Tom Pearce Bio
Tom Mark Pearce (born 12 April 1998) is an English footballer who plays as a left-back. He began his professional career with Leeds United after rising through their youth academy, and has also played for teams like Wigan Athletic and CF Montréal. Pearce has represented England at various youth levels, including the U20 and U21 teams.
Standing at 185 centimetres tall, Pearce built his reputation as an attacking full-back capable of contributing goals from wide positions. Across his career, he has moved between English Football League clubs and Major League Soccer, demonstrating the kind of resilience and adaptability required of modern defenders in English football.
Early Life and Background
Tom Mark Pearce was born on 12 April 1998 in Ormskirk, England. Growing up in the North West of England, he was introduced to organised football at a young age through local youth setups that emphasised technical development and tactical awareness. The competitive youth football scene in the region helped shape his early understanding of the game.
Pearce began his formal football development in the Everton youth academy, where he spent time as a young player learning the foundations of professional training. In 2014, at the age of sixteen, he made the switch to the Leeds United academy, a move that would set the course for his senior career. The Leeds youth system is widely recognised for producing players capable of stepping into the demands of Championship football.
He impressed for Leeds Under 18s during the 2015–16 season, scoring eight goals from left-back in 26 games, a remarkable return for a defender. That campaign established him as one of the most promising attacking full-backs in the academy and accelerated his path toward a professional contract.
Path to Professional Soccer
On 9 June 2016, Pearce signed a professional contract with Leeds United, progressing into the club’s Under 23 squad. The agreement marked the formal beginning of his professional pathway, with coaches outlining a development plan that balanced defensive responsibilities with attacking contributions. He continued to refine his game within the structure of Leeds’ youth setup.
Pearce received his first call-up to the Leeds United first team on 7 January 2018, when he was named on the bench against Newport County in a 2–1 defeat in the third round of the FA Cup. He was allocated squad number 46. His first appearance in a League squad came on 31 January, when he was named on the bench in a 0–0 draw against Hull City, and he was again on the bench in the consecutive league fixture on 3 February 2018 under head coach Thomas Christiansen in a 1–4 defeat against Cardiff City. He was named on the Leeds bench again under new coach Paul Heckingbottom on 10 March 2018, before making his first start for the club on 17 March 2018 against Sheffield Wednesday in a Championship fixture.
On 16 April 2018, Pearce was nominated as one of four players for Leeds United’s Young Player of The Year award, an early sign of the impression he had made on the coaching staff. After playing in the 1–0 defeat to Aston Villa at Villa Park, Pearce started again against Barnsley on 21 March, scoring his first ever professional goal in a 2–1 victory with a long range effort and receiving the man of the match award. With Premier League interest from his former club Everton and also AFC Bournemouth, in May 2018 Leeds held talks with Pearce about a new contract, and on 7 June he signed a new four-year contract to keep him at Leeds United.
Tom Pearce Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
On 26 July 2018, Pearce was given the number 20 shirt for the upcoming 2018–19 season at Leeds United. After falling behind new signing Barry Douglas in the pecking order at the start of the season, Pearce was mainly named as a substitute under new head coach Marcelo Bielsa, until he was ruled out with a foot injury and subsequently missed 10 games due to the injury, before returning from injury on 6 January 2019 during a 2–1 defeat to Queens Park Rangers in the third round of the FA Cup.
On 31 January 2019, Pearce joined EFL League One side Scunthorpe United on a six month loan. He made his debut on 9 February in a 2–0 win against Accrington Stanley, and in total made nine appearances for Scunthorpe in League One, scoring his only goal for the club on 12 March 2019 with a long range strike in a 4–1 win over Southend United. After returning to Leeds in the summer of 2019, in July 2019 Pearce was the subject of interest from a loan move to Greek Super League side Aris Thessaloniki, who would also play in the Europa League in the upcoming 2019–20 season.
Leeds United Breakthrough (2017–2018)
Pearce’s breakthrough into senior football came during the 2017–18 season at Leeds United, a campaign that saw him transition from youth prospect to first-team squad member. Under head coach Paul Heckingbottom, he was gradually integrated into matchday squads in the Championship, England’s second tier. His competitive debut established him as a young defender ready for regular senior football.
He scored his first ever professional goal against Barnsley on 21 March in a 2–1 victory, a long range effort that also earned him the man of the match award. The performance cemented his reputation as an attacking threat from left-back, and the subsequent contract extension underlined Leeds’ belief in his long-term potential.
