Chris Willock

Christopher Anthony Willock (born 31 January 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One club Cardiff City.

Chris Willock

Willock playing for Arsenal U19 in 2015
Personal information
Full name	Christopher Anthony Willock[1]
Date of birth	(1998-01-31) 31 January 1998 (age 27)[2]
Place of birth	Waltham Forest, England
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	Cardiff City
Number	16
Youth career
2003–2016	Arsenal
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2017	Arsenal	0	(0)
2017–2020	Benfica B	64	(14)
2019–2020	→ West Bromwich Albion (loan)	0	(0)
2020	→ Huddersfield Town (loan)	14	(2)
2020–2024	Queens Park Rangers	140	(20)
2024–	Cardiff City	32	(2)
International career‡
2013–2014	England U16	6	(1)
2014–2015	England U17	18	(2)
2015–2016	England U18	4	(0)
2016–2017	England U19	10	(3)
2017–2018	England U20	9	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 5 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 10 September 2018

Club career

Arsenal

Born in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, Willock joined Arsenal's academy when he was five years old.^[3] He, then aged 16, appeared for the Arsenal first team in a pre-season friendly in 2014 when Arsène Wenger described him as a "very interesting player".^[4] At the end of the 2015–16 season, he scored and provided two assists in a victory over Aston Villa in the U21 Premier League play-off final held at the Emirates Stadium.^[5][6] He made his first team debut on 20 September 2016 against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup.^[7]

Benfica

On 30 June 2017, Willock signed a five-year contract with Portuguese champions Benfica.^[8][9] He made his Benfica debut with the reserve team in a LigaPro match against Varzim on 23 August 2017.^[10]

West Bromwich Albion (loan)

On 8 August 2019, Willock joined West Bromwich Albion on a season-long loan with options to review the agreement in January; however, he did not make a single appearance for West Brom in the four months he was there.^[11]

Huddersfield Town (loan)

After struggling to break into the first team at West Brom, Willock joined Huddersfield Town on 31 January 2020. He went on to score 2 goals for the club with one of those being against West Brom, the team he had just been loaned at.^[12]

Queens Park Rangers

On 5 October 2020, Willock joined Championship side Queens Park Rangers for £750,000 on a three-year deal with an option for a further year.^[13] He scored his first goal for QPR in a 1–0 win over Cardiff City on 20 January 2021.^[14] On 10 December 2021, Willock was awarded the EFL Championship Player of the Month award for November 2021 after scoring three and assisting the other three of his side's six goals in the month. Willock's manager Mark Warburton was awarded the league's Manager of the Month award also.^[15] Willock ended the 2021–22 season with the Supporters' Player of the Year, Ray Jones Players' Player of the Year and Junior Hoops' Player of the Year awards.^[16]

The club exercised their contract extension for Willock at the end of the 2022–23 season.^[17]

Cardiff City

On 12 July 2024, following the expiration of his contract at Queens Park Rangers, Willock joined fellow Championship side Cardiff City on a three-year deal.^[18]

Personal life

Willock has two brothers, Matty and Joe, who are also footballers. All three brothers shared a pitch when Manchester United played a reserve game against Arsenal in May 2017.^[19] Willock is of Montserratian descent.^[20]

Career statistics

As of 3 May 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
Arsenal	2016–17[21]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	2	0	—		2	0
Benfica B	2017–18	Liga Portugal 2	30	3	—		—		—		30	3
	2018–19	Liga Portugal 2	34	11	—		—		—		34	11
	Total		64	14	—		—		—		64	14
West Bromwich Albion (loan)	2019–20	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
Huddersfield Town (loan)	2019–20[22]	Championship	14	2	0	0	0	0	—		14	2
Queens Park Rangers	2020–21[23]	Championship	38	3	0	0	0	0	—		38	3
	2021–22	Championship	35	7	0	0	3	0	—		38	7
	2022–23	Championship	28	6	1	0	0	0	—		29	6
	2023–24	Championship	39	4	0	0	0	0	—		39	4
	Total		140	20	1	0	3	0	—		144	20
Cardiff City	2024–25	Championship	32	2	2	0	0	0	—		34	2
Career total			250	38	3	0	4	0	—		258	38

Honours

Arsenal Youth

• U21 Premier League 2 play-offs: 2016^[5]

Individual

• UEFA European U-17 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2015^[24]
• EFL Championship Player of the Month: November 2021^[15]
• Queens Park Rangers Supporters' Player of the Year: 2021–22^[16]
• Queens Park Rangers Players' Player of the Year: 2021–22^[16]
• Junior Hoops' Player of the Year: 2021–22^[16]