Daniel Noel Drinkwater (born 5 March 1990) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Having come through the youth academy at Manchester United, he spent time on loan with Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City, Watford and Barnsley. He moved to Leicester City in 2012, where he was part of the Foxes side that was promoted to the top flight and later part of their Premier League title-winning team in 2016. After moving to Chelsea in 2017 and making few appearances for the London-based club, he spent the remainder of his career on loan at Burnley, Aston Villa, Kasımpaşa and Reading.
Drinkwater also played internationally for England at under-18, under-19 and senior levels, winning three caps in 2016 for the latter whilst a Leicester player.
At the end of the season, he was called up to the Manchester United first team for their dead rubber league match against Hull City on 24 May 2009. He was named on the bench, but did not take to the field.
On 8 July 2010, Manchester United agreed for Drinkwater to spend a season-long loan spell at Cardiff City. As they were under a transfer embargo at the time, Cardiff said that the move would be completed once this had been lifted. The move was eventually confirmed on 6 August 2010, once the embargo had been removed. His competitive debut for Cardiff came two days later, in their 1–1 home draw with Sheffield United on the opening day of the 2010–11 Football League season.
Despite the loan having originally been intended to last the entire season, Manchester United recalled Drinkwater from Cardiff on 25 January 2011. During his time with Cardiff, he made 12 appearances, including nine in the EFL Championship.
Just three days after his return to Manchester United, Drinkwater joined Watford on 28 January 2011 on loan until the end of the season.
On 23 August 2011, Drinkwater joined Barnsley on loan until 2 January 2012, which was later extended until 30 June 2012. He made 17 Championship appearances for the Tykes, scoring in a 5–3 loss at his former team Cardiff on 22 October.
After being named Championship Player of the Month for December 2013, he was also one of three players who received a nomination for the Championship Player of the Year Award. Drinkwater had his most successful year as a professional, scoring seven goals and being named to the PFA Championship Team of the Year alongside teammates Kasper Schmeichel and Wes Morgan, as Leicester were promoted to the Premier League after winning the Championship. On 17 June 2014, he signed a new four-year deal with Leicester after helping the Foxes win promotion to the Premier League for the first time in ten years.
Drinkwater played consistently as the Foxes won the Premier League title in 2015–16, alongside his midfield partners N'Golo Kanté, Marc Albrighton and Riyad Mahrez. He scored his first top-flight goal on 23 January 2016, to open a 3–0 win over Stoke City at the King Power Stadium.
On 25 August 2016, Drinkwater signed a contract to remain with the club until 2021.
With the arrival of new manager Maurizio Sarri, Drinkwater made no league appearances at all in the 2018–19 season. His only appearance in all competitions was during the 2018 FA Community Shield against Manchester City in August 2018.
On 31 August 2019, he was allegedly attacked outside a nightclub, resulting in injury and two weeks out-of-action. He did not make his league debut until 3 December, in a 4–1 loss to Manchester City. Drinkwater was unable to get back into the team after that game, and on 3 January 2020, Burnley manager Sean Dyche confirmed that Burnley would not extend his loan and he would return to Chelsea.
On 30 October 2023, Drinkwater announced his retirement from football, aged 33.
He also made appearances for the England under-19s between 2008 and 2009. His first appearance came in their match against Albania on 8 October 2008. His final appearance for the England under-19s came against Ukraine on 2 August 2009.
He was called up to the full England squad for the first time on 17 March 2016, ahead of friendlies against Germany and the Netherlands. He made his debut 12 days later in the latter match, a 2–1 loss at Wembley Stadium in which he was man of the match. Drinkwater was named in Roy Hodgson's 26-man provisional squad for UEFA Euro 2016 but was one of three players axed for the final selection.
In September 2019, Drinkwater was attacked outside a Manchester nightclub, allegedly following a dispute with fellow footballer Kgosi Ntlhe, which resulted in ankle ligament damage.
As of July 2024, Drinkwater was working as a property developer following his retirement from playing.
Chelsea
England U19
Individual
Personal life
Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition Manchester United 2008–09 Premier League 0 2009–10 Premier League 0 2010–11 Premier League 0 2011–12 Premier League 0 Huddersfield Town (loan) 2009–10 League One 2 Cardiff City (loan) 2010–11 EFL Championship 0 Watford (loan) 2010–11 Championship 0 Barnsley (loan) 2011–12 Championship 1 Leicester City 2011–12 Championship 2 2012–13 Championship 1 2013–14 Championship 8 2014–15 Premier League 0 2015–16 Premier League 2 2016–17 Premier League 1 Chelsea 2017–18 Premier League 1 2018–19 Premier League 0 2019–20 Premier League 0 2020–21 Premier League 0 2021–22 Premier League 0 Burnley (loan) 2019–20 Premier League 0 Aston Villa (loan) 2019–20 Premier League 0 Chelsea U23 2020–21 0 Kasımpaşa (loan) 2020–21 Süper Lig 0 Reading (loan) 2021–22 Championship 1
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and year England 0
Honours
External links
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