Tommy Setford

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Tommy Setford

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Tommy Hogan Setford

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2006|3|13|df=y}}

| birth_place = Haarlem, Netherlands

| height = {{convert|1.85|m|order=flip}}

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub = Arsenal

| clubnumber = 36

| youthyears1 = 2021–2024

| youthclubs1 = Ajax

| youthyears2 = 2024–

| youthclubs2 = Arsenal

| clubs1 = Arsenal

| years1 = 2025–

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2021

| nationalteam1 = England U16

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2021–2023

| nationalteam2 = England U17

| nationalcaps2 = 17

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2023

| nationalteam3 = England U18

| nationalcaps3 = 4

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 2024–

| nationalteam4 = England U19

| nationalcaps4 = 10

| nationalgoals4 = 0

| club-update = 00:15, 21 July 2024 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update = 09:08, 21 June 2025 (UTC)

}}

Tommy Hogan Setford (born 13 March 2006) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Arsenal. Born in the Netherlands, he represents England at the youth international level.

Born in Haarlem, Setford began his youth career at Ajax, before transferring out to Arsenal's academy, Hale End, in July 2024, aged 18. He made his senior debut for the first team on 30 October 2024, in an EFL Cup match against Preston North End.

Early life

Setford was born in 2006 in Haarlem, to an English professional golfer and a Dutch mother.{{cite news |url=https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/transfer-talk/feature/who-is-tommy-setford-everything-you-need-to-know-about-arsenals-new-goalkeeper_548144.html|title=Tommy Setford: Form, strengths and weaknesses ahead of Arsenal transfer|first=Ben|last=Knapton|website=SportsMole|date=14 July 2024|access-date=29 July 2024}} He is the brother of Ajax goalkeeper Charlie Setford.{{cite web|date=3 October 2024|access-date=8 June 2025|website=Arsenal.com|language=en|first=Brian|last=Matovu|title=Tommy Setford: Get to know tonight's debutant|url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/tommy-get-to-know-debutant}}

Club career

Setford was in the academy of AFC Ajax before joining the academy at Arsenal in July 2024 for an undisclosed fee in the region of €1 million.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5636273/2024/07/14/tommy-setford-arsenal-transfer|url-access=subscription|title=Arsenal reach agreement with Ajax to sign Tommy Setford|first=David|last=Ornstein|website=The Athletic|date=14 July 2024|accessdate=21 July 2024}} He agreed a four year contract with Arsenal with the option of an extra year.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5636528/2024/07/21/arsenal-tommy-setford-transfer|url-access=subscription|title=Arsenal confirm Tommy Setford signing from Ajax|first=Nnamdi|last=Onyeagwara|website=The Athletic|date=21 July 2024|accessdate=21 July 2024}}{{cite web|website=Evening Standard|accessdate=21 July 2024|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-fc-tommy-setford-transfer-news-ajax-b1171452.html|title=Arsenal confirm Tommy Setford arrival from Ajax to continue goalkeeper shake-up|first=Matt|last=Verri|date=21 July 2024}}

Setford made his Arsenal debut on 30 October 2024, away at Preston North End in the Carabao Cup. He kept his first senior clean sheet for the Gunners in the 3–0 victory.{{cite web|url= https://www.tribalfootball.com/article/soccer-premier-league-setford-heaven-thrilled-with-winning-arsenal-debuts-ac9d3b2b-5fa2-4792-a94c-ff58767d1421|website=Tribal Football|title= SETFORD, HEAVEN THRILLED WITH WINNING ARSENAL DEBUTS |date=31 October 2024|accessdate=31 October 2024}}

International career

Setford was a member of the England under-17 squad that finished fifth at the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.{{cite news |url=https://www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/football-news/southampton-chelsea-arsenal-manchester-city-8446160|title=Southampton duo join Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal aces in England squad for Euro Finals|first=Rob|last=Warlow|website=HampshireLive|date=17 May 2023|access-date=29 August 2024}} Later that year he was called-up for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup and started all four of their games at the tournament including their round of sixteen elimination against Uzbekistan.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/11/02/hashtag-united-ted-curd-england-under-17-world-cup-chelsea/|url-access=subscription|title=England call up Hashtag United player for Under-17 World Cup|first=Sam|last=Wallace|website=The Daily Telegraph|date=2 November 2023|accessdate=2 November 2023}}{{Cite web|accessdate=29 August 2024|title=England 1-2 Uzbekistan|date=22 November 2023|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/688196/uzbekistan-u17-england-u17|website=ESPN}}

In March 2024, Setford made his debut for England under-19 against Morocco U19.{{cite web|url= https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2024/03/21/world/under-19-friendlies/morocco-u19/england-under-19/4339039/|website=Soccerway|title=Morocco U19 vs. England U19|date=21 March 2024|accessdate=12 May 2024}} He has been described as "highly regarded at youth level and in the England setup too".{{cite news |url=https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/fixtures-results/forgotten-striker-midfield-wonderkid-new-29584567|title=Forgotten striker, midfield wonderkid and new signing - Arsenal US pre-season tour ones to watch|first=Tom|last=Canton|website=football.london|date=22 July 2024|access-date=29 July 2024}}

Setford was a member of England's squad at the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.{{cite news |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2025/Jun/20/england-mu19s-netherlands-EURO-match-report-20252006|title=England MU19s squad named for UEFA U19 EURO Finals|first=Nicholas|last=Veevers|website=EnglandFootball.com|date=19 May 2025|access-date=21 June 2025}}

Style of play

Setford operates as a goalkeeper. He has been described as "appreciated... for his technical skill, ability to play out from the back and his understanding of in-game tactics".{{cite news |url=https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/transfer-news/arsenal-green-light-pre-season-29568710|title=Arsenal green light pre-season inclusion of new signing as Edu continues key transfer strategy|first=Tom|last=Canton|website=football.london|date=19 July 2024|access-date=29 July 2024}}

Personal life

The son of Netherlands based, English professional golfer, Chris Setford, Tommy’s older brother, Charlie Setford, also played for the Ajax youth teams as a goalkeeper, and also represented England U18s.{{cite web|url=https://www.voetbalzone.nl/doc.asp?uid=372052|title=Ajax-talent played youth international for the Dutch team: 'Better feeling with England'|first=Yanick|last=Vos|date=19 May 2020|publisher=voetbalzone|accessdate=22 January 2023|language=Dutch}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60730654|title=Charlie Setford: The teenage goalkeeper aiming for success with Ajax - and England|first=Simon|last=Stone|publisher=BBC Sport|date=15 March 2022|access-date=12 May 2024}}

Career statistics

=Club=

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"\|EFL Cup !colspan="2"\|Europe !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Arsenal \|2024–25{{soccerbase season\|162350\|2024\|access-date=26 September 2024}} \|Premier League \|0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	1	0
colspan="3"\|Career total !0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0

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"|EFL Cup

!colspan="2"|Europe

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

Division

Apps