Ben Davies joined us from Swansea in the summer of 2014 and is now the longest-serving member of our playing squad.
On July 23, 2014, the versatile defender officially signed with us. Nearly a decade later, Ben has proven himself to be an invaluable asset to the team, accumulating 330 appearances across all competitions.
Ben further solidified his importance to the squad during the 2023/24 season. Initially starting the season behind Destiny Udogie in the left-back position, he eventually stepped into the lineup, playing both left-back and centre-back roles. He made 19 appearances in total, including 17 in the Premier League (12 starts). Unfortunately, a calf injury sustained during the north London derby in April 2024 cut his season short.
Born in Neath, Ben began his professional career with Swansea, signing his first contract in 2011. He excelled with the Swans, earning the Young Player of the Year award in both 2013 and 2014, and making 91 appearances, including a starting role in their 2013 League Cup Final victory over Bradford City.
Upon joining Spurs, Ben faced intense competition for playing time. In his debut season (2014/15), he made 29 appearances across all competitions, including nine starts in the Europa League, more than any other player. Unfortunately, his season ended early after he dislocated his shoulder in a match against Southampton in April 2015.
In the 2015/16 season, Ben made 27 appearances in all competitions. He found his footing during the latter half of the 2016/17 campaign, scoring his first two goals for the club—one against Aston Villa in the FA Cup in January 2017 and another on the final day of the season in a 7-1 victory over Hull City. He also made his Champions League debut against AS Monaco in September 2016, finishing that season with 34 appearances.
Known for his solid defensive skills, Ben has also added an attacking dimension to his game, contributing numerous assists during a strong 2017/18 season, in which he played 38 times and scored in victories against Newcastle United and Huddersfield Town.
In the 2018/19 season, Ben played 27 of our 38 Premier League matches—his fifth season at Spurs—with seven of those appearances coming from the bench. In total, he made 39 appearances, including nine in our journey to the Champions League Final. He even filled in as a left-sided centre-half on several occasions, a role he is familiar with from his time with the Welsh national team.
The 2019/20 season proved challenging for Ben. After undergoing groin surgery in the summer, he returned in September and started his first match under Jose Mourinho—a 3-2 win at West Ham in November 2019. However, a knee injury sustained during that game sidelined him until February 2020. Once football returned after the lockdown, he played in all nine of our remaining matches that season, finishing with 22 appearances.
Ben made 22 appearances in the 2020/21 season, starting the first five matches before competition for the left-back position intensified with the arrival of Sergio Reguilón from Real Madrid. He captained the team six times and became the seventh player to reach 50 European appearances for the club in February 2021. In December, he scored his fifth goal for Spurs in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals against Stoke. By the end of that season, Ben had made 228 appearances for the club and was part of the Welsh squad that advanced through their group in Euro 2020 before losing to Denmark in the round of 16.
The 2021/22 season was a standout for the Wales international, as he achieved his best campaign yet with 43 appearances. He started 34 of the 36 matches after Antonio Conte’s arrival in November 2021, including 26 of 27 Premier League games, playing as part of a three-man central defense. Ben started our last 27 matches, helping secure a fourth-place finish and a return to the UEFA Champions League.
He played a significant role in helping Wales qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1958, securing their spot with a playoff win against Ukraine in June 2022, and he later represented his nation at the tournament finals in Qatar. His performances led to a new contract announced in July 2022, extending his stay with the club until 2025.
Ben showcased his defensive versatility again in the 2022/23 season, playing left-back, left wing-back, and left of a three in central defense. He made 40 appearances across all competitions, surpassing the 300-game milestone against Chelsea in February 2023.
In the Premier League, he made 31 appearances, starting 26, and contributed goals in thrilling victories against Bournemouth and Leeds.
A consistent presence on the international scene for Wales, often playing on the left side of a back three, he helped his country qualify for their first major tournament finals since the 1958 FIFA World Cup by reaching Euro 2016 in France. Ben was instrumental in Wales’ journey to the semi-finals of that tournament, playing every minute until the last-four clash with Portugal, which he missed due to suspension. He has since featured in three major international tournaments, including Euro 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Sadly, Ben missed the chance to compete in a fourth tournament when Wales lost a penalty shootout to Poland in the Euro 2024 playoff. By the end of the 2023/24 season, he had reached 86 caps and now captains his national team.
Wales
