{{short description|English footballer (born 1999)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}} {{Use British English|date=December 2019}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Dion Sanderson |image = Dion Sanderson 25042026 (4).jpg |caption = Sanderson in 2026 |full_name = Dion Dannie Leonard Sanderson<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/1335777|title=2019/20 Premier League squads confirmed|publisher=Premier League|date=3 September 2019}}</ref> |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|12|15|df=y}} |birth_place = Wednesfield, England |height = {{height|ft=6|in=2}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/teams/out-on-loan/dion-sanderson/ |title=Dion Sanderson |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. |access-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414111209/https://www.wolves.co.uk/teams/out-on-loan/dion-sanderson/ |archive-date=14 April 2021}}</ref> |currentclub = Derby County |clubnumber = 28 |position = Defender |youthyears1 = 2007–2019 |youthclubs1 = Wolverhampton Wanderers |years1 = 2019–2023 |clubs1 = Wolverhampton Wanderers |caps1 = 0 |goals1 = 0 |years2 = 2020 |clubs2 = → Cardiff City (loan) |caps2 = 10 |goals2 = 0 |years3 = 2020–2021 |clubs3 = → Sunderland (loan) |caps3 = 26 |goals3 = 1 |years4 = 2021–2022 |clubs4 = → Birmingham City (loan) |caps4 = 15 |goals4 = 0 |years5 = 2022 |clubs5 = → Queens Park Rangers (loan) |caps5 = 11 |goals5 = 0 |years6 = 2022–2023 |clubs6 = → Birmingham City (loan) |caps6 = 31 |goals6 = 2 |years7 = 2023–2026 |clubs7 = Birmingham City |caps7 = 39 |goals7 = 1 |years8 = 2025 |clubs8 = → Blackburn Rovers (loan) |caps8 = 12 |goals8 = 0 |years9 = 2025 |clubs9 = → Derby County (loan) |caps9 = 22 |goals9 = 1 |years10 = 2026– |clubs10 = Derby County |caps10 = 16 |goals10 = 0 |club-update = 16:16, 25 April 2026 (UTC) }}
'''Dion Dannie Leonard Sanderson''' (born 15 December 1999) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for {{English football updater|DerbyCou}} club Derby County.
He began his career as a youngster with Wolverhampton Wanderers and later spent time on loan at Cardiff City, Sunderland, Birmingham City (two spells) and Queens Park Rangers, before leaving for Birmingham City in 2023. He spent the second half of the 2024–25 season on loan to Blackburn Rovers. In August 2025, he joined Derby County on a season-long loan, the move was made permanent early at the start of 2026.
==Career== ===Wolverhampton Wanderers and loan spells=== Sanderson joined Wolverhampton Wanderers' academy as an eight-year-old, signed his first professional contract in 2018, and a year later signed a two-year contract with a 12-month option.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/under-23/20190618-sanderson-signs-contract-extension/|title=Sanderson signs contract extension|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|date=18 June 2019 |access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref> He was a member of the senior squad for their pre-season tour of China, where he played in the club's Premier League Asia Trophy Final victory over Manchester City.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49056640|title=Asia Trophy: Wolves beat Man City in bizarre penalty shootout|website=BBC Sport|date=20 July 2019 |access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref> He made his competitive debut on 30 October 2019 in an EFL Cup tie against Aston Villa.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50148248|title=Aston Villa 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers |first=Steve |last=Sutcliffe |website=BBC Sport|date=30 October 2019 |access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref>
Sanderson joined EFL Championship club Cardiff City on 31 January 2020 on loan to the end of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51336041|title=Cardiff City sign Albert Adomah and Dion Sanderson in loan deals|website=BBC Sport|date=31 January 2020 |access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref>
====Sunderland (loan)==== After Sanderson's contract with Wolves was extended until 2022,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54575850|title=Dion Sanderson: Sunderland sign Wolves defender on loan|website=BBC Sport|date=16 October 2020 |access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref> he joined League One club Sunderland in October 2020 on a season-long loan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/18801005.sanderson-joins-deadline-day-loan-deal/|title=Sanderson joins on a deadline-day loan deal |first=Scott |last=Wilson |newspaper=The Northern Echo|date=16 October 2020 |access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref> He scored his first goal for Sunderland, and his first professional goal, in a 2–0 win against Rochdale on 6 March 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderland-2-0-rochdale-ratings-19981418 |title=Sunderland 2-0 Rochdale player ratings as Wyke and Sanderson earn important win |first=James |last=Hunter |website=Chronicle Live |date=6 March 2021 |access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref> He was cup-tied for Sunderland's victory in the 2021 EFL Trophy Final.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/the-brilliant-story-of-the-day-as-sunderland-finally-win-at-wembley-as-lynden-goochs-strike-downs-tranmere-rovers-3162090 |title=The brilliant story of the day as Sunderland finally win at Wembley – as Lynden Gooch's strike downs Tranmere Rovers |first=Mark |last=Donnelly |newspaper=Sunderland Echo |date=14 March 2021 |accessdate=20 July 2021}}</ref>
