Tom Sang

Thomas Roy Sang (born 29 June 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays for club Port Vale. A versatile defensive midfielder, he can also play at right-back. His father, Neil, played professional football.

Sang began his career in the youth team at Bolton Wanderers before joining Manchester United following a successful trial in 2019. He spent the second half of the 2018–19 season on loan at AFC Fylde and signed with Cardiff City following a trial spell. He spent time on loan at Cheltenham Town and St Johnstone before moving to Port Vale on a free transfer in July 2023.

Early life
Thomas Roy Sang was born in Liverpool on 29 June 1999. His father, Neil Sang, is a former professional football player and agent. It was reported that his grandfather was Malaysian, giving him eligibility to represent Malaysia internationally.

Early career
Sang began his career with Bolton Wanderers at under-13 level, but was released after his under-14 season. He spent 18 months without a club, during which time he struggled with injuries, before signing for Manchester United in 2015 after a successful trial; he later turned professional at the club, signing a contract extension in May 2018. United coach Kieran McKenna said that he was a "hard-working and diligent lad" after manager José Mourinho called him up to train with the first-team in October 2018. In January 2019, Sang joined AFC Fylde on loan for the remainder of the 2018–19 season; Dave Challinor's side were fourth in the National League at the time. However, he did not feature in the league or in the 2019 FA Trophy final victory over Leyton Orient.

Cardiff City
Sang was released by Manchester United in the summer of 2019 and subsequently signed for EFL Championship club Cardiff City after a trial period. He made his professional debut after coming on as a substitute for Gavin Whyte in a penalty shoot-out defeat to Reading in the FA Cup on 4 February 2020.

On 22 September 2020, he joined EFL League Two side Cheltenham Town on loan until January 2021. He made his first Football League appearance for Cheltenham in a 2–0 win over Crawley Town at Whaddon Road on 10 October. He made 14 appearances in all competitions for Cheltenham before returning to Cardiff in January 2021, winning praise from Cheltenham manager Michael Duff for his dedication and enthusiasm. He had started just three league games for Cheltenham, playing largely in an attacking central midfield role, though Cardiff manager Neil Harris noted that Cheltenham had been in excellent form. He had also been used at right-back towards the end of his loan spell and later acknowledged that he had learnt a lot despite initially being disappointed with the amount of gametime he had at Whaddon Road.

He made his league debut for Cardiff on 5 March 2021, playing as right-back in a 0–0 draw away at Huddersfield Town. He signed a new two-year deal the following month. He was preferred to Perry Ng at right-back by manager Mick McCarthy towards the end of the 2020–21 season. However, speaking in January 2022, new manager Steve Morison said that he saw Sang as a central midfield player, leaving him to compete with Joe Ralls, Will Vaulks, Marlon Pack, Leandro Bacuna, Sam Bowen and Ryan Wintle for one of three available places in the starting eleven. On 31 January, Sang joined Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season. He impressed during his home debut at McDiarmid Park, showing "ambition, energy and a willingness to advance deep into opposition territory" throughout a 2–1 win over Heart of Midlothian after starting the sequence of play that led to Ali Crawford's opening goal within the first minute of the match; an Opta Sports analysis showed him to be a key performer in the game. He played nine games for Callum Davidson's Saints, mainly at right-back, though was an unused substitute in both legs of the play-off victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

He impressed Cardiff manager Steve Morison by playing in central midfield during friendly games in summer 2022, though he faced competition from Joe Ralls, Andy Rinomhota, Romaine Sawyers, Rubin Colwill, Ryan Wintle, Eli King and Ebou Adams for a starting place. He was not utilised by manager Sabri Lamouchi in the second half of the 2022–23 season. Sang made 18 starts and nine substitute appearances during a four-year stay at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Port Vale
On 12 June 2023, Sang signed a two-year deal with EFL League One club Port Vale to run from 1 July. Manager Andy Crosby said that "his versatility will give us options", whilst the club's director of football, David Flitcroft, said that "he will add a different dimension to our midfield". An injury crises left him playing out of position at left-wing-back in November. However, he adapted well to the role as a right-footed player. Sang himself was injured at the end of the calendar year, as an Achilles tendon problem saw him sidelined for a few weeks. He adapted well to playing at full-back when new manager Darren Moore switched to a back four in February. He adapted well to being played on the right of a back three in a 0–0 draw at Wigan Athletic on 6 April.

Style of play
Sang is a versatile midfielder who is also able to play at right-back or as an attacking wing-back. Attacking from the wings he can cut inside and whip in dangerous, inswinging crosses.