Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 6, 2026

Benn Ward

Benn David Ward is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL League One club Reading.

Last revised
Aug 6, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
632 w
Citations
27
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Benn Ward
Personal information
Full name Benn David Ward1
Date of birth (2003-10-31) 31 October 2003
Place of birth Hastings, England
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)2
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Reading
Number 16
Youth career
Brighton & Hove Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Hastings United 5 (0)
2021–2025 Burnley 0 (0)
2023–2024 → Swindon Town (loan) 3 (0)
2025–2026 Accrington Stanley 44 (3)
2026– Reading 8 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:31, 17 March 2026 (UTC)

Benn David Ward (born 31 October 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL League One club Reading.

Career

Born in Hastings,3 Ward began his career with Brighton & Hove Albion before joining Hastings United aged 16.4 He made 10 appearances for the club, including five in the Isthmian League,5 before signing for Burnley in January 2021,6 where he signed his first professional contract in October 2022.78 He moved on loan to Swindon Town in August 2023.4 He was recalled in January 2024, having made 5 appearances for Swindon.9

On 20 January 2025, Ward signed for League Two club Accrington Stanley on an eighteen-month contract for an undisclosed fee.310

On 26 January 2026 Ward signed for Reading for an undisclosed fee.1112

Career statistics

As of match played 17 March 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Hastings United 2020–2113 IL South East Division 5 0 3 0 — 2a 0 10 0
Burnley 2020–2114 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2021–2215 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022–2316 Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023–2417 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024–2518 Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Swindon Town (loan) 2023–2417 League Two 3 0 0 0 1 0 1b 0 5 0
Accrington Stanley 2024–2518 League Two 21 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 1
2025–2619 League Two 23 2 2 0 1 0 1b 0 27 2
Total 44 3 2 0 1 0 1 0 48 3
Reading 2025–2619 League One 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Career total 60 3 5 0 2 0 4 0 71 3
  1. Appearances in the FA Trophy
  2. Appearances in the EFL Trophy.
References

References

  1. Benn Ward at Soccerway
  2. "Benn Ward Football Statistics | WhoScored.com". www.whoscored.com.
  3. "SIGNING: Benn's a Red". www.accringtonstanley.co.uk. 20 January 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  4. "Swindon sign Burnley defender Ward on loan" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  5. "Hastings United – Appearances – Benn Ward – 2020-2021". footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  6. "Benn Ward joins Burnley". 13 January 2021. Archived from the original on 5 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  7. "WARD SIGNS FIRST PROFESSIONAL DEAL". Burnley Football Club.
  8. "Ex-Hastings defender signs first professional deal with Championship outfit". The Argus. 14 October 2022.
  9. "Burnley recall Benn Ward". www.swindontownfc.co.uk.
  10. "Benn Ward: Accrington Stanley sign Burnley defender for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 20 January 2025.
  11. https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2026/january/26/benn-ward-is-a-royal/
  12. "Reading sign Accrington Stanley defender Benn Ward". BBC Sport. 26 January 2026.
  13. "Hastings United – Appearances – Benn Ward – 2020-2021". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  14. "Games played by Benn Ward in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  15. "Games played by Benn Ward in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  16. "Games played by Benn Ward in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  17. "Games played by Benn Ward in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  18. "Games played by Benn Ward in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  19. "Games played by Benn Ward in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 November 2025.