Ishé Barrington Samuels-Smith (born 6 June 2006) is an English footballer who plays as a left-back for Chelsea.

Ishé Samuels-Smith
Personal information
Full name Ishé Barrington Samuels-Smith[1]
Date of birth (2006-06-05) 5 June 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth Manchester, England[2]
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s) Left-back, centre-back
Team information
Current team
Chelsea
Number 62
Youth career
2015–2023 Everton
2023– Chelsea
International career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
England U15
2021–2022 England U16 6 (0)
2022–2023 England U17 21 (1)
2023– England U18 7 (0)
2024– England U19 1 (0)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10:49, 27 September 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Born in Manchester, Samuels-Smith joined the academy of Everton at the age of nine.[3] He progressed through the academy, and in September 2022 was named by English newspaper The Guardian as the best player of his age group at Everton.[4] On 8 November of the same year, then-manager Frank Lampard named Samuels-Smith on the bench as Everton faced AFC Bournemouth in the third round of the EFL Cup. Had he come off the bench, he would've broken Thierry Small's record as the youngest Everton player in history, however he did not feature as Everton lost 4–1.[5] Following Lampard's sacking in January 2023, new manager Sean Dyche would call Samuels-Smith up to the bench again in April of the same year, though he again failed to feature as Everton lost 3–1 to Fulham.[6]

Having initially been linked with Samuels-Smith in July 2022,[7] fellow Premier League club Chelsea were reported to have agreed a three-year deal with Samuels-Smith in July 2023, with a £4 million bid made.[3][8] This deal was later officially confirmed on 8 July 2023.[9][10]

International career

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Samuels-Smith has represented England from under-15 to under-18 level.[11] He was a member of the squad that finished fifth at the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and his performances during the competition led to his inclusion in the team of the tournament.[12]

On 6 September 2023, Samuels-Smith made his England U-18 debut during a 2-0 defeat to France in Limoges.[13]

On 2 November 2023, Samuels-Smith was included in the England squad for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[14]

On 4 September 2024, Samuels-Smith made his England U19 debut during a 2-2 draw with Italy in Nedelišće.[15]

Personal life

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Samuels-Smith has a twin brother, Odin, who plays for Everton.[11]

Honours

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England U18s

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 6 July 2023.[17]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Everton U21 2022–23 4[a] 0 4 0
Career total 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 0
Notes
  1. ^ Appearances in the EFL Trophy

Honours

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Individual

  • UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2023[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2022/23 retained lists". premierleague.com. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Ishé Samuels-Smith". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b Boyland, Patrick (5 July 2023). "Chelsea set to complete the signing of Ishe Samuels-Smith from Everton". theathletic.com. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  4. ^ Christenson, Marcus; Bloor, Steven; Blight, Garry (27 September 2022). "Next Generation 2022: 20 of the best talents at Premier League clubs". theguardian.com. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  5. ^ Wakefield, Mark (8 November 2022). "Who is Ishe Samuels-Smith? Everton teenager who could become youngest ever player". liverpoolecho.co.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  6. ^ Rooney, Will (17 April 2023). "What Sean Dyche told 16-year-old defender who was in Everton squad against Fulham". liverpoolworld.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  7. ^ Veysey, Wayne (1 July 2022). "Sources: Chelsea plotting move to sign Everton sensation Ishé Samuels-Smith". footballinsider247.com. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  8. ^ Haigh, Phil (5 July 2023). "Chelsea to sign Everton teenager Ishe Samuels-Smith on three-year deal". metro.co.uk. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Samuels-Smith joins Chelsea". www.chelseafc.com. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Chelsea sign young Everton defender Samuels-Smith". BBC Sport. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Ishé Samuels-Smith". evertonfc.com. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  12. ^ a b "2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament". UEFA.com. 10 June 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  13. ^ Veevers, Nicholas (6 September 2023). "Report: France 2-0 England MU18s". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  14. ^ Smith, Frank (2 November 2023). "England squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  15. ^ Veevers, Nicholas (4 September 2024). "Report: England MU19s 2-2 Italy". England Football. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Report: England MU18s 2-1 Netherlands". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  17. ^ Ishé Samuels-Smith at Soccerway