Taylor Edward Gardner-Hickman (born 30 December 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL Championship club Birmingham City. He began his career with West Bromwich Albion and later played for Bristol City. He has represented England at under-20 level.
.jpg) Gardner-Hickman playing for Blackburn Rovers in 2026. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Taylor Edward Gardner-Hickman[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 30 December 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Telford, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Birmingham City | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2009–2021 | West Bromwich Albion | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2024 | West Bromwich Albion | 52 | (2) |
| 2023–2024 | → Bristol City (loan) | 23 | (1) |
| 2024–2025 | Bristol City | 13 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | → Birmingham City (loan) | 33 | (3) |
| 2025– | Birmingham City | 1 | (0) |
| 2025–2026 | → Blackburn Rovers (loan) | 30 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2022 | England U20 | 2 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14:22, 2 May 2026 (UTC) | |||
Early and personal life
editClub career
editWest Bromwich Albion
editHaving joined West Bromwich Albion's academy aged 7, Gardner-Hickman progressed through the club's youth academy.[5] Gardner-Hickman made three appearances for the club's under-21 side in the 2020–21 EFL Trophy, scoring one goal.[6] He was named in a West Bromwich Albion matchday squad for the first time on 9 May 2021 for a 3–1 defeat to Arsenal.[7] He made his debut for the club on 25 August 2021, starting in a 6–0 EFL Cup second round defeat to Arsenal.[8] He made his league debut for the club on 3 November 2021, starting at right wing-back as a replacement for the suspended Darnell Furlong in a 1–0 win over Hull City.[9] On 30 December 2021, Gardner-Hickman signed a new four-and-a-half-year deal at the club.[10] He scored his first senior goal on 15 October 2022 in a 2–0 win at Reading.[11]
Bristol City
editOn 22 August 2023, Hickman joined Bristol City on a season long loan with an option to buy.[12]
In December 2023, Gardner-Hickman was voted Bristol City's November Player of the Month, receiving 49% of the votes.[13]
On 15 January 2024, the club announced that they had exercised their option to buy and Gardner-Hickman had joined the club on a three-and-a-half-year contract.[14]
Birmingham City
editGardner-Hickman joined recently relegated League One club Birmingham City on 23 August 2024 on loan for the rest of the season.[15] The deal included an option to buy the player at the end of the season, which Birmingham confirmed on 3 February 2025 that they would be taking up.[16]
On 8 April 2025, he scored the winning goal against Peterborough United which confirmed Birmingham's promotion back to the Championship with six games still to play.[17]
Blackburn Rovers
editOn 1 September 2025, Gardner-Hickman joined Blackburn Rovers on loan for the 2025–26 season with an option to buy at the end of the season.[18] On 19 May it was announced that Gardner-Hickman would return to Birmingham following the conclusion of his loan spell.[19]
International career
editOn 25 March 2022, Gardner-Hickman made his England U20 debut in a 2–0 defeat to Poland in Bielsko-Biała.[20] Four days later he played in a 3–1 win over Germany at the Colchester Community Stadium.[21]
Style of play
editGardner-Hickman is primarily a right-sided player and is capable of playing at full-back, as a wide midfielder or in central midfield.[5] In March 2022, manager Steve Bruce stated that he "believes his best position is right-back".[22]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 2 May 2026
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| West Bromwich Albion U21 | 2020–21[6] | — | — | — | 3[a] | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||||
| West Bromwich Albion | 2021–22[23] | Championship | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 21 | 0 | |
| 2022–23[24] | Championship | 31 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 36 | 2 | ||
| 2023–24[25] | Championship | 2 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Total | 52 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 60 | 2 | |||
| Bristol City (loan) | 2023–24[25] | Championship | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 1 | ||
| Bristol City | 2023–24[25] | Championship | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25[26] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 36 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 40 | 1 | |||
| Birmingham City (loan) | 2024–25[26] | League One | 33 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 7[a] | 0 | 42 | 3 | |
