In Profile: David Brooks
Adding another option out wide to what’s fast becoming an experienced and exciting front line, David Brooks will be a welcome new face in Russell Martin’s side ahead of a busy February period.
Cheshire-born Brooks started his football journey, like a handful of the Saints squad, in the Manchester City Academy; signing at the age of seven but facing the pain of being released ten years later.
He got his career back on track with a move 38 miles south, going through the Sheffield United Academy and signing professional terms with the club in March 2015.
As part of his development he was sent on loan to National League side Halifax Town at the start of the 2015/16 season, initially for a month but having his spell at The Shay extended by a further month.
All experience is good experience; after five games, one goal and one assist the newly 19 year-old made his first team debut for Sheffield United at the start of the following season, coming on as substitute during the EFL Trophy match against Leicester City at Brammall Lane.
A first start for Brooks then followed in the next group stage fixture in October, a catalyst for then Wales manager Chris Coleman to call him up for the Wales squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Ireland.
After being named on the bench three times during that season, the start of the 2017/18 season saw him become more of a mainstay of the Blades squad; named on the bench for their opening day Championship win over Brentford before making a first start the side the following week at Middlesbrough.
11 league starts in the next 12 games then preceded a first Championship goal in October 2017, grabbing the winner in the 82nd minute at Elland Road for the 2-1 win over Leeds United.
Brooks would feature 30 times in the second division that season, scoring three goals and registering five assists. This got clubs in the Premier League looking at his name.
The following summer saw a move down south, joining AFC Bournemouth for the 2018/19 season with a fee of £11.5 million agreed. He was straight into the side for his Premier League debut at home to Cardiff City, a 2-0 win at the Vitality Stadium.
Missing just one of the opening six fixtures, losing just one of the games he featured in, the midfielder, playing off the right wing, scored his first Bournemouth and first Premier League goal. The opener after just five minutes in the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.
He kicked on from that first goal, scoring in victories over Watford and Fulham which saw him awarded Bournemouth’s October Player of the Month.
Brooks continued to hit the ground running at the Cherries, receiving the December Player of the Month award and finishing his maiden season in the top flight with seven goals in 33 appearances. This record saw him nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award alongside the likes of Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford.
It was an injury-hit 2019/20 season for the midfielder, ankle surgery sidling him until the final nine games of the season. He would miss almost eight months of action in a season which saw Bournemouth relegated from the Premier League.
His recovery continued back in the Championship for the next campaign, starting their 3-2 opening day victory over Blackburn Rovers. Despite missing five games through injury during late September and early October, five goals and assists in November saw him win the club’s Player of the Month award.
Brooks made 32 league appearances that season, contributing to 11 goals in the Championship as Bournemouth lost out to Brentford in the play-offs after a sixth-place finish.
His 2021/22 season was interrupted by issues off the field. In October 2021 he confirmed he was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma. The illness meant he had to withdraw from the Wales squad, before treatment meant he would miss the remainder of the season.
In May 2022, Brooks declared he was cancer-free. This kickstarted a long road to recovery, culminating in a long-awaited return in March 2023.
Bournemouth, now back in the Premier League, named him as part of the substitutes bench for the 1-0 win over Liverpool, before he returned to the field for the final 18 minutes of the defeat to Aston Villa.
This campaign has been one of stabilisation for the now 26-year-old, featuring in eight of the opening nine Premier League fixtures of the season.
Brooks’ first goal since the illness came at the 2-2 draw at Brentford, netting what looked like the winner at 2-1 in the 77th minute.
His most recent outing came in the fourth round of the FA Cup, scoring and registering two assists during the 5-0 win over Swansea.
