1. Overview
Matthew Robert Smith (born November 22, 1999) is a professional footballer from Wales who currently plays as a midfielder for St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership and for the Wales national team. Known for his composure and technical ability in midfield, Smith has progressed through the youth ranks of prominent English clubs before embarking on several loan spells to gain professional experience, eventually securing permanent moves. His career highlights include a key role in FC Twente's promotion to the Eredivisie and representing Wales at major international tournaments like the UEFA European Championship and FIFA World Cup.
2. Early life and youth career
Matthew Robert Smith was born on November 22, 1999, in Redditch, England. He began his football journey at a young age, joining the academy of West Bromwich Albion. At the age of 14, in 2013, Smith moved to the academy of Manchester City, where he continued his development, progressing through various age groups. Although born in England, Smith is eligible to play for the Welsh national team through his grandfather, who hails from Gwent, Wales.
3. Club career
Smith's professional club career has seen him move through various clubs, primarily on loan from Manchester City, before making permanent transfers.
3.1. Manchester City
Having joined the Manchester City academy in 2013, Smith developed significantly within their youth setup. Despite progressing through several age groups, he did not make a senior appearance for Manchester City. Instead, he was sent out on multiple loan spells to gain first-team experience across different leagues.
3.1.1. FC Twente (loan)
In July 2018, at the age of 18, Smith joined Dutch Eerste Divisie club FC Twente on a season-long loan. During his time there, he made 37 appearances and scored 2 goals, playing a pivotal role in the club's successful promotion to the Eredivisie, the top tier of Dutch football.
3.1.2. Queens Park Rangers (loan)
Following his spell in the Netherlands, Smith was loaned to EFL Championship club Queens Park Rangers for the 2019-2020 season. He featured in 8 matches for the club during this period. The loan was originally intended to be for a full season but was cut short.
3.1.3. Charlton Athletic (loan)
On January 31, 2020, after his loan at Queens Park Rangers was terminated, Smith immediately moved to another Championship club, Charlton Athletic, on another loan deal. He made 2 appearances for Charlton Athletic during this short spell.
3.1.4. Doncaster Rovers (loan)
On October 16, 2020, Smith joined EFL League One club Doncaster Rovers on loan. He became a significant player for Doncaster, making 40 appearances and scoring 1 goal during the 2020-2021 season.
3.1.5. Hull City (loan)
Ahead of the 2021-2022 season, on August 6, 2021, Smith joined EFL Championship club Hull City on another season-long loan. He made 9 appearances for Hull City before his loan was cut short.
3.2. Milton Keynes Dons
On January 31, 2022, after limited opportunities at Hull City, Smith was recalled from his loan and permanently transferred to League One club Milton Keynes Dons for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut for the club on February 8, 2022, in a 1-1 draw away to Fleetwood Town. For Milton Keynes Dons, he made a total of 25 league appearances and scored 2 goals across the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons.
3.3. St Johnstone
In August 2023, Smith signed a two-year contract with Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone. As of December 30, 2023, he has made 19 league appearances for the club.
4. International career
Matthew Smith has represented Wales at various youth levels and has progressed to become a member of the senior national team, participating in major international tournaments.
4.1. Youth national team
Smith has played for Wales at the U17, U19, and U21 levels. He frequently served as captain for these youth sides, demonstrating leadership qualities from a young age. For the U17 team, he made 10 appearances, and for the U19 team, he made 3 appearances. He also played 5 matches for the U21 squad, scoring 1 goal.
4.2. Senior national team
Smith received his first call-up to the Wales senior squad on May 20, 2018. He made his senior debut for Wales on May 29, 2018, in a friendly 0-0 tie against the Mexico national team, coming on as a substitute for Tom Lawrence after 81 minutes. His consistent performance led to his selection for the Wales squad for the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 tournament in May 2021. In November 2022, he was also named in the Wales squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar, marking his participation in two significant international competitions.
5. Career statistics
5.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester City | 2018-19 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2020-21 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021-22 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| FC Twente (loan) | 2018-19 | Eerste Divisie | 34 | 2 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 37 | 2 | ||
| Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 2019-20 | Championship | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 10 | 0 | |
| Charlton Athletic (loan) | 2019-20 | Championship | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | |||
| Doncaster Rovers (loan) | 2020-21 | League One | 40 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 43 | 1 | |
| Hull City (loan) | 2021-22 | Championship | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 10 | 0 | |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2021-22 | League One | 4 | 0 | - | - | - | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2022-23 | League One | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 2 | |
| Total | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 2 | ||
| St Johnstone | 2023-24 | Scottish Premiership | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Career total | 137 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 152 | 5 | ||
5.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 2018 | 4 | 0 |
| 2019 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 19 | 0 | |
6. Honours
FC Twente
- Eerste Divisie: 2018-19