Wigan Athletic Era (2019–2024)
On deadline day in summer 2019, Pearce signed a three-year deal with Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed fee, beginning the longest sustained chapter of his senior career. At Wigan, he settled into a regular role at left-back, contributing defensive solidity and providing width in the final third. The move gave him the consistent first-team football that had been difficult to secure at Leeds.
He scored his first goal for Wigan in an EFL Trophy tie against Port Vale on 6 October 2020. In January 2022, Pearce signed a further contract with Wigan Athletic until summer 2024, extending his stay at the club and reaffirming his importance to the squad. On 10 May 2024 the club announced he would be released, bringing his five-year spell at Wigan to a close.
CF Montréal Era (2024–Present)
On 12 July 2024, Pearce signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Major League Soccer side CF Montréal, marking his first move outside English football. The transfer represented a fresh chapter in his career and an opportunity to test himself in a new league and country. His arrival added experience and versatility to the Montréal defensive unit.
Following Montréal’s 2025 season, Pearce’s contract with the club was terminated, concluding his time in Major League Soccer. The spell, though brief, demonstrated his willingness to embrace new challenges and compete at an international level.
Driving Style and Strengths
Tom Pearce is known primarily as an attacking left-back with an eye for goal, demonstrated by his eight-goal return in 26 games for Leeds Under 18s and his long range strikes for the senior side. His ability to drive forward from deep, deliver crosses, and arrive late into the box makes him a valuable outlet in the final third. Defensively, his height of 185 centimetres aids him in aerial duels, while his experience across the Championship, League One, and Major League Soccer has added tactical maturity to his game.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Pearce’s early career came on 21 March 2018, when he scored his first professional goal against Barnsley in a 2–1 victory and earned the man of the match award. Internationally, he debuted for England U21s on 26 May 2018 in a 2–1 victory against China, and was on the bench for the 2018 Toulon Tournament final against Mexico U21, which England won 2–1 to claim the tournament. He also represented England U20s, making his debut on 10 September 2018 against Netherlands U20.
Tom Pearce Career Wins
Tom Pearce has collected meaningful silverware at youth international level, winning the 2018 Toulon Tournament with England U21s. At club level, his career has been defined by promotions, survival battles, and progression through English football’s pyramid, with his most settled spell coming during his five years at Wigan Athletic.
England U21 Highlights
Pearce received his first call-up to England U21s on 18 May 2018 by manager Adrian Boothroyd for the Toulon Tournament, with England’s group containing fixtures against Qatar, China, and Mexico. He made his debut on 26 May against China in a 2–1 victory, and was named on the bench for the final against Mexico U21 on 9 June 2018, which England won 2–1 to lift the tournament trophy.
Other Wins and Performances
In September 2018, Pearce was called up to the England U20 squad for the first time, and was an unused substitute on 6 September in a 2–0 victory against Switzerland U20s before making his debut for the Under 20s on 10 September against Netherlands U20. He was also called up to the England U20 squad for the 2019 Toulon Tournament, underlining his continued relevance in the England youth setup.
Tom Pearce Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Tom Pearce’s family background is limited, with no widely reported details on parents or a racing lineage in footballing terms. He began his footballing journey in the Everton youth academy before moving to the Leeds United academy in 2014, a transition that shaped his early development as a professional.
Personal Life
Tom Pearce was born in Ormskirk, England, and is English by nationality. Details about his marital status, spouse, or children have not been publicly reported, and he has generally kept his personal life private. His move to CF Montréal in 2024 reflected a willingness to broaden his horizons beyond English football.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a transitional year for Tom Pearce at CF Montréal, as he adjusted to the demands of Major League Soccer and the rhythms of the North American calendar. His two-and-a-half-year contract signed in July 2024 had positioned him as a long-term squad member, and the early months of the campaign offered him the chance to establish himself within the team’s defensive framework.
Following Montréal’s 2025 season, Pearce’s contract with the club was terminated, bringing his time in Major League Soccer to an end. The outcome underscored the competitive nature of MLS roster decisions, where established imports must continually justify their place in the starting eleven.
Looking ahead, Pearce’s experience across the Championship, League One, and Major League Soccer leaves him well placed to pursue the next chapter of his career, whether in England or abroad. His versatility, attacking output from left-back, and international pedigree at youth level continue to make him an attractive option for clubs seeking depth and experience in defensive areas.