| Birmingham City | 2025–26[27] | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
| 2026–27[28] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Blackburn Rovers (loan) | 2025–26[27] | Championship | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 152 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 178 | 7 | ||
- 1 2 Appearances in EFL Trophy
Honours
editBirmingham City
- EFL League One: 2024–25[29]
- EFL Trophy runner-up: 2024–25[30]
References
edit- ↑ "EFL – Squad List 2025/26: Blackburn Rovers – In Squad Players" (PDF). English Football League. September 2025. p. 4. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ↑ "Taylor Gardner-Hickman". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ↑ Masi, Joseph (31 March 2022). "Taylor Gardner-Hickman happy to fit in for West Brom". Express & Star. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
- ↑ McDonnell, Daniel (9 March 2022). "'It's unfortunate' – Ireland U21 boss Jim Crawford faces up to losing Charlie McCann to north". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
- 1 2 "Taylor Gardner-Hickman". West Bromwich Albion F.C. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- 1 2 "Games played by Taylor Gardner-Hickman in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ↑ Masi, Joseph (9 May 2021). "Arsenal 3 West Brom 1 – Report". Express & Star. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ↑ Chapman, Joseph (25 August 2021). "West Brom v Arsenal team news as Ismael hands out five debuts". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ↑ Masi, Joseph (5 November 2021). "Valerien Ismael determined to keep West Brom's top talent". Express & Star. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ↑ "Gardner-Hickman signs long-term contract". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 30 December 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ↑ "Managerless West Brom earn surprise win at Reading". BBC Sport.
- ↑ "City sign Gardner-Hickman". Bristol City FC. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ↑ Morgan, Ryan (1 December 2023). "Gardner-Hickman voted November Player of the Month". Bristol City FC. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ↑ "Gardner-Hickman signs permanent deal". www.bcfc.co.uk. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ↑ "Birmingham sign Bristol City's Gardner-Hickman". BBC Sport. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ↑ Dicken, Alex (3 February 2025). "Birmingham City confirm another summer transfer as Chris Davies favourite signs up". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
- ↑ "Peterborough 1–2 Birmingham: Taylor Gardner-Hickman winner seals automatic promotion for Blues". Sky Sports. 8 April 2025. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ↑ "Rovers recruit TGH!". Blackburn Rovers FC. 1 September 2025.
- ↑ "Retain List 2026". www.rovers.co.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
- ↑ "Report: Poland 2–0 England MU20s". englandfootball.com. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
- ↑ "England 3–1 Germany". cu-fc.com. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
- ↑ Masi, Joseph (2 March 2022). "Taylor Gardner-Hickman seen as a right-sided player at West Brom". Express & Star. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
- ↑ "Games played by Taylor Gardner-Hickman in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ↑ "Games played by Taylor Gardner-Hickman in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- 1 2 3 "Games played by Taylor Gardner-Hickman in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- 1 2 "Games played by Taylor Gardner-Hickman in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- 1 2 "Games played by Taylor Gardner-Hickman in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ↑ "Games played by Taylor Gardner-Hickman in 2026/2027". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
- ↑ "Birmingham win League One title after Wrexham draw". BBC Sport. 12 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
"Section Six: EFL Regulations". Handbook: 2024/25 EFL Regulations (PDF). English Football League. 2024. 38.2 p. 301. Retrieved 14 April 2025.To be eligible to receive a Championship, League One or Two winners medal, a player must have been named on the team sheet in at least 25% of the Club's league fixtures in that season.
"Birmingham City FC: Squad: Statistics: 2024/2025". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 14 April 2025. - ↑ Long, Dan (13 April 2025). "Birmingham City 0–2 Peterborough United: Harley Mills scores stunning free-kick as Posh become first team ever to retain Vertu Trophy". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
External links
edit- Taylor Gardner-Hickman at Soccerbase
- "Taylor Gardner-Hickman". whoscored.com. Retrieved 3 August 2024.