Lewis Dunk

Lewis Carl Dunk (born 21 November 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for club Brighton & Hove Albion and the England national team.

Lewis Carl Dunk was born on 21 November 1991 in Brighton, East Sussex and educated at Varndean School.

He is the son of former Sussex non-league player Mark Dunk.

A Chelsea fan, Dunk idolised John Terry in his youth and named his family dog 'Didier' in homage to Chelsea forward Didier Drogba.

Dunk started his youth career at Wimbledon before joining Brighton & Hove Albion's academy in 2003.

He was promoted to the club's under-18 squad in November 2007.

This turned out to be his only appearance of the 2009–10 season.

He made his first-team debut for Brighton in 2010, and was part of the team that won the League One title in the 2010–11 season.

Dunk joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Bognor Regis Town on loan in early 2010, and made his debut on 8 February in a 3–1 home win over Tonbridge Angels.

He scored his only goal on 27 February with a header 1–1 home draw with Cray Wanderers and went on to finish the loan with eight appearances.

On 30 April 2010, Dunk signed a two-year professional contract with Brighton after impressive performances captaining the club's youth team.

The following day, Dunk made his first-team debut, starting in the 0–0 draw away to Milton Keynes Dons.

After the match, he said: "It's fantastic, the best week of my life. We knew we were being told about pros and I was hopeful but I never thought I would be making my debut. I was told at the same time as I was told about my contract. Playing for my home town club is what I have always wanted to do so it's great. The others helped me along, talked to me all the time and just pulled me through."

At the start of the 2010–11 season, Dunk suffered a foot injury that kept him out for four weeks.

He made his first appearance of the season, playing the whole game, in a 1–1 draw against Tranmere Rovers on 2 October 2010.

His performance against Woking in the FA Cup on 6 November drew criticism, with manager Gus Poyet saying: "In the first half he did quite well, then, because of the situation, he was one of the players who started to do things he doesn't do normally, changing the ball, going too long, playing with a little bit more risk."

Dunk continued to fight for a starting place in the club's defence throughout the 2010–11 season.

Dunk made eight appearances in the 2010–11 season as Brighton gained promotion to the Championship as League One champions.

Dunk is uncapped at youth international level, despite being called up to the England under-21 squad in 2011.

On 31 January 2011, he signed a one-year contract extension to keep him at the club until June 2013.

Ahead of the 2011–12 season, Dunk stated that he was aiming to fight for his place in the first team at Brighton.

With fellow defenders Tommy Elphick and Adam El-Abd sidelined by injury, Dunk started the 2011–12 season alongside captain Gordon Greer, playing in Brighton's first match at Falmer Stadium versus Doncaster Rovers, winning 2–1.

During the match, he made a tackle on Billy Sharp which injured Sharp.

Dunk apologised when the game was concluded.

Dunk was involved as Brighton kept four clean sheets in the first four months of the season.

Since the start of the 2011–12 season, he quickly established himself in the starting eleven for the side, appearing in the next two months before being sidelined for one match, due to suspension.

After serving a one-match suspension, Dunk returned to the starting line-up against Hull City on 15 October 2011 and helped them keep a clean sheet, in a 0–0 draw.

He then set up a goal for Greer to score the club's first goal of the game, in a 2–0 win against Barnsley on 6 November 2011.

Dunk started in the next eight matches by the end of the year and along the way, helped Brighton & Hove Albion keep two consecutive clean sheets against Derby County and Nottingham Forest.

This lasted until he served a one-match suspension.

Dunk returned to the starting line-up against Bristol City on 14 January 2012 and set up the club's second goal of the game, in a 2–0 win.

Throughout the January transfer window, he was linked a move away from the club, as Newcastle United, Cardiff City and Norwich City were interested in signing him, but Brighton managed to keep him.

In the 2016–17 season, Dunk achieved promotion to the Premier League with Brighton, and was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year.

He made his senior England debut in 2018.

Appointed captain in 2019, Dunk led the club to their maiden European qualification in the 2022–23 season, as they qualified for the following season's UEFA Europa League.

Dunk is engaged to his partner, to whom he proposed in 2019.

Dunk started his career at Wimbledon before he was released following the club's liquidation and relocation to Milton Keynes.

After leaving Wimbledon, Dunk joined Brighton & Hove Albion when he was playing for the under-12 team.

While progressing, Dunk went on trial at Crystal Palace and impressed the side that they offered him a contract but he rejected the move, citing "school commitment and couldn't travel three times a week up to London" and stayed at Brighton & Hove Albion at a good centre of excellence.

He then signed a scholarship with the club.