Laurence Wootton

Laurence Thomas Wootton (born 10 January 2000) is an English footballer who plays for USL Championship club Indy Eleven, on loan from Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire.

Early life
Wootton grew up in Halstead, England, and joined the Stoke City Academy at age six, spending ten years there before joining Welsh club Cardiff City's Academy, where he spent another three years.

College career
In May 2020, he committed to attend Ohio State University in the United States to play for their men's soccer team. On 3 March 2021, he scored his first collegiate goal in a victory over the Michigan State Spartans. At the end of his freshman season, he was named the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year. He was also named to the All-Big Ten First Team, the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, and the All-Big Ten Tournament Team.

Ahead of his sophomore season, he was named a team captain. In October 2021, he was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and was also ranked as the #21 nationally ranked collegiate player. At the end of the season, he was again named to the All-Big Ten First Team, the All-North Region Second Team, First Team All-Ohio, Academic All-Big Ten, and the team's MVP.

During his junior season in 2022, he once again earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week in August. At the end of the season, he was named the Big Ten Midfielder of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team, Academic All-Big Ten, and the All-America Third Team.

Ahead of his senior season, he was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List. At the end of the season, he was once again named the Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and earned his fourth consecutive All-Big Ten First Team honour. He was also named to the All-North Region First Team. He finished his four seasons with Ohio State with 17 goals in 62 matches.

Club career
At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Wootton was selected in the third round (64th overall) by Chicago Fire FC. In April 2024, he signed a one-year contract with the club with options for 2025 through 2027, and was immediately sent on loan to the Indy Eleven of the USL Championship for the 2024 season. Wootton made his debut for Indy Eleven on 17 April 2024, in a 1–0 U.S. Open Cup win over Chicago Fire FC II, the MLS Next Pro affiliate team of his parent club. Wootton scored his first professional goal on 5 July 2024, scoring the opening goal for Indy Eleven in a 3–3 draw against Rhode Island FC.