Near the end of April, Sanderson was ruled out for the rest of the season due to a back injury, so missed out on Sunderland's unsuccessful play-off campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderland-dion-sanderson-injury-blow-20473794|title='Big blow' for Sunderland as Dion Sanderson is ruled out of the run-in and any play-off games|first=James |last=Hunter |website=Chronicle Live|date=27 April 2021 |accessdate=20 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57125196 |title=Sunderland 2–1 Lincoln City (2–3 agg.) |website=BBC Sport |date=22 May 2021 |accessdate=20 July 2021}}</ref> He was voted as Sunderland's Supporters' Young Player of the Year.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/dion-sandersons-message-class-sunderland-20576335 |title=Dion Sanderson's message to 'class' Sunderland fans after landing award |first=Stuart |last=Jamieson |website=Chronicle Live |date=11 May 2021 |accessdate=20 July 2021}}</ref>
====Birmingham City (loan)==== Sanderson signed a new four-year deal with Wolves before joining Championship club Birmingham City on 19 July 2021 on a season-long loan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/under-23/20210719-new-contract-and-loan-move-for-sanderson/ |title=New contract and loan move for Sanderson |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. |date=19 July 2021 |accessdate=20 July 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250510103821/https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/loan-watch/20210719-new-contract-and-loan-move-for-sanderson/ |archive-date=10 May 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> He made his first-team debut for Birmingham in the EFL Cup second-round match at home to Fulham. Starting in a three-man defence alongside the experienced George Friend and fellow debutant Mitch Roberts, he played for 73 minutes before being replaced by another newcomer, Alfie Chang.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58239544 |title=EFL Cup: Birmingham City 0–2 Fulham |website=BBC Sport |date=24 August 2021 |access-date=24 August 2021}}</ref> He made his first league appearance on 18 September in a 3–0 defeat away to Peterborough United, replacing the injured Marc Roberts at half-time with the score 2–0,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/peterborough-birmingham-city-bowyer-inquest-21608419 |title=Gardner red, Roberts injury – every word from Lee Bowyer on Blues' unexpected Peterborough defeat |first=John |last=Townley |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=18 September 2021 |accessdate=20 September 2021}}</ref> and established himself as a regular member of the starting eleven.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/dion-sanderson-birmingham-wolves-loan-22128513 |title=Wolves could deal Birmingham City January transfer blow |first=Bruna |last=Reis |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=10 November 2021 |accessdate=21 January 2022}}</ref> However, on 4 January 2022, with several Wolves defenders injured or away on international duty, Sanderson was recalled on 4 January 2022.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wolves-dion-sanderson-birmingham-city-22636747 |title=Wolves have a new plan for Dion Sanderson after Birmingham City loan is cancelled |first=Alex |last=Dicken |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=4 January 2022 |accessdate=21 January 2022}}</ref>
====Queens Park Rangers (loan)==== Sanderson joined another Championship club, Queens Park Rangers, on 25 January 2022 on loan for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60134578 |title=Dion Sanderson: Queens Park Rangers sign Wolves defender on loan until the end of the season |website=BBC Sport |date=25 January 2022 |access-date=25 January 2022}}</ref> He made 12 appearances, all but one in league competition.<ref name="sb2122"/>
