Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Thomas James Lees | ||
Date of birth | 28 November 1990 | ||
Place of birth | Birmingham, England | ||
Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
Playing position | Defender | ||
Club information | |||
Current team
|
Sheffield Wednesday | ||
Number | 15 | ||
Youth career | |||
1999–2008 | Leeds United | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2008–2014 | Leeds United | 123 | (3) |
2009–2010 | → Accrington Stanley (loan) | 39 | (0) |
2010–2011 | → Bury (loan) | 45 | (4) |
2014– | Sheffield Wednesday | 105 | (3) |
National team | |||
2012–2013 | England U21 | 6 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:40, 31 January 2017 (UTC). |
Thomas James "Tom" Lees (born 18 November 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as a Centre-back for Sheffield Wednesday.
Lees was born in Birmingham, but moved to Knaresborough, North Yorkshire when he was 4 years old. Lees began his career in the youth teams at Leeds before turning professional with the Yorkshire club in early 2009. He made his professional debut whilst on a season-long loan at Accrington Stanley in their Johnstone's Paint Trophy first round victory over Oldham Athletic in September of the same year. He joined Bury on a similar deal the following season and was voted the Players' Player of the Year in the Shakers' promotion-winning campaign before returning to Leeds in the summer of 2012 where he established himself as a first team regular. In September 2012, Lees was called up to the England U21 squad by manager Stuart Pearce.
Lees began his football career at Leeds United when he joined as an eight-year-old. As part of the club, he watched the side from a young age and developed an admiration for United's legendary defender Lucas Radebe. He progressed through the youth ranks and was involved in the England U16 set up in the summer of 2005. His development was later hindered during his years as a scholar with the club when a knee injury required an operation when he was 17. After he completed his rehabilitation, Lees turned professional in January 2009 when he signed a two-and-a-half year contract with the club.
He later experienced his first taste of senior football with Leeds when he was included in Simon Grayson's squad for the pre-season friendly tour of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and featured in the matches against Shelbourne and Glentoran. With senior central defenders Rui Marques, Patrick Kisnorbo, Richard Naylor, Lubomir Michalik, Leigh Bromby and Paul Huntington also in the first team squad, Lees found his opportunities limited for the 2009–10 season with the club looking to sending him out on loan to gain experience.