Luke Freeman

Early life

Born in Dartford, Kent, Freeman grew up in East London. His family relocated to Gravesend, Kent, where Freeman attended St John's Secondary School.

Club career

Early career

Freeman joined Charlton Athletic's academy in 2001 after being scouted playing Sunday league youth football.{{cite news | access-date = 12 March 2018}} He spent two years at Charlton before being released for "being too small". Freeman joined Gillingham at the age of 11. He made his first-team debut for Gillingham in an FA Cup tie against Barnet on 10 November 2007, aged 15 years and 233 days, replacing Efe Sodje as an 80th-minute substitute. His debut set two records: he became both Gillingham's youngest-ever first-team player and the youngest player to appear in the FA Cup, surpassing records previously held by Billy Hughes and Lee Holmes respectively. Three days later, he featured in Gillingham's 4–0 home victory against Dagenham & Redbridge in the Football League Trophy, coming on as a 74th-minute substitute.{{cite news |access-date = 10 January 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120414111234/http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10416~43159,00.html |archive-date = 14 April 2012 | access-date = 10 January 2012}} After three senior appearances, Freeman trialled with Arsenal, Newcastle United, and West Ham United in December 2007, with all three clubs expressing interest in signing him.{{cite news | access-date = 10 January 2012}}{{cite news |access-date = 10 January 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131104074605/http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/freeman-signing-would-lead-english-revival |archive-date = 4 November 2013

Arsenal

Freeman joined Premier League club Arsenal on 30 January 2008, for a fee reported to be in the region of £200,000.{{cite news | access-date = 10 January 2012}} He signed a two-year contract as part of Arsenal's youth academy under the club's scholar scheme. Upon his arrival, Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger described the player as "a very interesting prospect".{{cite news |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130117074021/http://www.arsenal.com/news/reserves-news/wenger-freeman-is-a-real-prospect |url-status = dead |archive-date = 17 January 2013 |access-date = 10 January 2012 | access-date = 10 January 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161204022253/https://www.arsenal.com/news/reserves-news/freeman-signs-professional-terms-with-arsenal |archive-date = 4 December 2016 |access-date = 10 January 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120107000829/http://www.arsenal.com/news/reserves-news/luke-freeman-signs-contract-extension |archive-date = 7 January 2012 |access-date = 10 January 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120126202553/http://www.arsenal.com/news/reserves-news/luke-freeman-joins-yeovil-town-on-loan |archive-date = 26 January 2012

Ahead of the 2010–11 season, Freeman joined League One club Yeovil Town on a loan agreement until 31 December 2010.{{cite news |access-date = 10 January 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120224224430/http://www.ytfc.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10673~2069983,00.html |archive-date = 24 February 2012 | access-date = 10 January 2012}} He scored on his debut against Leyton Orient on 7 August 2010, the winning goal in first-half stoppage time in a 2–1 victory. Freeman made 15 appearances and scored twice during the first half of the 2010–11 season. His loan spell was curtailed due to injury, and he returned to Arsenal in November 2010. After regaining fitness, Freeman featured regularly for the reserve team, scoring four goals over the course of the season. He signed a new contract with Arsenal in April 2011.

Stevenage

Freeman joined League One club Stevenage on loan from 17 November 2011 to 8 January 2012, with an option to extend the agreement. He made his debut two days later, playing 86 minutes in a 0–0 away draw with Leyton Orient.{{cite news | access-date = 20 November 2011}} Freeman scored his first goal for the club in a 6–1 away victory over Colchester United on 26 December, coming on as a 57th-minute substitute and scoring Stevenage's fifth goal with a "powerful close-range strike".{{cite news | access-date = 28 December 2011}} He signed for Stevenage on a permanent basis on 10 January 2012 for an undisclosed fee and on a contract until 2014.{{cite news | access-date = 10 January 2012}}{{cite news |access-date = 10 January 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120113102852/http://www.stevenagefc.com/page/LatestNewsDetail/0,,10839~2572165,00.html |archive-date = 13 January 2012 |access-date = 10 January 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120113061726/http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/freeman-completes-stevenage-switch |archive-date = 13 January 2012 |access-date = 11 January 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120114011125/http://www.stevenagefc.com/articles/20120110/freeman-its-good-to-be-here_2283818_2572426/0,,10839~2572426~1,00.html |archive-date = 14 January 2012 |access-date = 15 January 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120118032534/http://www.stevenagefc.com/page/LatestNewsDetail/0,,10839~2576989,00.html |archive-date = 18 January 2012 | access-date = 15 January 2012}} He made 32 appearances during the season, scoring seven times, as Stevenage reached the League One play-off semi-finals.{{cite news | access-date = 19 May 2012

