Matthew Pennington

Matthew Pennington (born 6 October 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for club Blackpool. He has also played for Everton and Shrewsbury Town, with loan spells at Tranmere Rovers, Coventry City, Walsall, Leeds United, Ipswich Town and Hull City.

He has also represented the England national under-19 football team at international level.

Everton
Pennington joined Everton at the age of 11. In July 2013, he signed a new contract which would keep him at the club until the summer of 2015, followed by a three-year deal taking him to 2018. He played in two friendlies during July 2015, against Dundee and Leeds United, and made his full debut against Barnsley in the League Cup on 26 August 2015.

Tranmere Rovers (loan)
On 2 January 2014, Pennington joined League One side Tranmere Rovers on a one-month loan deal. He made his debut on 4 January 2014, playing ninety minutes in a 1–1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers. On 25 January 2014, he scored his first senior goal in a 1–0 win over Crewe Alexandra. He was recalled by Everton on 22 February 2014 to strengthen their under-21 squad. On 27 March 2014, he re-joined Tranmere on loan until the end of the season.

Coventry City (loan)
On 27 November 2014, Pennington joined Coventry City on loan until 4 January, and this was subsequently extended to 7 February. In January 2015, he was voted as the club's Player of the Month in a poll conducted by the Coventry Telegraph. On 7 February 2015, his loan was extended to the end of the season, with Pennington from then on being played more consistently at his more natural centre-back position. Pennington was named as Coventry City Young Player of the Year 2014–15, voted for unanimously by Coventry City manager Tony Mowbray and his coaching staff.

Walsall (loan)
On 23 March 2016, Pennington joined Walsall on loan until the end of the season.

Return to Everton
On 21 April 2016, having played five games for Walsall, his loan was terminated at the minimum 28-day point due to a defensive crisis at his parent club. He was recalled to be available for Everton's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United. After picking up a hamstring injury in the final day of the Premier League 2015–16 season on 15 May 2016 in a 3–0 victory against Norwich City, a recurrence of the injury in pre-season required surgery and ruled Pennington out until January 2017.

After returning from injury, his first goal came on 1 April 2017, in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool, levelling the game at 1–1, in an eventual 3–1 loss.

Leeds United (loan)
On 19 July 2017, Pennington joined Leeds United on a season-long loan, for a reported loan fee of £500,000. On 6 August 2017, Pennington made his Leeds United debut in a 3–2 victory against Bolton Wanderers. He picked up an ankle injury in the match and had to be replaced by fellow debutant Conor Shaughnessy in the second half. He was unavailable until the latter half of September, when he returned to the bench. In October, Pennington returned intermittently to the starting eleven.

After 24 appearances, on 18 May 2018, Leeds announced Pennington would be returning to his parent club upon the expiry of his loan.

Return to Everton
He returned to Everton to play in the 2018–19 pre season under their new manager Marco Silva, and on 11 May 2018 Pennington signed a new long-term contract at the club, keeping him there until the end of the 2021 season.

Ipswich Town (loan)
On 31 August 2018, Pennington joined Ipswich Town on loan until the end of the season. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw against Birmingham City on 29 September 2018; he was sent off in the match.

Hull City (loan)
On 8 August 2019, Pennington joined Hull City on loan for the 2019–20 season. He made his first appearance for the club in the first round of the EFL Cup in a 3–0 win at Tranmere Rovers.

Shrewsbury Town (loan)
On 31 December 2020, Pennington joined League One side Shrewsbury Town on loan until the end of the 2020–21 season. On 24 April, he scored his first goal for the. club in the 53rd minute during a 1-0 win at Blackpool.

Shrewsbury Town
On 27 May 2021, Pennington signed for Shrewsbury Town on a permanent deal following his release from Everton.

Blackpool
After rejecting the offer of a new contract with Shrewsbury, Pennington agreed to join Blackpool on 1 July 2023.

International career
Pennington made his debut for England U19s on 21 March 2013, coming on as a 70th-minute substitute in a 1–0 win over Turkey.