Chris Smalling

Christopher Lloyd Smalling (born 22 November 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie A club Roma.

After rising through Maidstone United's youth and reserve team set-up under the tutelage of coaches Peter Nott and Tony Cornwell, Smalling made his first-team debut for 'The Stones' on 11 April 2007, in a 4–1 loss against Tonbridge Angels in the Kent Senior Cup.

After making further appearances in the FA Trophy and Isthmian League Cup, Smalling made his league debut for the club in December 2007, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 draw against Harlow Town.

Smalling impressed and quickly established himself as a vital part of Maidstone United's back line; however, injury and international duty restricted his appearances.

After establishing himself in the Maidstone United first team, he signed for Middlesbrough in May 2008.

However, shortly after joining Middlesbrough, Smalling had his contract with the club cancelled after raising concerns over homesickness.

Soon after, in June 2008, he signed for Premier League club Fulham; he made his professional debut with the club in May 2009, and helped them reach the UEFA Europa League final in the following season.

Smalling represented the England Schools under-18 team in early 2008, before making his debut for the national under-20 and under-21 teams in 2009.

Smalling scored one goal for Maidstone United, in a 4–2 win at East Thurrock United on 24 March 2008, a match which was also his last game for the club.

After attracting strong interest from Fulham, Gillingham, Charlton Athletic and Reading, Smalling signed for Middlesbrough on a two-year contract on 30 April 2008.

However, within a month of signing, his contract with Middlesbrough was cancelled, with Smalling concerned about homesickness, and in June 2008, he signed for Premier League club Fulham.

Smalling was not on a contract at Maidstone United, for it would have prohibited him from playing for England Schoolboys, and as such the Isthmian League club were not entitled to a fee for the player; however, Fulham struck a deal which saw Maidstone United given £10,000 upon the transfer and £10,000 for every 10 league matches he played.

He was made captain of the club's Development Squad by manager Billy McKinlay.

On 24 May 2009, Smalling made his Premier League debut for Fulham, replacing Aaron Hughes in the 77th minute in the final match of the 2008–09 season, a 2–0 home loss to Everton.

Smalling made his first start for Fulham on 17 September 2009, in an away tie with CSKA Sofia in the UEFA Europa League, with the match ending 1–1.

On 28 December 2009, Smalling made his first league start for Fulham, in a 2–1 loss against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in Fulham's final match of 2009 and scored a decisive own goal in the 75th minute of the match.

In January 2010, Smalling signed a pre-contract agreement with Manchester United and joined them officially in July 2010.

He made his competitive debut in the 2010 FA Community Shield victory over Chelsea, which earned him his first career medal.

He went on to make more than 300 appearances for the club, winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, a League Cup, a UEFA Europa League and a further two Community Shields.

He was not included in the matchday squad for the 2010 UEFA Europa League Final, in which Fulham were beaten 2–1 after extra time by Atlético Madrid at the Volksparkstadion.

On 27 January 2010, Manchester United announced that they had signed Smalling, for an undisclosed fee, with the player staying at Fulham for the remainder of the 2009–10 season before joining United for the beginning 2010–11 campaign.

The transfer officially went through on 1 July 2010.

Smalling made his debut for United on 8 August 2010 in the 2010 FA Community Shield, appearing as a second-half substitute in a 3–1 win over Chelsea.

His Premier League debut for United came in their 3–0 home win over West Ham United on 28 August 2010, coming on as a 74th-minute substitute for Jonny Evans.

On 15 September 2010, he made his UEFA Champions League debut, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 draw at home against Rangers.

Eight days later, Smalling scored his first goal for Manchester United, also his first senior career goal, in a 5–2 away win over Scunthorpe United in the League Cup.

Smalling represented the England national team from 2011 to 2017.

During his youth, Smalling played for the Millwall academy before joining non-League club Maidstone United.

He made his senior international debut in September 2011 and has appeared at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016.

Smalling was born in Greenwich, London.

He is of Jamaican descent.

His father Lloyd died when Chris was aged five.

Smalling has one brother.

After his father's death the family moved to Kent, where he then attended Chatham Grammar School for Boys.

Smalling was a schoolboy national Judo champion, and also finished second in an international competition.

He was a boyhood Arsenal fan.

As a youngster he played for Walderslade Boys and Lordswood.

During his teenage years he sometimes missed training as he could not afford to pay for the bus.

After a short spell at Millwall's academy, a 16-year-old Smalling joined Maidstone United's youth set-up.

He was signed by Italian side Roma in 2019, where he won the UEFA Europa Conference League in his third season.