Lewis Bate
Personal information
Full name Lewis Michael Bate[1]
Date of birth (2002-10-28) 28 October 2002 (age 21)
Place of birth Sidcup, London, England[2][3]
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Milton Keynes Dons
(on loan from Leeds United)
Number 50
Youth career
2009–2011 Foots Cray Lions
2011–2021 Chelsea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– Leeds United 3 (0)
2022–2023 → Oxford United (loan) 28 (1)
2024– → Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 0 (0)
International career‡
2018–2019 England U17 7 (0)
2019 England U18 2 (0)
2021– England U20 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:45, 29 May 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:14, 12 November 2021 (UTC)

Lewis Michael Bate (born 28 October 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Milton Keynes Dons, on loan from EFL Championship club Leeds United.

Early life

Born in London, Bate started his career with local Sidcup-based side Foots Cray Lions, before joining Chelsea at under-8 level.[4][5] He has listed Chelsea and Liverpool legends Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard as players he looked up to as a child.[4][6]

Club career

Chelsea

After playing a key role for Chelsea's under-18 and under-23 sides, Bate was included on the bench for the Chelsea first team three times.[7] However, he did not feature for the first team, and was linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge in 2021, having rejected a contract offer with The Blues.[8][9]

Leeds United

On 21 July 2021, Leeds United announced the signing of Bate on a three year contract for an undisclosed fee believed to be £1.5 million.[5][10][11] Since signing, Bate has been tipped to be fast-tracked into the first team squad after impressing at under-23 level.[12] He scored his first goal for Leeds under-23s on 4 November 2021 in a 5–3 EFL Trophy loss to Salford City.[13] Bate made his senior debut for Leeds United on 9 January 2022 in the starting line-up for the 2–0 FA Cup third round defeat to West Ham United.[14] He made his Premier League debut the following week, also at West Ham, when he came on as a first half replacement for Adam Forshaw, but was taken off midway through the second half, with Leeds 3–2 ahead, in a tactical substitution for Rodrigo.[15][16]

Oxford United (loan)

On 4 August 2022, Bate joined Oxford United of League One on loan for the duration of the 2022–23 season.[17] He suffered a hand injury in a game against Derby County on 11 March 2023 and, apart from a brief substitute appearance in the following game,[18] was not expected to make further appearances.[19] Before his injury he had made 26 league appearances, scoring once.[20]

Milton Keynes Dons (loan)

On 19 January 2024, Bate joined League Two club Milton Keynes Dons until the end of the season.[21]

International career

Bate has represented England at under-17, under-18 and under-20 level.[2] He scored his first goal for the England under-20s in a 1–1 draw with Italy.[22]

Style of play

A strong passer and dribbler, while also being good in a tackle, Bate can play in numerous midfield roles.[23] He has been described as strong both defensively and going forward, and has been compared to former Netherlands international footballer Clarence Seedorf for his ability to control play.[6]

Career statistics

As of 9 August 2023.[7]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chelsea U21 2020–21 — — — — 2[a] 0 2 0
Leeds United U21 2021–22 — — — — 2[a] 1 2 1
Leeds United 2021–22 Premier League 2 0 1 0 0 0 — — 3 0
2023–24 Championship 0 0 0 0 1 0 — — 1 0
Total 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Oxford United (loan) 2022–23 EFL League One 28 1 3 0 2 0 — 2[a] 0 35 1
Career total 30 1 4 0 3 0 — 6 1 43 2
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in the EFL Trophy

References

  1. ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2020/21 retained lists". premierleague.com. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Lewis Bate at WorldFootball.net
  3. ^ "Lewis Bate – the Sidcup Seedorf". The Chelsea Spot. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Teenage kicks: Lewis Bate". Chelsea F.C. 9 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Leeds United Complete Lewis Bate Signing from Chelsea". Leeds United F.C. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  6. ^ a b Gott, Tom (22 July 2021). "Lewis Bate: Things to know about Leeds United's new starlet". 90min.com. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  7. ^ a b Lewis Bate at Soccerway
  8. ^ Kinsella, Nizaar (20 July 2021). "Chelsea wonderkid Bate close to joining Leeds after rejecting new Blues contract". goal.com. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  9. ^ Macdonald, Paul (20 July 2021). "Who is Lewis Bate? The Chelsea starlet set for Leeds United switch". footballtransfers.com. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Leeds seal deal for Chelsea teenager Bate". BBC Sport. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  11. ^ Hay, Phil; Richman, Darren (22 July 2021). "Leeds complete transfer of Lewis Bate from Chelsea". theathletic.com. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  12. ^ Brookes, Sam (26 October 2021). "Leeds latest news: Hugely promising teenager could have development "accelerated"". givemesport.com. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  13. ^ Snelson, Flora (3 November 2021). "Lewis Bate opens Leeds United account with sensational solo goal as Salford City knock the Whites out of the EFL Trophy". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Leeds United complete Leo Hjelde swoop". Leeds United F.C. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  15. ^ Steinberg, Jacob (16 January 2022). "West Ham v Leeds: Premier League Live!". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  16. ^ Steinberg, Jacob (16 January 2022). "West Ham 2–3 Leeds United: Harrison hat-trick dents Hammers' top-four push". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Lewis Bate Joins Oxford United". Oxford United F.C. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  18. ^ "Morecambe 1–1 Oxford United". BBC Sport. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  19. ^ "Bate Injury Blow". Oxford United F.C. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  20. ^ Lewis Bate at Soccerbase
  21. ^ "MK Dons sign Villa's Marschall and Bate from Leeds". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  22. ^ "Match Report: England MU20 1–1 Italy". englandfootball.com. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  23. ^ Snelson, Flora (8 October 2021). "Lewis Bate: the versatile former Chelsea midfielder who wants trophies with Leeds United". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
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