Korey Smith
FullnameKorey Alexander Sheridan Smith[1]
Birth date31 January 1991 (age 35)[2]
Birth placeHatfield, England[3]
Height6.0 ft (1.83 metres)[4]
PositionMidfielder
CurrentclubCambridge United
Clubnumber8
Youthyears 12007–2008
Youthclubs 1Norwich City
Years 12008–2013
Clubs 1Norwich City
Caps 167
Goals 14
Years 22012
Clubs 2→ Barnsley (loan)
Caps 212
Goals 20
Years 32012
Clubs 3→ Yeovil Town (loan)
Caps 317
Goals 30
Years 42013
Clubs 4→ Oldham Athletic (loan)
Caps 410
Goals 40
Years 52013–2014
Clubs 5Oldham Athletic
Caps 542
Goals 51
Years 62014–2020
Clubs 6Bristol City
Caps 6175
Goals 61
Years 72020–2022
Clubs 7Swansea City
Caps 772
Goals 70
Years 82022–2024
Clubs 8Derby County
Caps 872
Goals 81
Years 92024–2026
Clubs 9Cambridge United
Caps 946
Goals 91
Club-update15:38, 6 May 2026 (UTC)

Korey Alexander Sheridan Smith (born 31 January 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Cambridge United.

Smith started his career at Norwich City, making his senior debut in April 2009, he had loan spells at Barnsley, Yeovil Town and Oldham Athletic, he would join Oldham permanently in June 2013. A year later, Oldham would sell Smith to Bristol City for an undisclosed fee, where he would make 196 appearances in six years and in his first season at the club would win the League One title. Smith joined Swansea City in August 2020, where he would spend two years, before he joined Derby County where in his second and final season for the club would help the club gain promotion to the Championship.

Early life

Smith was "discovered plying his trade on the Sunday league park pitches".[5] He became the captain of Norwich City Academy, and led them on a run in the FA Youth Cup. He has two younger sisters, Harriet and Alice.[6] He is of Jamaican descent.[7]

Career

Smith first appeared on the bench for Norwich City in January 2008 as an unused substitute in an FA Cup match against Charlton Athletic.[8] He made his professional debut in a 0–1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday at Carrow Road on 4 April 2009, as an 82nd-minute substitute for David Carney.[9]

Smith featured regularly in the Norwich team during the 2009–10 season as they won promotion from League One to the Championship as champions.

In July 2010, Smith was handed the number 18 shirt and continued to play regularly as Norwich won promotion to the Premier League.

In January 2012, Smith penned a one-month loan deal at Barnsley. He made an instant impact at Oakwell, assisting two goals on debut against Derby County in a 3–2 victory for the Reds on his 21st birthday.[10]

In September 2012, Smith signed on a 93-day emergency loan at League One club Yeovil Town,[11] making his debut as a substitute away at MK Dons in a 1–0 defeat.[12]

On 15 March 2013, Smith signed on loan with Oldham Athletic until the end of the season.

Oldham Athletic

Smith signed a permanent two-year deal with Oldham Athletic on 20 June 2013, after being released by Norwich City having been at the club for seven years.[13] Smith was made captain of Oldham Athletic after manager Lee Johnson said Smith was as brave as a lion, brave on the ball and can take the ball anywhere.[14] He scored his first goal for the club with a stunning strike in the FA Cup 2013–14 second round against Mansfield Town.[15]

Smith scored his first league goal for the club in a 1–1 draw against Leyton Orient, scoring in added time to bring the scores level and earn the club a point away against the then third in the division Leyton Orient with a fantastic chipped effort from 30 yards out.[16]

Bristol City

Smith signed a three-year deal with Bristol City on 27 June 2014 for an undisclosed fee. He scored his first goals for Bristol City when he scored twice in a 3–1 Football League Trophy win against Cheltenham Town on 8 October 2014.[17] He helped Bristol City to a Football League Trophy and League One double in his first season with the club. Smith started 38 times the following season, as Bristol City finished 18th, meaning they avoided relegation straight back to League One. Smith underwent ankle surgery in April, returning to full training on 5 September 2016.[18]

On 20 December 2017, Smith scored a last minute winner as Bristol City upset Premier League side Manchester United 2–1 in the EFL Cup quarter-finals at Ashton Gate.[19]

Smith left Bristol City on 9 August 2020 after spending six years with the club.[20]

Swansea City

On 14 August 2020, Smith joined Swansea City on a two-year contract.[21] It was confirmed that Smith would leave the club upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2021–22 season.[22]

Derby County

On 16 July 2022, Smith dropped down to League One to join newly relegated Derby County on a two-year contract.[23] Smith would make 48 appearances for Derby County during the 2022–23 season, 40 these in the league, he was ultised as a midfielder as well as a right-back under Paul Warne.[24]

Smith scored his first goal in nearly six years on 29 July 2023 in a 2023–24 pre-season friendly for Derby against Premier League side Sheffield United, tapping in from close range after a Nathaniel Mendez-Laing cross, Derby would go on to lose the game 3–1.[25] Smith scored his first goal for Derby in a competitive fixture during the 2023–24 season, scoring the first goal in a 3–1 League One victory at Blackpool on 3 October 2023,[26] he also played a part in the other two Derby goals that night.[27] Smith made 37 appearances for Derby during the season, to go alongside his goal against Blackpool as Derby managed to secure automatic promotion by finishing runners-up in League One.[28]

