Dael Jonathan Fry (born 30 August 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL Championship club Middlesbrough.

Dael Fry
Fry with Middlesbrough in 2022
Personal information
Full name Dael Jonathan Fry
Date of birth (1997-08-30) 30 August 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Middlesbrough, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.90 m)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back[2]
Team information
Current team
Middlesbrough
Number 6
Youth career
0000–2014 Middlesbrough
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014– Middlesbrough 213 (2)
2016–2017Rotherham United (loan) 10 (0)
International career
2014 England U17 8 (0)
2014–2015 England U18 5 (0)
2015–2016 England U19 10 (0)
2016–2017 England U20 10 (0)
2017–2019 England U21 11 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:24, 9 March 2024 (UTC)

Fry has represented England at under-17, under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels. He has won the 2014 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup and 2018 Toulon Tournament with his country.

Early life and career

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Dael Jonathan Fry[3] was born on 30 August 1997 in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire.[4] He was scouted by Middlesbrough F.C. after being spotted playing for his local team Cleveland Juniors at the age of seven.[5] Throughout the ranks of the Middlesbrough youth team, Fry made an impression with his progress at the academy.[6] In October 2014, Fry signed his first professional contract with the club.[7]

Club career

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Fry made his first-team debut for Middlesbrough on 9 August 2015 at the age of 17, on the opening day of the 2015–16 Championship season – playing from the start and was named man of the match in a 0–0 draw against Preston North End.[8] On 14 September, he signed a new five-year contract with Middlesbrough.[9] Following an injury to Daniel Ayala, manager Aitor Karanka gave Fry a chance to cover in Ayala's absence[10] and played his first Middlesbrough match in months on 15 February 2016 in a 0–0 draw against Leeds United.[11] After the match, Karanka praised Fry's performance.[12] Fry made a handful of appearances between 15 February and 13 March 2016.[13] Although he returned to the bench later in the 2015–16 season, Fry went on to make eight appearances in all competitions.[citation needed]

On 31 August 2016, Fry joined Rotherham United on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season.[14] Fry made his debut on 10 September, playing the whole game in a 2–2 draw against Bristol City.[15] Fry made 10 starts for the club before the loan was terminated early on 1 January 2017, having not featured for the club since November.[16] After his loan spell at Rotherham came to an end, Fry only made two appearances for Middlesbrough in the 2016–17 season, which both came in the FA Cup against Accrington Stanley[17] and Manchester City.[18] Earlier in the 2016–17 season, Fry signed a long-term contract with the club, contracting him until June 2021.[19]

Fry scored his first goal for Middlesbrough on 23 February 2021 in a 3–1 loss to Bristol City.[20]

International career

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Fry made his debut for the England national under-17 team on 28 January 2014, coming on as a second-half substitute, in a 2–1 win over Belgium.[21] He was a member of the England under-17 squad that won the 2014 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, beating the Netherlands 4–1 in a penalty-shoot-out in the final.[22][23]

Fry was called up to the under-18 team and made his debut on 3 September 2014 in a 4–1 win over the Netherlands.[24]

After a year with the under-19 team,[25] Fry was called up by the under-20 team in August 2016.[26] He made his under-20 debut on 1 September in a 1–1 draw against Brazil.[27] Fry was also a member of the England under-20 squad that won the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea.[28]

Fry was part of the under-21 team that won the 2018 Toulon Tournament.[29]

Career statistics

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As of match played 10 February 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Middlesbrough 2015–16[30] Championship 7 0 0 0 1 0 8 0
2016–17[31] Premier League 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0
2017–18[32] Championship 13 0 1 0 3 0 1[a] 0 18 0
2018–19[33] Championship 34 0 2 0 3 0 39 0
2019–20[34] Championship 36 0 2 0 0 0 38 0
2020–21[35] Championship 32 1 0 0 2 0 34 1
2021–22[36] Championship 33 1 3 0 0 0 36 1
2022–23[37] Championship 30 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 32 0
2023–24[38] Championship 28 0 1 0 6 0 35 0
Total 213 2 12 0 16 0 1 0 242 2
Rotherham United (loan) 2016–17[31] Championship 10 0 10 0
Career total 223 2 12 0 16 0 1 0 252 2
  1. ^ Appearance in Championship play-offs

