Daniel Sturridge

Name: Daniel Sturridge
Nationality: English
Date of Birth: 01/09/1989
Height: 6' 2" (188cm)
Weight: 12st 0lbs (76.27kg)
Previous
Clubs: Manchester City
Position: Striker

After his contract at Manchester City expired in the summer of 2009, the 20-year-old forward chose Chelsea and the Champions League as the place to develop his talents further.

We already knew what he could do having seen him score against us in the FA Youth Cup two seasons ago, and it was in the senior version of the competition that he really began to make his mark at Stamford Bridge, netting four times in three games against Watford, Preston North End and Cardiff City after the turn of the year.

Signed as one for the future, Daniel 's ambition shone through immediately and he scored on his Chelsea debut in a friendly against Seattle, turning sharply and slotting home. He was rewarded with a call-up to England Under 21s in August, making his debut against Holland.

When the real business got going though he had to be patient, waiting until October for a first Chelsea start, and then missing two big chances to get off the mark against Bolton in the Carling Cup.

Confidence remained high though, and his introduction against Fulham just after Christmas instigated a vital comeback. Then in the absence of Didier Drogba, January saw him begin to find the net as Carlo Ancelotti predicted he would, with the three Championship sides despatched on the way to the last eight of the Cup.

A first Premier League goal arrived in April when Stoke were put to the sword, followed by a league winners' medal after appearing 13 times.

At Manchester City he first burst onto the first team scene in the 2007/08 season, scoring twice in four days in January for Sven Goran Eriksson's side, including an important equaliser at Derby County to earn a point.

A nephew of former Derby forward Dean Sturridge, Daniel arrived at City's Academy in 2003 from Coventry, having previously trained with Aston Villa.

He graduated to the senior squad at the beginning of the 2006/07 season and after injuries hampered his speedy progress, a hat-trick in the reserves prompted a debut in February 2007 as a late substitute.

The next season he was a more regular fixture in and around Mark Hughes's squad, netting four times in 26 appearances, 10 of which were starts, and was voted City's Young Player of the Year.

In January 2010, a tribunal decided that Chelsea must pay Manchester City an initial transfer fee of £3.5m, rising to £6.5m depending on appearances for club and the senior England team.


Season 2009 - 10

Competition Apps
(as sub) Goals Yellow
Cards Red
Cards
League 2 (11) 1 0 0
FA Cup 3 (1) 4 0 0
League Cup 1 (0) 0 0 0
Euro Cups 0 (2) 0 0 0


Career History:
Club Season Comp. Apps
(as sub) Goals
Manchester City 2008 - 09 League 3 (13) 4
FA Cup 1 (0) 0
League Cup 1 (0) 0
Euro Cups 5 (3) 0
Manchester City 2007 - 08 League 2 (1) 1
FA Cup 0 (1) 1
Manchester City 2006 - 07 League 0 (2) 0