On 18 May 2024, it was announced that Smith would leave Derby at the end of his contract on 30 June 2024, after 85 appearances and one goal over two seasons.[29]

Cambridge United

On 17 July 2024, Smith joined Cambridge United on a two-year deal.[30] On 6 May 2026 the club announced he was being released.[31]

Personal life

Korey is married to Hattie Bourn with whom he shares three children. His brother in law is England Rugby player Joe Launchbury (their wives are sisters).[32][33][34]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Norwich City2007–08[35]Championship000000—00
2008–09[36]Championship200000—20
2009–10[37]League One374201000404
2010–11[38]Championship2801010—300
2011–12[39]Premier League000010—10
2012–13[40]Premier League000000—00
Total674303000734
Barnsley (loan)2011–12[39]Championship120———120
Yeovil Town (loan)2012–13[40]League One170——2[a]0190
Oldham Athletic (loan)2012–13[40]League One100———100
Oldham Athletic2013–14[41]League One42151104[a]0521
Bristol City2014–15[42]League One44040006[a]2542
2015–16[43]Championship3601010—380
2016–17[44]Championship2301000—240
2017–18[45]Championship4511062—523
2018–19[46]Championship500010—60
2019–20[47]Championship2200000—220
Total17517082621965
Swansea City2020–21[48]Championship37010101[b]0400
2021–22[49]Championship350101000370
Total720202010770
Derby County2022–23[50]League One40040301[a]0480
2023–24[51]League One32120102[a]0371
Total721604030851
Cambridge United2024–25[52]League One231201030291
2025–26[53]League Two230201020280
Total461402050571
Career Total513827115224257913
  1. ^ Appearances in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Appearances in Championship play-offs

Honours

Norwich City

Bristol City

Derby County

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Swansea City". English Football League. p. 69. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Korey Smith". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  3. ^
  4. ^ "Korey Smith". Derby County F.C. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Korey Smith profile". Norwich City F.C. Archived from the original on 18 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
  6. ^ http://norwichcity.myfootballwriter.com/full_article.asp?i=4561&w=25&a=0&part=1 [dead link]
  7. ^ "Smith: Korey Alexander Sheridan Smith: Player". BDFutbol. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  8. ^ http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/Sport/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=Sport&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=Sport&itemid=NOED05%20Jan%202009%2009%3A00%3A03%3A327 [dead link]
  9. ^ "Norwich 0–1 Sheffield Wednesday". BBC Sport. 4 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
  10. ^ "Barnsley 3–2 Derby County". BBC Sport. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-31.
  11. ^ "Norwich's Korey Smith aims to impress on loan at Yeovil". BBC Sport. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  12. ^ "MK Dons 1–0 Yeovil Town". BBC Sport. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  13. ^ "Norwich City's Korey Smith bound for Oldham Athletic". BBC Sport. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  14. ^ "Captain Korey". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  15. ^ "Oldham Athletic 1–1 Mansfield Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  16. ^ "Leyton Orient 1–1 Oldham Athletic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  17. ^ "Cheltenham 1–3 Bristol City". Sky Sports. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  18. ^ Hancock, Lewis. "Smith returns to training"
  19. ^ "Bristol City 2-1 Manchester United". BBC Sport.
  20. ^ "Korey Smith: Long-serving midfielder leaves Bristol City after six years". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  21. ^ "Swansea City complete signing of Korey Smith". Swansea City A.F.C. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  22. ^ "Swansea City confirm retained list". Swansea City A.F.C. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  23. ^ "Smith Next in at Derby As Summer Rebuild Continues". Derby County F.C. 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  24. ^ "Paul Warne raises concern over right-back target as Derby County eye new addition". The72. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  25. ^ "Pre Season Match Report: Derby County 1–3 Sheffield United". Derby County F.C. 29 July 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  26. ^ "Korey Smith makes 'revenge' comment after Derby County seal Blackpool win". Derbyshire Live. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  27. ^ "Post Match Verdict: Smith 'Delighted' To Score First Derby Goal". Derby County F.C. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  28. ^ "Breaking: Derby County promoted as duo seal it for Paul Warne's side". Derby Telegraph. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  29. ^ "Derby County Retained List: 2023/24 Season". Derby County. 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  30. ^ "Korey Smith becomes latest signing | Cambridge United F.C.". www.cambridgeunited.com. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  31. ^ "Michael Morrison: Cambridge United captain leaving U's ending 21-year association". BBC Sport. 2026-05-06. Retrieved 2026-05-25.
  32. ^ "These are some of the biggest Instagram stars in Bristol". 27 January 2019.
  33. ^ "Meet the ice cream making Wasps star scooping acclaim on and off pitch". 15 September 2020.
  34. ^ "Smith opens up on his injury hell, Man United and making new history". 7 October 2019.
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  54. ^ "Bristol City's well oiled 2014/15 League One title-winning team – Where are they now?". bristolworld.com. 2022-04-14.
  55. ^ Chapman, Caroline (22 March 2015). "Bristol City 2–0 Walsall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  56. ^ "League One Team of the Year: Five Bristol City players selected". BBC Sport. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2018.