Sam Dalby

Samuel George Dalby (born 7 December 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays for Championship club Watford as a striker.

Sam Dalby
Personal information
Full name Samuel George Dalby[1]
Date of birth (1999-12-07) 7 December 1999[2]
Place of birth Leytonstone, England
Position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Watford
Number 40
Youth career
Buckhurst Hill[3]
0000–2016 Leyton Orient
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 Leyton Orient 18 (1)
2018–2019 Leeds United 0 (0)
2019 → Morecambe (loan) 2 (0)
2019– Watford 0 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:51, 23 January 2018 (UTC)

Career

Leyton Orient

Dalby made his debut for Leyton Orient in the 3–1 win over Stevenage in the EFL Trophy on 30 August 2016, coming on as a substitute for Jordan Bowery. He became one of the youngest Orient players in the club's history, aged 16 years and 226 days.[4]

After scoring 11 goals in 19 appearances for Orient's U18 side, Dalby signed a professional contract with the club in December 2016.[5][6] He made his league debut as a second-half substitute for Robbie Weir in the 1–0 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers on 17 December 2016.[7]

Dalby made his full debut in the Leyton Orient starting eleven against Crawley Town in League Two on 26 December 2016, also scoring the first goal in the 3–2 win.[8] After impressing in his debut season at Orient, he went on trial at Premier League side Crystal Palace in the summer of 2017.[9]

Leeds United

On 23 January 2018, Dalby was signed by EFL Championship side Leeds United for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half year contract.[10] On 19 March, Dalby impressed for Leeds Under 23's in a victory against Ipswich, with it being described as a 'coming of age performance', after scoring his 4th goal in 6 games for the Leeds United Under 23's squad.[11]

On 3 March 2018, Dalby was named in Leeds' first team for their travelling squad for Leeds EFL Championship game against Fulham at Craven Cottage, however he was not named amongst the substitutes.[12] On 8 May, he was named in Leeds' first team squad by Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom for their post season friendlies tour to Myanmar.[13]

Dalby scored his first goal for Leeds' first team when he scored for Leeds under new head coach Marcelo Bielsa in their pre-season friendly 1–1 draw against York City on 20 July 2018.[14][15] On 26 July 2018, Dalby was given the number 41 shirt for the upcoming 2018–19 season for Leeds.[16]

Morecambe loan

On 31 January 2019, Dalby joined League Two side Morecambe on loan until the end of the season.[17] He made his debut on 9 February in a 3–2 defeat against Bury and in total made 2 substitute appearances.[18]

Watford

On 12 July 2019, Dalby joined Premier League club Watford for an undisclosed fee,[19] signing a two-year deal with an additional one-year option. He will be part of their development squad during the 2019–20 season.[20]

On 28 July 2019, Dalby scored a hat-trick whilst playing for Watford U23's against a RB Leipzig U19 side in a friendly match.[21] He was also selected in the matchday squad for Watford's EFL Cup fourth round defeat to Everton on 29 October 2019, but ultimately remained an unused substitute.

Style of play

Dalby's style of play has been likened to English Striker Harry Kane, due to his stature, finishing and hold up play. He was described as a special talent, with former Orient teammate James Dayton describing him 'He's left-footed, has a lovely touch and he's very aware of space. He is very natural at taking the ball into space and away from pressure'.[22]

Career statistics
As of match played 2 December 2017
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leyton Orient 2016–17[23] League Two 16100001[lower-alpha 1]0171
Leyton Orient 2017–18 National League 2000000020
Career total 181000010191
  1. Appearance in the EFL Trophy

References
  1. "Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists". Premier League. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  2. "Sam Dalby". 11v11. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  3. "Hall of Fame". Buckhurst Hill F.C. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  4. "Dalby's debut makes Orient history books". Leyton Orient F.C. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  5. "Dalby signs professional deal with the O's". Leyton Orient F.C. 10 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  6. "CONTRACT: Dalby - 'Hopefully it can be the start of something special'". Leyton Orient F.C. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  7. "Wycombe Wanderers 1–0 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. 17 December 2016.
  8. Colin Munford (29 December 2016). "Interview - Dalby". leytonorient.com.
  9. George Sessions (23 January 2018). "Leyton Orient forward Sam Dalby signs for Leeds United".
  10. Leeds United Official Site (23 January 2018). "SAM DALBY SIGNS FOR LEEDS UNITED". LeedsUnited.com.
  11. Yorkshire Evening Post (19 March 2018). "Sam Dalby stars as Leeds United U23's topple Ipswich Town". Yorkshire Evening Post.
  12. Adam Pope - BBC Radio Leeds (3 April 2018). "Striker Sam Dalby also in traveling #lufc party". Adam Pope - BBC Radio Leeds.
  13. Phil Hay (8 May 2018). "Saiz features but academy players make up the numbers in Leeds United's Myanmar squad". Yorkshire Evening post.
  14. "RONALDO VIEIRA: EVERYONE IS FEELING FIT". Leeds United. 20 July 2018.
  15. "REPORT: YORK CITY 1-1 LEEDS UNITED". Leeds United. 19 July 2018.
  16. "2018/19 SQUAD NUMBERS ANNOUNCED". Leeds United. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  17. "SAM DALBY LOAN". Morecambe. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  18. "Games played by Sam Dalby in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  19. "Sam Dalby makes Watford move". Leeds United. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  20. "Academy: U23 Squad Strengthened Further". watfordfc.com. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  21. https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/17801128.sam-dalby-scored-three-times-red-bull-leipzig-watford-debut/
  22. George Sessions (26 January 2018). "Leeds United's Sam Dalby will have good career, says former Leyton Orient team-mate James Dayton". East London Advertiser.
  23. "Games played by Sam Dalby in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
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