====Birmingham City (second loan)==== Sanderson rejoined Championship club Birmingham City on 5 July 2022 on a season-long loan.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2022/07/05/wolves-dion-sanderson-seals-loan-return-to-birmingham-city/ |title=Wolves' Dion Sanderson seals loan return to Birmingham City |first=Nathan |last=Judah |newspaper=Shropshire Star |date=5 July 2022 |access-date=10 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706164731/https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2022/07/05/wolves-dion-sanderson-seals-loan-return-to-birmingham-city/ |archive-date=6 July 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> As he did during his previous loan, he started regularly, and was described in the ''Birmingham Mail'''s mid-season assessment as "a classy presence on the right side of the back three", more athletic but less physically dominant than Marc Roberts or Harlee Dean when played centrally.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-player-ratings-transfers-25531649 |title=Birmingham City midseason player ratings as Hogan shines and Man Utd teen plays with 'hair on fire' |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=16 November 2022 |access-date=16 May 2022}}</ref> By February 2023, he was struggling both with a back injury and the need to avoid a tenth yellow card and resultant two-match ban. He remained on nine cards, but after 33 starts and one goal, he returned to Wolves for treatment to his back.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-suspensions-sanderson-bacuna-26228526 |title=Explained: What EFL yellow card rules mean for Birmingham City and Dion Sanderson |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=13 February 2023 |access-date=16 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/birmingham-city-transfers-sanderson-wolves-26314151 |title=John Eustace sends Wolves transfer message as Birmingham City loanee ruled out for the season |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=23 February 2023 |access-date=16 May 2022}}</ref> Despite being initially ruled out for the season, he was able to start and score a late volleyed goal in Birmingham's final fixture, a 2–1 defeat at home to already promoted Sheffield United.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-player-ratings-sheffield-26871089 |title=Birmingham City player ratings vs Sheffield United after Tom Wagner watches final day defeat |first=Alex |last=Dicken |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=8 May 2023 |access-date=16 May 2022}}</ref>
===Birmingham City=== After lengthy negotiations, Sanderson joined Birmingham City on a four-year contract on 15 July 2023; the fee was undisclosed.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/birmingham-city-complete-seventh-summer-27328878 |title=Birmingham City complete seventh summer transfer as defender confirms he's 'home' |first=Joseph |last=Chapman |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=15 July 2023 |access-date=15 July 2023}}</ref> He was appointed captain.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/dion-sanderson-named-blues-mens-captain |title=Dion Sanderson named Blues men's captain |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=4 August 2023 |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230815090131/https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/dion-sanderson-named-blues-mens-captain |archive-date=15 August 2023}}</ref>
====Blackburn Rovers (loan)==== On 10 January 2025, Sanderson joined Championship club Blackburn Rovers on loan until the end of the season, reuniting with former manager John Eustace for the third time in his career.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dion Sanderson departs on loan |url=https://www.bcfc.com/pages/en/media-article/blues-dion-sanderson-departs-on-loan |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=10 January 2025 |access-date=10 May 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250510103541/https://www.bcfc.com/pages/en/media-article/blues-dion-sanderson-departs-on-loan |archive-date=10 May 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> He made 12 league appearances.<ref name="sb2425" />
===Derby County=== On 5 August 2025, Sanderson joined fellow Championship club Derby County on a season long loan. Reuniting with Eustace for the fourth time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/derby-county-make-transfer-statement-10402317 |title=Derby County make transfer statement as deal agreed |publisher=Derby Telegraph |date=5 August 2025 |access-date=6 August 2025}}</ref> On 9 August 2025, Sanderson made his debut for Derby in a 3–1 defeat at Stoke City, as an injury time substitute for Kayden Jackson.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c0kzg0g2m25t |title=Stoke City 3–1 Derby County |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 August 2025 |access-date=28 August 2025}}</ref> On 22 November 2025, Sanderson scored his first goal for Derby in a 3–2 loss against Watford.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c8x10j2j847t |title=Derby County 2–3 Watford |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 November 2025 |access-date=27 January 2026}}</ref>
