Thomas Deng

Thomas Deng

Personal information
Full name	Thomas Jok Deng[1]
Date of birth	(1997-03-20) 20 March 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth	Nairobi, Kenya
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2][3]
Position(s)	Central defender
Team information
Current team	Albirex Niigata
Number	3
Youth career
	Adelaide Blue Eagles
	Playford City
2011–2013	Western Eagles
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2013	Western Eagles	15	(2)
2014	Green Gully	13	(0)
2015–2016	Melbourne Victory NPL	10	(0)
2015–2020	Melbourne Victory	71	(2)
2016–2017	→ Jong PSV (loan)	5	(0)
2020–2021	Urawa Red Diamonds	21	(1)
2022–	Albirex Niigata	60	(0)
International career^‡
2015–2016	Australia U20	10	(0)
2016–2021	Australia U23	15	(1)
2018–	Australia	5	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Australia AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2020 Thailand U-23 Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 April 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 March 2024

Thomas Jok Deng (born 20 March 1997) is a professional soccer player who plays as a central defender for J1 League club Albirex Niigata. Born a South Sudanese refugee in Kenya, he has represented the Australia national team.

Early life

Thomas Jok Deng was born 20 March 1997^{[citation needed]} into a family of South Sudanese refugees in Nairobi, Kenya. He and his family were fleeing the conflict in South Sudan, eventually settling in Adelaide, South Australia,^[4] in 2003, when Deng was six years old.^[5][6] His father remained in Kenya to serve as a doctor with Save the Children, and passed away in 2007.^[7] His family moved to Melbourne, Victoria in 2011.^[8]

Deng has four older siblings as well as a half-brother who lives in Uganda.^[9] His older brother, Peter Deng, has represented South Sudan at senior level.^[10]

Deng's first club, along with his good friend and fellow refugee Awer Mabil, was Adelaide Blue Eagles.^[11]

Club career

Western Eagles

Deng made his senior football debut as a 16 year old in 2013 at Western Eagles under then-manager Srecko Barešić-Nikić in the Victorian State League Division 3.^[12][13]

Green Gully

The following season, the youngster moved to nearby Green Gully, where manager Bob Stojcevski recruited Deng to play for the club's u20 side. He was eventually promoted to the senior team and made 13 first team appearances in the NPL Victoria in 2014.^[4]

Melbourne Victory

Following his impressive performances at Gully, Melbourne Victory National Youth League coach Darren Davies rewarded Deng with a youth contract. Deng debuted for the senior team for Melbourne Victory against Balmain Tigers in the 2015 FFA Cup. He made his A-League debut on 9 October 2015 against Adelaide United, as a substitute replacing Fahid Ben Khalfallah after a red card was shown to Leigh Broxham. Thomas made his starting debut in the A-League for Melbourne Victory on 17 October 2015 in round 2 against town rivals, Melbourne City, where he was selected as Man of the Match by supporters and social media.

Jong PSV (loan)

In June 2016, Deng moved to Jong PSV on a one-year loan deal.^[14][15] After making five appearances, he returned to Melbourne Victory at the end of the season.^[16]

Urawa Red Diamonds

On 28 January 2020, Deng left Melbourne Victory to join Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds following his wonderful performance at the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship.^[17] On 23 August in a league match against Vissel Kobe, he scored a goal in a 2–1 lost.

Albirex Niigata

On 9 January 2022, Deng moved to J2 League club Albirex Niigata. In his first season at the club, he helped them to win the J2 League title thus gaining promotion to the top tier J1 League in 2023. On 6 January 2024, Deng's contract was extended for the 2024 season.^[18]

International career

A South Sudanese national at birth, Deng is eligible to play for Australia, Kenya and South Sudan.

Deng was part of the main squad of the Olyroos at the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship and put on an extremely impressive display throughout the tournament, garnering high praise from respected Australian pundits: Geoff Fullgrabe, Alan Vucenik, and Craig Foster.

In October 2018, Deng was named in the Socceroos squad for their training camp in the UAE and their friendly against Kuwait. In the friendly he made his debut, together with fellow South Sudanese refugee and boyhood friend Awer Mabil.^[19]

On 22 July 2021, Deng captained Australia in a historic 2–0 win over Argentina in the first group game of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, also winning the Player of the Match award.^[20][21]

Deng was included in the Australian squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup but did not play a single match at both tournament.

Other appearances

Deng has played in the African Nations Cup of South Australia.^[22]

Honours

Melbourne Victory

• A-League Championship: 2017–18
• FFA Cup: 2015

Albirex Niigata

• J2 League: 2022^[23]

References

1. "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ – Squad List: Australia (AUS)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
2. "T. Deng". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
3. "Thomas Deng". Melbourne Victory FC. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
4. Kulas, Damir. "The rise and rise of Thomas Deng". The Corner Flag. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
5. "Thomas Deng". Perth African Nations Sports Association. 19 September 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
6. Lewis, Samantha (5 November 2022). "'It's not about the colour of your skin anymore': Socceroo Thomas Deng on the power of representation". ABC News. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
7. Curulli, Chris (17 June 2020). "National Refugee Week: Thomas Deng's journey from South Sudanese refugee to Socceroo | Socceroos". Socceroos. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
8. "Journey to Victory: Thomas Deng". Melbourne Victory. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
9. Davutovic, David. "Victory star Thomas Deng revisits fork in the road on visit to youth justice centre". Herald Sun. News Corp. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
10. "Peter Deng's journey to South Sudanese debut – The Corner Flag". cornerflag.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
11. Migliaccio, Val (7 December 2018). "Thomas Deng's road to becoming a professional has been far from easy — just like his good mate Awer Mabil". Adelaide Now. The Advertiser. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
12. "Deng on how he made it to Olyroos level".
13. John Punshon "http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/States/VIC/2013SD4WR.html"
14. "PSV huurt Australische verdediger Deng (19)" (in Dutch). PSV Eindhoven. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
15. "Thomas Deng joins PSV Eindhoven on loan". Melbourne Victory. 28 June 2016. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
16. Tito, Clement (15 May 2017). "Deng could strengthen Victory's defence..." FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
17. Lynch, Michael (28 January 2020). "Deng quits Victory to join J-League giants Urawa". The Sydney Morning Herald.
18. "トーマス デン 選手 契約更新のお知らせ". www.albirex.co.jp (in Japanese).
19. "'A dream come true': refugees Deng and Mabil make Socceroos debuts together". The Guardian. 16 October 2018.
20. "'Olympics 2021: All the Olyroos action from Tokyo; match report'". The Australian. 23 July 2021.
21. "'From South Sudan to starring in Sapporo: Skipper Thomas Deng's inspirational journey'". Socceroos. 24 July 2021.
22. "Adelaide's African Nations Cup: A talent scout's dream". The Roar. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
23. "'At that point it was a difficult year for me': Deng's tough journey between Australia caps". Socceroos. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.

Further reading

• Lewis, Samantha (5 November 2022). "'It's not about the colour of your skin anymore': Socceroos defender Thomas Deng wants to use the Qatar World Cup to open Australian football's doors". ABC News.

External links

• Thomas Deng at Soccerway
• Thomas Deng at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)
• Profile at Albirex Niigata