Wikipedia

Zain Westbrooke

Zain Sam Westbrooke (born 28 October 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for EFL League Two club Doncaster Rovers.

Zain Westbrooke
Personal information
Full name Zain Sam Westbrooke[1]
Date of birth (1996-10-28) 28 October 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Chertsey, England[2]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Doncaster Rovers
Number 24
Youth career
0000–2011 Chelsea
2011–2015 Brentford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Brentford 1 (0)
2017 → Solihull Moors (loan) 2 (0)
2017–2018 → Leyton Orient (loan) 5 (0)
2018–2020 Coventry City 32 (4)
2020–2023 Bristol Rovers 46 (2)
2022 → Stevenage (loan) 12 (0)
2023– Doncaster Rovers 37 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:25, 10 December 2024 (UTC)

Westbrooke is a graduate of the Brentford academy and made his professional breakthrough with Coventry City, before transferring to Bristol Rovers in 2020. He transferred to Doncaster Rovers in 2023.

Career

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Brentford

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Westbrooke began his career in the academy at Chelsea, before moving to West London neighbours Brentford in 2011 and signing scholarship forms at the end of the 2012–13 season.[3][4][5] By the completion of his scholarship in April 2015, he had made 55 appearances and scored four goals for the youth team,[6][7][8] in addition to scoring two goals in eight matches for the Development Squad during the 2014–15 season.[9] Westbrooke signed a one-year Development Squad contract for the 2015–16 season and by November 2015 he had impressed sufficiently to sign a one-year extension.[10][11] He finished the 2015–16 season with 23 appearances and one goal.[12]

Westbrooke was named captain of the new B team for the 2016–17 season and signed a new one-year contract on 17 February 2017.[4] He topped the B team's appearance-chart during the 2016–17 season, making 38 appearances and scoring six goals.[13] He also voted the B Team Players' Player of the Year.[14] Westbrooke was called into the first team squad for the final two matches of the 2016–17 season and made his debut in the West London derby with Fulham as a 76th-minute substitute for Konstantin Kerschbaumer on 29 April 2017.[2]

Mounting injuries led to Westbrooke's inclusion on the first team bench for a league match versus Ipswich Town on 19 August 2017, but he remained an unused substitute during the 2–0 defeat.[2] Westbrooke subsequently spent much of the first half of the 2017–18 season away on loan at National League clubs Solihull Moors and Leyton Orient,[15][16] for both of whom he appeared sparingly.[13][17][2] After his return on 10 January 2018,[13][17] Westbrooke spent the remainder of the 2017–18 season with the B team.[18] He departed Griffin Park on 7 May 2018.[19]

Coventry City

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On 7 May 2018, Westbrooke joined Coventry City on a two-year contract on a free transfer, with the option of a further year, effective 1 July 2018.[20] The club's victory in the 2018 League Two play-off final, after the announcement of his transfer, meant that he began his time with the club in League One.[21] After a substitute appearance in an EFL Trophy group stage match, Westbrooke made his full debut for the club with a start in a 1–0 win over Southend United on 29 December 2018.[22] He had a short run in the team in late-January and early-February 2019 and finished the 2018–19 season with eight appearances.[22][23]

Westbrooke broke into the team and made 33 appearances and scored four goals during the truncated 2019–20 season,[24] which ended with promotion to the Championship as League One champions.[25] After making 41 appearances and scoring four goals during his two seasons with Coventry City,[26] Westbrooke transferred out of the club in August 2020.[27]

Bristol Rovers

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On 3 August 2020, Westbrooke signed a three-year contract with League One club Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee.[27] He made 49 appearances and scored three goals during a 2020–21 season which culminated in relegation to League Two.[28][29] After appearing in the first two matches of the 2021–22 season,[30] manager Joey Barton dropped Westbrooke from the matchday squad and revealed that he was free to leave the club.[31] A move did not materialise before the end of the summer transfer window and Westbrooke remained at the Memorial Stadium.[32] He made a further seven appearances, predominantly in cup competitions,[30] before joining League Two club Stevenage on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season on 17 January 2022.[33] Westbrooke made 12 appearances during his spell and in his absence,[30] Bristol Rovers were automatically promoted back to League One.[29]

