| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leon Peter Barnett | ||
| Date of birth | 30 November 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Luton, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Norwich City | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2005 | Luton Town | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2002–2007 | Luton Town | 59 | (3) |
| 2004–2005 | → Aylesbury United (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2007–2011 | West Bromwich Albion | 45 | (3) |
| 2009–2010 | → Coventry City (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 2010 | → Coventry City (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | → Norwich City (loan) | 20 | (1) |
| 2011– | Norwich City | 11 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:47, 27 September 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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Leon Peter Barnett (born 30 November 1985 in Luton) is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Norwich City. Although primarily a central defender, he has also played at left back, right back, central midfield and up front. Barnett joined Norwich City on a permanent deal on 1 January 2011 for an undisclosed fee on a three-and-a-half year contract.
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In Barnett's first season, at the age of 13, he played as a pacey right sided midfielder for local side Bushmead Wanderers. This position he retained over the next couple of seasons and was a prolific goalscorer having scored over 40 goals using his incredible pace.
Barnett started his football career at Luton Town's Youth Academy. After signing a professional contract he couldn't force himself in the senior squad, so went on loan to non-league team Aylesbury United, after which he returned to a place in the Luton first team.
Although he took time to adapt to the Championship at times during the 2005–06, his performances improved during the 2006–07 season, including scoring his first career goal at home to Leicester City on the opening day of the season. He won Luton's official Player-of-the-Year Award for 2006–07.[2]
Barnett completed a move to Championship team West Bromwich Albion in July 2007 for an initial fee of £2.5m fee, with a further £250,000 depending on appearances.[3] West Brom should also be due to pay Luton a further £250,000 because they gained promotion to the Premier League after the 2007–08 season.[3] He signed a four-year contract, keeping him at the club until 2011.[4] Barnett made his Albion debut in a 2–1 defeat away at Burnley on the opening day of the 2007–08 season.[5] He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 victory away at Scunthorpe United on 22 September 2007.[6] Barnett's performance in Albion's 2–1 away win against Leicester City on 8 December 2007 earned him a place in the Championship Team of the Week.[7]
On 4 November 2009, Barnett joined West Brom's Championship rivals Coventry City on loan until January.[8] He had made just two substitute appearances in the league at The Hawthorns in the 2009–10 season. Barnett made his Sky Blues debut on 6 November 2009 against Derby County. After going back to West Brom for a few days, Barnett rejoined Coventry on loan on 1 February 2010.
He played 20 games while on loan at Coventry but was not a success with the supporters and conceded three penalties, two of which saw him sent off.
On 26 August 2010, he joined Norwich City on loan until 4 January, to cover for injuries sustained to Michael Nelson and Zak Whitbread.[9] He was handed squad number 20 at Norwich and made his debut on 28 August against Nottingham Forest in a 1–1 draw at the City Ground. Barnett formed a consistent partnership with Elliott Ward. On 20 November, Barnett scored his first City goal, with a header from a David Fox corner against Leeds United.[10]
It was confirmed on 10 December 2010 that Barnett would join Norwich on a permanent three-and-a-half deal for an undisclosed fee, starting from 1 January 2011.[11] On 11 December 2010, against Portsmouth at Carrow Road, he conceded a penalty, for which he received his second yellow card of the match and was subsequently sent off.[12] In protest, he threw the ball at referee Simon Hooper, which earned him an extended two-match ban from The FA.[13] Barnett suffered a hamstring injury in a 2–1 victory over Reading on 12 March 2011, which ruled him out for the rest of the season.
Barnett played in his first Premier League game for Norwich as a substitute away at Wigan Athletic on 13 August 2011, replacing the injured Zak Whitbread. He started the next game, a 1–1 draw at home with Stoke City at Carrow Road, but was adjudged by referee Neil Swarbrick to have committed a professional foul on Jon Walters in the second half, conceding a penalty kick and receiving a red card.[14] On 26 September, Barnett scored his first Premier League goal in a 2–1 win against Sunderland.[15]
In 2007 Barnett's aunt Beverley appeared in the final of The X Factor.
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