Ben Purrington

Ben Purrington (born 20 May 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left back, left wing-back, left midfielder or left winger for Cambridge United.

Ben Purrington

Purrington playing for Rotherham United in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Ben Purrington[1]
Date of birth	(1996-05-20) 20 May 1996 (age 29)[2]
Place of birth	Exeter, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.79 m)[2]
Position(s)	Left back/left wing-back, left midfielder, left winger
Team information
Current team	Cambridge United
Number	3
Youth career
2005–2013	Plymouth Argyle
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2013–2017	Plymouth Argyle	52	(0)
2017–2019	Rotherham United	20	(0)
2018–2019	→ AFC Wimbledon (loan)	26	(0)
2019	→ Charlton Athletic (loan)	18	(0)
2019–2022	Charlton Athletic	86	(7)
2022–2024	Ross County	23	(1)
2024–2025	Exeter City	33	(1)
2025–	Cambridge United	6	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15:12, 1 September 2025 (UTC)

Career

Plymouth Argyle

Purrington was born in Exeter, Devon.^[3] He joined the Plymouth Argyle youth academy in September 2005 when he was nine.^[4] He signed his first professional contract in May 2013.^[5] Seven months later, Purrington made his first-team debut in a League Two match against Oxford United,^[6][7] and scored his first senior goal in his fourth match; an FA Cup tie with Port Vale.^[8]

He soon became a regular in the side after an injury suffered to teammate Gary Sawyer at the beginning of the 2016–17 season.

Rotherham United

On 30 January 2017, Purrington completed a move to Championship side Rotherham United for a reported £300,000 fee, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract.^[9] He made his debut in a 1–0 away defeat to Bristol City on 4 February 2017.^[10]

Loans to AFC Wimbledon and Charlton Athletic

Purrington joined League One club AFC Wimbledon on 1 August 2018 on loan for the 2018–19 season.^[11] He scored his first goal for Wimbledon in an FA Cup tie against Halifax Town on 1 December 2018.^[12] He was recalled to Rotherham United on 10 January 2019.^[13]

On the same day as his recall, Purrington joined League One club Charlton Athletic on loan until the end of the season.^[14]

Charlton Athletic

On 2 July 2019, Purrington joined Charlton Athletic on a three-year contract.^[15]

On 13 June 2022, it was confirmed that Purrington would be leaving Charlton Athletic following the expiration of his contract.^[16]

Ross County

On 29 June 2022, Purrington signed a two-year deal at Ross County.^[17]

Exeter City

On 11 January 2024, Purrington signed an 18-month contract at Exeter City.^[18]

On 5 May 2025, Exeter announced the player would leave the club in June when his contract expired.^[19]

Cambridge United

On 23 June 2025, Purrington agreed to join League Two side Cambridge United on a one-year deal upon the expiration of his contract with Exeter City.^[20]

Personal life

Purrington's uncle is former England rugby union player Richard Hill.^[21] Purrington is the older brother of Tom Purrington, who also plays football semi-professionally as a midfielder for Taunton Town.

Career statistics

As of match played 30 August 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Plymouth Argyle	2013–14[22]	League Two	12	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	14	1
	2014–15[23]	League Two	8	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	9	0
	2015–16[24]	League Two	13	0	0	0	0	0	3[a]	0	16	0
	2016–17[10]	League Two	19	0	3	0	0	0	3[b]	0	25	0
	Total		52	0	6	1	0	0	6	0	64	1
Rotherham United	2016–17[10]	Championship	10	0	—		—		—		10	0
	2017–18[25]	League One	10	0	0	0	1	0	1[c]	0	12	0
	2018–19[26]	Championship	0	0	—		—		—		0	0
	Total		20	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	22	0
AFC Wimbledon (loan)	2018–19[26]	League One	26	0	3	1	0	0	1[d]	0	30	1
Charlton Athletic (loan)	2018–19[26]	League One	18	0	—		—		3[e]	1	21	1
Charlton Athletic	2019–20[27]	Championship	31	2	0	0	0	0	—		31	2
	2020–21[28]	League One	28	2	1	0	2	0	1[f]	0	32	2
	2021–22[29]	League One	27	3	2	0	0	0	2[g]	1	31	4
	Total		104	7	3	0	2	0	6	2	115	9
Ross County	2022–23[30]	Scottish Premiership	11	0	0	0	5	1	2[h]	0	18	1
	2023–24[31]	Scottish Premiership	12	1	0	0	2	0	—		14	1
	Total		23	1	0	0	7	1	2	0	32	2
Exeter City	2023–24[31]	League One	12	1	—		—		—		12	1
	2024–25[32]	League One	21	0	1	0	1	0	4[i]	0	27	0
	Total		33	1	1	0	1	0	4	0	39	1
Cambridge United	2025–26[33]	League Two	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
Career total			259	9	13	2	11	1	19	2	302	14

1. Two appearances in Football League Trophy, one in League Two play-offs
2. Three appearances in the EFL Trophy
3. One appearance in the EFL Trophy
4. One appearance in the EFL Trophy
5. Three appearances in the League One play-offs
6. One appearance in the EFL Trophy
7. Two appearances in the EFL Trophy
8. Two appearances in the Scottish Premiership play-offs
9. Three appearances in the EFL Trophy

Honours

Rotherham United

• EFL League One play-offs: 2018^[34]

Charlton Athletic

• EFL League One play-offs: 2019^[35]