Returning to the Memorial Stadium for the 2022–23 pre-season, manager Joey Barton stated that Westbrooke's performances in training and matches had "done nothing but enhance his claim" for a first team place.[34] Though he started in the opening match of the regular season versus Forest Green Rovers,[35] Westbrooke was subsequently barred from first team training and was told he was free to leave the club.[36] A move did not materialise before the end of the summer transfer window.[37] After making just two EFL Trophy appearances since the opening day of the season,[35] Westbrooke's contract was terminated by mutual consent on 23 January 2023.[38] He made 61 appearances and scored four goals during 2 1⁄2 years at the Memorial Stadium.[26]

Doncaster Rovers

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Following a period training with Walsall,[39] Westbrooke joined League Two club Doncaster Rovers as a free agent on 24 March 2023 and signed a contract running until the end of the 2022–23 season.[40] He made eight appearances and signed a one-year contract at the end of the season.[35][41] Either side of three months out with a thigh muscle tear suffered in early December 2023,[42][43] Westbrooke made 34 appearances and scored two goals during the 2023–24 season,[44] which culminated in a playoff semi-final defeat.[45] He signed a new two-year contract in March 2024,[46] effective 1 July 2024.[47]

Personal life

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Westbrooke attended Woking High School.[3] In December 2020, Westbrooke tested positive for COVID-19 and missed one match.[48][49]

Career statistics

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As of match played 10 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brentford 2016–17[50] Championship 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
2017–18[51] Championship 0 0 — 0 0 — 0 0
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
Solihull Moors (loan) 2017–18[51] National League 2 0 — — — 2 0
Leyton Orient (loan) 2017–18[2] National League 5 0 3 0 — 0 0 8 0
Coventry City 2018–19[22] League One 7 0 0 0 0 0 1[c] 0 8 0
2019–20[52] League One 25 4 6 0 1 0 1[c] 0 33 4
Total 32 4 6 0 1 0 2 0 41 4
Bristol Rovers 2020–21[28] League One 42 2 3 0 1 0 3[c] 1 49 3
2021–22[30] League Two 3 0 2 0 1 0 3[c] 1 9 1
2022–23[35] League One 1 0 0 0 0 0 2[c] 0 3 0
Total 46 2 5 0 2 0 8 2 61 4
Stevenage (loan) 2021–22[30] League Two 12 0 — — — 12 0
Doncaster Rovers 2022–23[35] League Two 8 0 — — — 8 0
2023–24[44] League Two 27 1 2 1 2 0 4[d] 0 35 2
2024–25[53] League Two 2 0 0 0 2 0 1[c] 0 5 0
Total 37 1 2 1 4 0 5 0 48 2
Career total 136 7 16 1 7 0 15 2 173 10
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ a b c d e f Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  4. ^ 3 appearances in EFL Trophy, 1 appearance in League Two play-offs