Freeman struggled for consistency during the 2012–13 season and was regularly used as a substitute. He made 43 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals. Freeman remained at Stevenage for the 2013–14 season and scored his first goal in Stevenage's 2–1 extra-time defeat to Premier League club Everton in the League Cup on 28 August 2013.{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018}} In December 2013, Stevenage confirmed that Freeman had been the subject of transfer interest from Championship clubs ahead of the 2014 January transfer window and stated that they would be willing to listen to offers.{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018}} No transfer materialised, and Freeman ultimately saw out the season at the club. A "stunning brace" in a 3–2 comeback victory away at Bradford City on 1 March 2014 marked his first goals in nearly four months.{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018}} He ended the season by scoring three goals in the final five league matches in April 2014.{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018}}{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018}}{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018}} Freeman made 54 appearances and scored eight goals during the season, as Stevenage were relegated to League Two. He was voted Stevenage's Player of the Year at the club's end-of-season awards.{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018 | access-date = 6 March 2018}}

Bristol City

Despite Stevenage activating the 12-month clause in Freeman's contract, he signed for League One club Bristol City on 26 June 2014, joining for a six-figure fee on a three-year contract.{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018}} Freeman made his debut for the club on the opening day of the 2014–15 season, playing the first 77 minutes in a 2–1 away victory at Sheffield United,{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018}} and scored his first goal in a 1–1 draw with Rochdale on 23 August 2014.{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018}} Freeman scored three times across five matches between February and March 2015, with all three goals coming in away victories against Doncaster Rovers, Leyton Orient and Yeovil Town respectively.{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018}}{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018}}{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018}} During the season, Freeman also made five appearances in the Football League Trophy, including a starting appearance in the final, a 2–0 victory against Walsall at Wembley Stadium on 22 March 2015.{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018 | access-date = 6 March 2018

Freeman started in Bristol City's first match back in the Championship at the start of the 2015–16 season, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 defeat away to Sheffield Wednesday.{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018}} A week later, on 15 August 2015, he received the first red card of his career for a high-footed challenge on Harlee Dean in a 4–2 home defeat to Brentford at Ashton Gate.{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018 | access-date = 4 May 2018}} After serving a three-match suspension, Freeman returned to the first team in September 2015, scoring later that month in a 2–2 away draw against Ipswich Town with his effort deflecting off Tommy Smith.{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018}} It proved to be Freeman's only goal of the season, making 44 appearances in all competitions as Bristol City consolidated their place back in the Championship.

Freeman began the 2016–17 season at Bristol City in the final year of his three-year contract and was a regular starter during the first half of the season. He scored his only goal of the season in Bristol City's 4–0 victory against Fulham at Craven Cottage on 24 September 2016.{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018}} Manager Lee Johnson stated he was resigned to losing Freeman in the January transfer window after the player rejected a new contract offer.{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018}} A year after his departure from Bristol City, Freeman claimed the club had not been forthcoming with a suitable deal: "I was waiting over eight months for a contract that was so-called going to be offered to me. When they did it was really nowhere near what anyone else was on. So it was out of my hands. I probably wouldn't have left if they had offered me the contract they said they were going to offer me earlier".{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018 | access-date = 6 March 2018}}

Queens Park Rangers

Freeman signed for fellow Championship club Queens Park Rangers on 30 January 2017 for an undisclosed fee, agreeing to a three-and-a-half-year contract.{{cite news | access-date = 5 March 2018}} On signing Freeman, QPR manager Ian Holloway stated: "I've been a great admirer of Luke and his creativity is something we'll really feel the benefits of". He made his QPR debut two days later, on 1 February 2017, coming on as a 66th-minute substitute in a 2–2 draw with Newcastle United at St James' Park.{{cite news | access-date = 5 March 2018 | access-date = 6 March 2018}} Freeman made 16 appearances during the second half of the season, scoring twice.

The 2017–18 season served as Freeman's first full season at QPR, with the club still competing in the Championship. He scored his first goal of the season on 9 September 2017, firing a low shot from outside the area to double QPR's advantage in an eventual 2–1 home victory over Ipswich Town, a result that preserved their unbeaten start at Loftus Road.{{cite news | access-date = 4 May 2018}} He went on to score five times in 48 appearances that season. His 12 assists ranked third in the Championship that year. During the 2018–19 season, he scored eight goals and registered six assists, a contribution that saw him named QPR's Player of the Year at the club's end-of-season awards on 26 April 2019.