On 31 December 2025, Sanderson signed for ''the Rams'' on a permanent basis for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-and-a-half year contract. He played 24 times during his loan spell at the club.<ref> {{cite web|url=https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2025/12/signing-dion-sanderson-joins-derby-county-on-permanent-basis|title=SIGNING: Dion Sanderson joins Derby County on permanent basis|website=www.dcfc.co.uk|date=31 December 2025|accessdate=31 December 2025}}</ref> He played a further 16 times during the season after December making it 40 in total across his loan and permanent spells.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/derby-county/appearances/2025-2026|title=Derby County – Appearances|website=www.footballwebpages.co.uk|date=13 May 2026|access-date=13 May 2026}}</ref>
==Personal life== He is a nephew of the 1984 Olympic javelin gold medallist Tessa Sanderson.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2019/11/04/tessa-so-proud-to-see-dion-sanderson-flying-family-flag-with-wolves/ |title=Olympian Tessa Sanderson so proud to see nephew Dion Sanderson flying the family flag with Wolves |first=Rosie |last=Swarbrick |newspaper=Express & Star |location=Wolverhampton |date=4 November 2019 |access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref>
In April 2024, Sanderson was charged with drink-driving.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-defender-dion-sanderson-29041045 |title=Birmingham City defender Dion Sanderson to appear in court on drink-driving charge |first=Alex |last=Dicken |website=Birmingham Live |date=22 April 2019 |access-date=22 April 2024}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 25 April 2026}}
{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan=2|Club !rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|FA Cup !colspan=2|EFL Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan=5|Wolverhampton Wanderers |2019–20<ref name="sb1920"/> |Premier League |0||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||1||0 |- |2020–21<ref name="sb2021"/> |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |2021–22<ref name="sb2122"/> |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |2022–23<ref name="sb2223"/> |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !0!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0 |- |rowspan="3"|Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 |2019–20<ref name="sb1920"/> |colspan=3|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||3{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}}||0||3||0 |- |2020–21<ref name="sb2021"/> |colspan=3|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||1{{efn|name=EFLT}}||0||1||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!4!!0!!4!!0 |- |Cardiff City (loan) |2019–20<ref name="sb1920">{{Soccerbase season|122139|2019|accessdate=2 August 2021}}</ref> |Championship |10||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||10||0 |- |Sunderland (loan) |2020–21<ref name="sb2021">{{Soccerbase season|122139|2020|accessdate=2 August 2021}}</ref> |League One |26||1||1||0||0||0||0||0||27||1 |- |Birmingham City (loan) |2021–22<ref name="sb2122"/> |Championship |15||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||16||0 |- |Queens Park Rangers (loan) |2021–22<ref name="sb2122">{{soccerbase season|122139|2021|access-date=26 May 2022}}</ref> |Championship |11||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||12||0 |- |Birmingham City (loan) |2022–23<ref name="sb2223">{{soccerbase season|122139|2022|access-date=8 May 2023}}</ref> |Championship |31||2||3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||34||2 |- |rowspan="4"|Birmingham City |2023–24<ref name="sb2324">{{soccerbase season|122139|2023|access-date=8 May 2024}}</ref> |Championship |37||1||1||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||40||1 |- |2024–25<ref name="sb2425" /> |League One |2||0||1||0||1||0||3{{efn|name=EFLT}}||0||7||0 |- |2025–26<ref name="sb2526">{{soccerbase season|122139|2025|access-date=6 August 2025}}</ref> |Championship |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !71||3||5||0||3||0||3||0||81||3 |- |Blackburn Rovers (loan) |2024–25<ref name="sb2425">{{soccerbase season|122139|2024|access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref> |Championship |12||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||12||0 |- |Derby County (loan) |rowspan="2"|2025–26<ref name="sb2526"/> |Championship |22||1||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||24||1 |- |Derby County |Championship |16||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||16||0 |- !colspan=3|Career total !182||5||7||0||7||0||7||0||203||5 |} {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{UEFA player}}
{{Derby County F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanderson, Dion}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:People from Wednesfield Category:Footballers from Wolverhampton Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players Category:Cardiff City F.C. players Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players Category:Birmingham City F.C. players Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. players Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. players Category:Derby County F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:Black British sportsmen Category:21st-century Black British people Category:21st-century English sportsmen