Honours

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Coventry City

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Bristol Rovers" (PDF). English Football League. p. 14. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Zain Westbrooke at Soccerway. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Winter 2010 Newsletter" (PDF). Woking High School. p. 20. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  4. ^ a b Brett, Ciaran. "Brentford B captain Zain Westbrooke signs new one-year contract". Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  5. ^ Wickham, Chris. "Academy Contracts". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  6. ^ Brett, Ciaran. "Youth Team Stats 2012/13". www.brentfordfc.com. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  7. ^ Brett, Ciaran. "2013/14 Youth Team Statistics". www.brentfordfc.com. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  8. ^ Brett, Ciaran. "2014/15 Youth Team player statistics". www.brentfordfc.com. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  9. ^ Brett, Ciaran. "2014/15 Development Squad Stats". www.brentfordfc.com. Archived from the original on 1 October 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  10. ^ Brett, Ciaran. "Zain Westbrooke looking forward to working under Lee Carsley in Development Squad as he signs Brentford deal". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  11. ^ Wickham, Chris. "James Ferry, Zain Westbrooke and Tom Field sign new contracts". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  12. ^ "2015/16 Development Squad Stats". www.brentfordfc.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  13. ^ a b c "Zain Westbrooke returns from Orient loan". Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  14. ^ a b Brett, Ciaran. "Awards picked up at Brentford Player of the Year Dinner". Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Zain Westbrooke joins Solihull Moors on loan". Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  16. ^ "Westbrooke makes Orient loan switch". Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  17. ^ a b "Reece Cole and Zain Westbrooke return to Jersey Road". Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  18. ^ "Zain Westbrooke: 'we're a strong force'". Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  19. ^ "Zain Westbrooke moves on". Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  20. ^ "Transfer: Sky Blues Complete The Signing Of Zain Westbrooke". Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  21. ^ Coventry City F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  22. ^ a b c "Games played by Zain Westbrooke in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  23. ^ "Interview: "It's Been Good To Be Involved"". www.ccfc.co.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  24. ^ "News: Coventry City confirmed as League One Champions and promoted to the Championship!". www.ccfc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  25. ^ a b Lowe, Alex. "Season Review: Zain Westbrooke". www.ccfc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  26. ^ a b Zain Westbrooke at Soccerbase  
  27. ^ a b "Zain Westbrooke seals move to the Gas!". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  28. ^ a b "Games played by Zain Westbrooke in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  29. ^ a b Bristol Rovers F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  30. ^ a b c d e "Games played by Zain Westbrooke in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  31. ^ "Joey Barton reveals Bristol Rovers midfielder is free to leave after disappointing 12 months". Bristol Post. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  32. ^ "Former Coventry City midfielder to stay with Bristol Rovers after lack of deadline day offers". Bristol Post. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  33. ^ "Zain Westbrooke joins Boro on loan". www.stevenagefc.com. 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  34. ^ Frost, Sam (21 July 2022). "Barton outlines Westbrooke's place in his plans at Rovers after loan woes". BristolLive. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  35. ^ a b c d e "Games played by Zain Westbrooke in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  36. ^ Frost, Sam (4 August 2022). "Barton tells Clarke, Rodman and Westbrooke to find new clubs". BristolLive. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  37. ^ Piercy, James; Frost, Sam (1 September 2022). "Bristol Rovers transfer deadline day live: The latest from the Mem". BristolLive. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  38. ^ "Westbrooke Leaves Rovers". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  39. ^ Jenkins, Paul (8 February 2023). "Free agent Zain Westbrooke training with Walsall". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  40. ^ "Zain Westbrooke signs for Rovers". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  41. ^ "Zain Westbrooke signs new contract". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  42. ^ "'We know them, they know us' – McCann on opposition familiarity ahead of Accrington visit". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  43. ^ "Report | Walsall 3 Rovers 1". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  44. ^ a b "Games played by Zain Westbrooke in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  45. ^ Doncaster Rovers F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  46. ^ "New Deal | Zain Westbrooke extends Rovers stay". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  47. ^ "Rovers confirm retained and released list at end of 23/24 season". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  48. ^ "Tisdale explains Jaakkola, Oztumer, Grant and Westbrooke absences for Bristol Rovers at MK Dons". Bristol Post. 26 December 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  49. ^ "Match Report: Bristol Rovers 2–1 Blackpool". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  50. ^ "Games played by Zain Westbrooke in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  51. ^ a b "Games played by Zain Westbrooke in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  52. ^ "Games played by Zain Westbrooke in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  53. ^ "Games played by Zain Westbrooke in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
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