Sheffield United

Following his most productive season at QPR, Freeman joined newly promoted Premier League club Sheffield United for an undisclosed club-record fee on 3 July 2019. He made his Sheffield United debut in the club's first match back in the Premier League, coming on as a 78th-minute substitute in a 1–1 draw away at Bournemouth on 10 August 2019. Freeman played a peripheral role during the season, making 16 appearances, including seven starts.

Loan spells

Ahead of the 2020–21 season, Freeman joined Championship club Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan agreement, which included an option for a permanent transfer.{{cite news | access-date = 29 July 2021}} He debuted for the club in a 1–0 defeat to Barnsley in the EFL Cup on 5 September 2020. Freeman scored once that season, Nottingham Forest's first goal of the league campaign, in a 2–1 defeat to former club Bristol City on 3 October 2020. His season was disrupted by injuries, including hernia surgery midway through the season.{{cite news | access-date = 29 July 2021

Freeman returned to Sheffield United ahead of the 2021–22 season, scoring his first goal for the club in a 2–1 EFL Cup victory against Derby County on 24 August 2021. After making nine appearances during the first half of the season, he joined fellow Championship club Millwall on loan for the remainder of the season. Having played just 13 minutes for Millwall as a substitute against Fulham, Freeman suffered a hamstring injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the season.{{cite news

Luton Town

A free agent ahead of the 2022–23 season, Freeman signed for Championship club Luton Town on 4 July 2022. He made his debut in the club's opening match of the season, a 0–0 draw with Birmingham City, and scored his first goal in their 2–1 away victory against Cardiff City. Freeman featured regularly during the first half of the season before sustaining a groin injury in January 2023, which ruled him out for three months.{{cite news

Barnet

Without a club following his departure from Luton, Freeman joined Barnet of the National League on 31 January 2024. He scored one goal in 14 appearances in all competitions for the club. At the season's conclusion, Barnet announced that contract negotiations were ongoing, but Freeman ultimately did not appear on the squad list for the following season.

International career

Freeman made his debut for the England under-16 team in the 2008 Montaigu Tournament in France, scoring on his debut in a 3–1 victory against Japan.{{cite news | access-date = 27 January 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130204032849/http://www.thefa.com/England/mens-u16s/News/2009/england_japan_report.aspx | archive-date = 4 February 2013 | access-date = 27 January 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130203200530/http://www.thefa.com/England/mens-u16s/News/2009/england_germany_report.aspx | archive-date = 3 February 2013 | access-date = 27 January 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130204035929/http://www.thefa.com/England/mens-u16s/News/2009/england_usa_report.aspx | archive-date = 4 February 2013 | access-date = 27 January 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130203203456/http://www.thefa.com/England/mens-u16s/News/2009/england_france_report.aspx | archive-date = 3 February 2013

He was called up to the England under-17 squad for the first time ahead of the 2008 Nordic Tournament, held in Sweden.{{cite news | access-date = 27 January 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130203200230/http://www.thefa.com/England/mens-u17s/News/2009/England17Nordic.aspx | archive-date = 3 February 2013 | access-date = 27 January 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130204033508/http://www.thefa.com/England/mens-u17s/News/2009/England_Finland_match_report.aspx | archive-date = 4 February 2013 | access-date = 27 January 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130203220916/http://www.thefa.com/England/mens-u17s/News/2009/England_Iceland_match_report.aspx | archive-date = 3 February 2013 | access-date = 27 January 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130203181833/http://www.thefa.com/England/mens-u17s/News/2009/norway_report.aspx | archive-date = 3 February 2013

Style of play

Freeman was initially deployed solely as a winger in the early stages of his career.{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180306143303/https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2014/june/transfer-luke-freeman-joins-bristol-city/ | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2018-03-06 | access-date = 6 March 2018}} Left-footed, he has generally been used on the left side for the majority of his career.{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2018 | access-date = 6 March 2018

Career statistics

Honours

Bristol City

• Football League One: 2014–15
• Football League Trophy: 2014–15

Luton Town

• EFL Championship play-offs: 2023{{cite news

England U16

• Montaigu Tournament: 2008

Individual

• Football League Young Player of the Month: April 2012{{cite news | access-date = 11 May 2012}}
• Stevenage Player of the Year: 2013–14
• PFA Team of the Year: 2014–15 League One
• Queens Park Rangers Player of the Year: 2018–19{{cite news | access-date = 27 April 2019}}

References

References

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