Benjamin Arthur (footballer)

Benjamin Arthur
Personal information
Full name Benjamin Kristian Arthur[1]
Date of birth (2005-10-09) 9 October 2005
Place of birth Warwickshire, England[2]
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)[3]
Position Central defender
Team information
Current team
 Celtic
(on loan from Brentford)
Number 43
Youth career
Leamington Hibernian
Coventry Sphinx
–2023 Peterborough United
2023–2025 Brentford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2025– Brentford 0 (0)
2026– → Celtic (loan) 2 (0)
International career‡
2023 England U18 3 (0)
2024 England U19 1 (0)
2025– England U20 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:48, 8 March 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:32, 14 November 2025 (UTC)

Benjamin Kristian Arthur (born 9 October 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Scottish Premiership club Celtic, on loan from Premier League club Brentford.

Arthur is a product of the Peterborough United academy and began his professional career with Brentford in 2023. He has been capped by England at youth level.

Club career

Early years

Initially a midfielder,[4] Arthur began his youth career with Leamington Hibernian and Coventry Sphinx,[5][6] before entering the Peterborough United academy at the age of 13.[7] Despite "injury and other struggles" and with the club considering his release,[8][9] he progressed to sign a scholarship deal in 2022 and was a central defender in the 2022–23 U18 Professional Development League Cup-winning U18 squad.[10][11] Shortly after winning his maiden call into a first team matchday squad,[12] Arthur turned down a "substantial offer" to sign a professional contract and departed London Road on 31 August 2023.[8][13]

Brentford

On 31 August 2023, Arthur transferred to the B team at Premier League club Brentford and signed a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[14] The fee was reported to be "close to £1 million" and "nearly a record for a League One scholar, plus millions in add-ons".[15][16] Arthur missed the first half of the 2023–24 season with a stress fracture to his back and returned to match play in early January 2024.[9][17][18] An injury crisis in defence saw Arthur win his maiden call into the first team squad for a Premier League match versus Arsenal on 9 March 2024.[19][20] He remained an unused substitute during the 2–1 defeat.[12]

Following an injury suffered during the 2024 off-season,[21] Arthur returned to match play with the B team on 23 September 2024.[22] He made 27 appearances during the 2024–25 season and was a part of the Professional Development League-winning squad.[23] Arthur's performances were recognised with the club's U21 Player of the Year award.[23] Arthur was an unused substitute in five first team matchday squads during the 2024–25 season.[23]

In July 2025, Arthur was promoted to the first team squad and signed a new six-year contract, with the option of a further year.[23] He made three cup appearances during the first half of the 2025–26 season,[24] before joining Scottish Premiership club Celtic on loan for the remainder of the season on the final day of the winter transfer window.[25]

International career

Arthur was part of England's U18 squad at the 2023 International Tournament of Lisbon and he appeared in each of the team's three matches at the tournament.[26] He won his maiden U19 call-up for a training camp and two friendlies in September 2023,[27] but was not named in either matchday squad.[28][29] Arthur received his second call-up for two friendlies in March 2024 and won his only U19 cap with a start in a 3–2 defeat to the United States.[30][31] Arthur won his maiden U20 cap with a start in a friendly versus Japan on 14 November 2025.[32]

Personal life

Arthur is of Ghanaian descent through his father.[33] He grew up in Lillington, Warwickshire.[2] While a Brentford B player, Arthur shared accommodation with teammate Ashley Hay.[34]

Career statistics

As of match played 8 March 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Peterborough United 2023–24[35] League One 0 0 ― 0 0 0 0
Brentford 2023–24[35] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024–25[36] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025–26[24] Premier League 0 0 1 0 2 0 3 0
Total 0 0 1 0 2 0 3 0
Celtic (loan) 2025–26[24] Scottish Premiership 2 0 1 0 ― 3 0
Career total 2 0 2 0 2 0 8 0
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ^ "2023/24 Premier League squad lists". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b Thirkill, Stephen. "Brentford star Ben Arthur joins long list of sports stars to do Leamington Spa proud, including a former England goalkeeper, an England test cricketer and a former world number one tennis star". WarwickshireWorld. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Benjamin Arthur". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Benjamin Arthur: Eye For Success". Brentford FC. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  5. ^ "Leamington lad Ben Arthur moves a step nearer to dream Premier League debut for Brentford". WarwickshireWorld. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  6. ^ @CoventrySphinx (11 May 2022). "We are immensely proud that one of our junior players, Benjy Arthur, has recently gone on to sign a Scholarship deal with Peterborough United. A former player of new Youth Team manager Micky Bell, all at Coventry Sphinx wish him the very best of luck. #UTS 💙" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "Youngster Arthur Makes Move To Brentford 'B'". Peterborough United – The Posh. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  8. ^ a b Swann, Alan. "The PT believes Peterborough United received a huge fee for a 17 year-old with no first-team experience". Peterborough Telegraph. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  9. ^ a b Swann, Alan (16 August 2024). "Peterborough United chairman on tying young players to his club and why Brentford are 'top-of-the-class' in dealings with lower league clubs". Peterborough Telegraph. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Peterborough United to try and tie hot prospect to London Road". Peterborough Today. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Posh U18s Crowned U18 Professional Development League Cup Winners". Peterborough United – The Posh. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  12. ^ a b Benjamin Arthur at Soccerway. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Peterborough United lose young defender to Premier League academy". Peterborough Today. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Brentford B sign Benjamin Arthur". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  15. ^ "How a dramatic transfer deadline day unfolded as Peterborough United striker missed his move by 50 seconds". Peterborough Today. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Peterborough United chief makes 'respect' claim after Newcastle United miss out on England talent". Yahoo Sports. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  17. ^ @brentfordbteam; (19 November 2023). "💪 @benjy.arthur working his way back to fitness #BrentfordB | #BrentfordFC" – via Instagram.
  18. ^ @brentfordbteam; (9 January 2024). "Gaining your first #BrentfordB minutes @benjy.arthur 💪🏻" – via Instagram.
  19. ^ "Mee to miss rest of season". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Arsenal 2 Brentford 1". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  21. ^ @brentfordbteam; (4 September 2024). "Some of our B team boys being put through their paces as they inch closer to a return 💪 #BrentfordB | #BrentfordFC" – via Instagram.
  22. ^ "Brentford U21s 0 Cardiff City U21s 1". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  23. ^ a b c d e "Benjamin Arthur and Julian Eyestone promoted to Brentford's first-team squad". Brentford FC. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  24. ^ a b c "Games played by Benjamin Arthur in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  25. ^ "Benjamin Arthur joins Celtic on loan". Brentford FC. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  26. ^ "England Matches – Youth/Under-18's 2020–30". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  27. ^ "England MU19s squad named to play Germany and Switzerland". The Football Association. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  28. ^ "Report: England MU19s 0–1 Germany". The Football Association. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  29. ^ "Report: England MU19s 4–2 Switzerland". The Football Association. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  30. ^ "England MU19s squad for double-header in Morocco". The Football Association. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  31. ^ "England Matches – Under-19's 2020–30". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  32. ^ "Report: England MU20s 1–1 Japan". The Football Association. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  33. ^ "Benjamin Arthur delighted to join Celtic, ready for challenge ahead". GhanaSoccernet. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  34. ^ "Ashley Hay looking to build on whirlwind first year at Brentford". hounslowherald.com. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  35. ^ a b "Games played by Benjamin Arthur in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  36. ^ "Games played by Benjamin Arthur in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
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