Benjamin Fredrick biography: Age, goals, net worth, stats, & salary

This Benjamin Fredrick biography gives you insight into a player who has attracted attention for his performances in European football and the Super Eagles. The centre-back rose through the ranks at Simoiben Academy before earning a move to English Premier League club Brentford in 2023, and now, he seems like a future star.

Fredrick’s development accelerated after he impressed with Nigeria’s Flying Eagles at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and later established himself as an important option for the senior national team under Eric Chelle.

However, his progress suffered a major setback in November 2025 when a knee injury ruled him out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and interrupted his first season in Belgian football.

After spending time on the sidelines, Fredrick returned to Brentford and was promoted to the club’s first-team squad in July 2026, signing a new four-year contract.

Here is everything to know about Benjamin Fredrick, including his age, goals, injury history, clubs, salary and international career.

Benjamin Fredrick biography: Age, birthplace and position

Benjamin Chiemela Fredrick was born on 28 May 2005 in Kaduna, Nigeria. He is 21 years old as of November 2026.

The Nigerian defender stands approximately 1.87m (6ft 2in) tall and primarily plays as a centre-back. He can also operate at right-back when required.

Fredrick is a right-footed defender whose game is built around his physical strength, aerial ability, defensive awareness and willingness to compete in one-on-one situations.

He began his football development at Simoiben Academy, an institution established by Super Eagles winger Moses Simon. His performances at youth level helped him secure opportunities in Nigerian professional football before attracting interest from European clubs.

His breakthrough came with the Flying Eagles, where he played an important role in Nigeria’s campaign at the 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina.

His performances eventually earned him a move to Brentford, where he continued his development in England.

Benjamin Fredrick club history: From Simoiben Academy to Brentford

Fredrick’s career has taken him from youth football in Nigeria to the English Premier League, with a loan spell in Belgium providing another important stage in his development.

Simoiben Academy: Where it started

Fredrick began his football journey at Simoiben Academy in Kaduna, where he developed his defensive skills before moving into senior Nigerian football.

The academy, founded by Moses Simon, has helped nurture young Nigerian footballers and provide them with opportunities to pursue professional careers.

Fredrick’s progress at the institution attracted attention from local clubs, eventually opening the door to his first senior football experience.

ABS FC: First taste of senior football

Fredrick moved to ABS FC ahead of the 2021-22 season, beginning his journey in Nigerian senior football. He made his debut for the club in February 2022 and quickly gained experience playing against older and more physically developed opponents.

His performances helped him take the next step in his career, with an opportunity to play in the Nigerian Professional Football League following his departure from ABS.

Nasarawa United: NPFL experience

In October 2022, Fredrick joined Nasarawa United, giving him an opportunity to test himself in Nigeria’s top-flight football. He made six league appearances for the Solid Miners during the 2022-23 campaign, featuring as both a centre-back and right-back.

Although his time at the club was relatively short, the experience proved important in preparing him for the next stage of his career.

His performances also attracted attention from European clubs, with Brentford eventually securing his services.

Brentford B: The move to England

Fredrick joined Brentford in August 2023, initially arriving on loan from Simoiben FC for the 2023-24 season.

The move was a major breakthrough for the Nigerian youngster, who had gone from playing in the NPFL to joining a club competing in the Premier League.

He initially featured for Brentford’s B team under Neil MacFarlane, where he continued developing his defensive abilities and adapting to the demands of English football.

His progress impressed the coaching staff, and Brentford made his transfer permanent in April 2024, handing him a four-year contract with an option for another year.

During the 2024-25 season, Fredrick became an important member of the B team that won the Under-21 Professional Development League national title.

He also helped Brentford reach the Premier League Cup final and scored in their 2-1 extra-time victory over Sheffield United in the semi-final. His performances earned him the Brentford B Players’ Player of the Year award in May 2025.

FCV Dender: First experience in Belgian football

In July 2025, Fredrick joined Belgian Pro League side FCV Dender on a season-long loan to gain experience in senior European football.

The move was an important opportunity for the defender to test himself against more experienced attackers and develop his understanding of top-flight football.

He made 15 appearances across the Belgian Pro League and the Croky Cup before his campaign was interrupted by a serious knee injury in November 2025.

The injury ended his loan spell prematurely and forced him to return to Brentford for rehabilitation.

Brentford first team: Promotion and a new contract

After returning from his injury, Fredrick received an important career boost in July 2026 when Brentford promoted him to their first-team squad ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League season.

The club also rewarded him with a new four-year contract, which runs until June 2030, with an option to extend it for another year.

Head coach Keith Andrews praised the Nigerian’s potential and highlighted his defensive attributes, particularly his ability to defend one-on-one situations.

However, the coach also acknowledged that Fredrick needed time to integrate into the senior squad after spending a lengthy period out injured. Despite the praise from his manager, Fredrick is yet to play for the senior team in a competitive fixture.

Benjamin Fredrick goals: How many has he scored?

Benjamin Fredrick is primarily a centre-back, so his main responsibility is to prevent opponents from scoring rather than contribute regularly to the attacking end of the pitch.

He has not established himself as a regular goalscorer at senior club or international level.

One of his notable scoring contributions came during Brentford B’s 2024-25 campaign, when he scored in the 2-1 extra-time victory over Sheffield United in the Under-21 Professional Development League semi-final.

The goal helped the young Bees reach the national final, which they subsequently won against Bournemouth.

Fredrick has not scored for the Super Eagles, and never scored for Dender or Nasarawa United.

Benjamin Fredrick injury: Knee problem and lengthy absence

Fredrick suffered a major setback in November 2025 when he sustained a knee injury during a training session at Belgian side FCV Dender.