Honours

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England U17

England U20

England U21

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Dael Fry: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Dael Fry: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  3. ^ "2016/17 Premier League clubs publish retained lists". Premier League. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Dael Fry". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Academy player profiles". Middlesbrough F.C. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  6. ^ "How Dael Fry impressed his Middlesbrough FC Academy coaches from a very early age". Gazette Live. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Duo Join Academy Graduates In Signing Pro Contracts". Middlesbrough F.C. 14 October 2014. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Preston 0–0 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  9. ^ "Defender Dael Fry Signs New Five-Year Contract At Boro". Middlesbrough F.C. 14 September 2015. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  10. ^ "Aitor Karanka Confident In Defensive Options After Ayala Injury Blow". Middlesbrough F.C. 8 February 2015. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  11. ^ "Match Report: Leeds United 0 Middlesbrough 0". Middlesbrough F.C. 15 February 2016. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  12. ^ "Aitor Karanka: Dael Fry Has Everything But We Must Be Patient". Middlesbrough F.C. 18 February 2016. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  13. ^ "Boro Under-21 boss takes great pride in Dael Fry's first team emergence this season". Gazette Live. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  14. ^ "Millers sign Boro youngster Fry". Rotherham United F.C. 31 August 2016. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  15. ^ "Rotherham United 2–2 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 10 September 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  16. ^ "Fry returns to Middlesbrough". Rotherham United F.C. 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  17. ^ "Middlesbrough 1–0 Accrington Stanley". BBC Sport. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  18. ^ "Middlesbrough 0–2 Manchester City". BBC Sport. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  19. ^ "Deadline Day: Dael Fry Signs New Long Term Contract And Joins Rotherham On Loan". Middlesbrough F.C. 31 August 2016. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  20. ^ "Middlesbrough 1–3 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  21. ^ "SOLANKE'S LATE STRIKE SECURES DESERVED WIN FOR YOUNG LIONS". The Football Association. 28 January 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  22. ^ "Dael Fry profile". The Football Association. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  23. ^ "England win European Under-17 Championship on penalties". BBC Sport. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  24. ^ "Boro Duo Play Part In England Success". Middlesbrough F.C. 4 September 2014. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  25. ^ "Tomas Kalas Gets Full International Call For Czech Republic". Middlesbrough F.C. 27 August 2015. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  26. ^ "Dael Fry Set For International Action With England Next Month". Middlesbrough F.C. 25 August 2016. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  27. ^ "International Duty: A Roundup Of Boro's Men In Action Around The World". Middlesbrough F.C. 1 September 2016. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  28. ^ "Dael Fry And Harry Chapman World Cup Winners – How It Happened". Middlesbrough F.C. 12 June 2017. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  29. ^ "Dael Fry tells Teesside Live about his Toulon triumph". Gazette Live. 10 June 2018.
  30. ^ "Games played by Dael Fry in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  31. ^ a b "Games played by Dael Fry in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  32. ^ "Games played by Dael Fry in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  33. ^ "Games played by Dael Fry in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  34. ^ "Games played by Dael Fry in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  35. ^ "Games played by Dael Fry in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  36. ^ "Games played by Dael Fry in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  37. ^ "Games played by Dael Fry in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  38. ^ "Games played by Dael Fry in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  39. ^ Dael Fry at Soccerway
  40. ^ "Under-20 World Cup: England beat Venezuela in final". BBC Sport. 11 June 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  41. ^ "Final fightback takes England U21S to Toulon hat-trick with win over Mexico". The Football Association. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  42. ^ "L'équipe type du Festival International Espoirs 2018" (in French). Toulon Tournament. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
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  • Profile at the Middlesbrough F.C. website