierra Leonean descent
Category:Sportspeople of Sierra Leonean descent
Category:English people of Welsh descent
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:Boreham Wood F.C. players
Category:Cheshunt F.C. players
Category:Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players
Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. players
Category:Stoke City F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Isthmian League players
Category:2022 FIFA World Cup players
Category:Welsh expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France