The injury came at a particularly unfortunate time because he had just completed Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign and was expected to be part of Eric Chelle’s plans for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The defender had started the Super Eagles’ final four matches in the World Cup qualifying group and also featured in the African play-off semi-final against Gabon.

His injury ruled him out of AFCON 2025 in Morocco, where the Super Eagles eventually finished third. The problem proved more serious than initially anticipated, keeping him out of action for several months.

He returned to grass training in March 2026 as he began the final stages of his rehabilitation. However, his competitive comeback did not arrive until 31 August 2026, when he played 45 minutes for Brentford’s Under-21 side in a 5-1 victory over Sunderland. The appearance came after 287 days away from competitive football.

The lengthy absence meant he missed the remainder of his loan campaign in Belgium, but his return to action allowed him to resume his development at Brentford.

Benjamin Fredrick salary: How much does he earn at Brentford?

His new four-year contract, signed in July 2026, was a significant development, as it confirmed his promotion to Brentford’s senior squad.

That also came with a better contract. Fredrick currently gets a gross salary of €9,457 weekly and yearly salary is €491,742.

As his career progresses and he establishes himself in the Premier League, his earnings could increase depending on his contract terms and playing opportunities.

Benjamin Fredrick and the Super Eagles: International career

Fredrick has represented Nigeria at both youth and senior international levels.

His first major international breakthrough came with the Flying Eagles, where he played an important role in Nigeria’s third-place finish at the 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Egypt.

He also represented the country at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, featuring in four matches as Nigeria reached the quarter-finals.

When did Benjamin Fredrick make his Super Eagles debut?

Fredrick made his senior international debut on 31 May 2025 against Jamaica in the Unity Cup final at the Gtech Community Stadium in London.

The match ended 2-2 after normal time, with Nigeria winning 5-4 on penalties.

His performances subsequently earned him more opportunities under Eric Chelle, particularly during Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.

Stop that Fredrick Benjamin! https://t.co/QM6qlFIOmw

— MikeThePundit (@Mike_ThePundit) November 13, 2025

He started Nigeria’s final four group matches against Rwanda, South Africa, Lesotho and Benin, establishing himself as an important defender.

Fredrick also started the 4-1 victory over Gabon in the African World Cup play-off semi-final before Nigeria lost to DR Congo on penalties in the final.

Benjamin Fredrick FC 26: Rating, potential and player stats

Benjamin Fredrick is included in EA Sports FC 26, where he is a Nigerian defender capable of playing at centre-back and right-back.

His rating varies depending on the version of the player card or database update being used. His original FC 26 Ultimate Team card has an overall rating of 59, while updated Career Mode databases list him at 63 overall, with a potential rating of 78.

The updated Career Mode rating shows his development during the 2025-26 season, when he was playing for Belgian side FCV Dender.

His strongest attributes are pace and physicality, which complement his defensive abilities. He also has 71 jumping and 71 strength, making him useful in aerial challenges and physical duels.

Fredrick is right-footed and stands 187cm tall. He has a three-star weak foot and two-star skill moves in the updated Career Mode database.

His potential rating of 78 suggests that players using him in Career Mode can develop him into a more dependable defender as they progress through different seasons.

Benjamin Fredrick stats: Club appearances and international record

Fredrick made six league appearances for Nasarawa United during the 2022-23 NPFL campaign before moving to Brentford in 2023.

His most productive season in terms of senior appearances came in Belgium, where he featured for FCV Dender during the 2025-26 campaign.

His recorded statistics include:

Club/competition	Appearances	Goals
Nasarawa United (NPFL)	6	0
FCV Dender (Belgian league)	14	0
FCV Dender (Belgian Cup)	1	0
Brentford B (2024-25)	29	1
Nigeria U-20	11	0
Super Eagles	8	0

Frequently asked questions about Benjamin Fredrick

Who is Benjamin Fredrick?

Benjamin Fredrick is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a defender for Brentford. He played for Nigeria at under-20 level, and he is now playing for the Super Eagles.

How old is Benjamin Fredrick?

Benjamin Fredrick was born on 28 May 2005. He is 21 years old as of November 2026.

Where was Benjamin Fredrick born?

He was born in Kaduna, Nigeria.

Which club does Benjamin currently Fredrick play for?

He plays for Brentford in the English Premier League. He was promoted to the first-team squad in July 2026.

What position does Benjamin Fredrick play?

He primarily plays as a centre-back but can also operate as a right-back.

How many goals has Benjamin Fredrick scored?

He has not scored for the Super Eagles or in his recorded senior club appearances. However, he scored for Brentford B in the 2024-25 Under-21 Professional Development League semi-final against Sheffield United.

How Much Does Benjamin Fredrick Earn Per Week?

Benjamin Fredrick currently earns €9,457 per week at Brentford. His yearly salary is €491,742. He is one of the lowest first-team players.

What Tribe Does Benjamin Fredrick Belong To?

Benjamin Fredrick hails from Enugu State in southeastern Nigeria. He is Igbo, from the Nsukka Local Government Area.

Which clubs has Benjamin Fredrick played for?

His football journey has included Simoiben Academy, ABS FC, Nasarawa United, Brentford and FCV Dender, where he spent the 2025-26 season on loan.

What injury did Benjamin Fredrick suffer?

He suffered a knee injury in November 2025 while training with FCV Dender. The injury ruled him out of AFCON 2025 and kept him out of competitive action for almost nine months.

When did Benjamin Fredrick make his Super Eagles debut?

He made his senior debut on 31 May 2025 against Jamaica in the Unity Cup final, which Nigeria won on penalties.

How many caps does Benjamin Fredrick have for Nigeria?

Benjamin Fredrick has played eight games for Nigeria’s Super Eagles.