{{Short description|English footballer (born 2006)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Lennon Wheeldon | image = | caption = | fullname = Lennon Wheeldon | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|2006|02|16}} | birth_place = Nottingham, England | height = | position = Forward | currentclub = Derby County | clubnumber = 48 | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Notts County | youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}–2024 | youthclubs2 = Derby County | years1 = 2024–2026 | clubs1 = Derby County | caps1 = 1 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2024–2025 | clubs2 = → Boston United (loan) | caps2 = 3 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2025–2026 | clubs3 = → South Shields (loan) | caps3 = 33 | goals3 = 5 | nationalyears1 = 2024 | nationalteam1 = England U19 | nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 1 | club-update = 20:00, 12 May 2026 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 20:30, 8 April 2025 (UTC) }}
'''Lennon Scott Wheeldon''' (born 16 February 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for {{English football updater|DerbyCou}} club Derby County.
Starting his professional career at Derby County, Wheeldon had a loan spell at Boston United in 2024, before making his Derby County league debut in April 2025. In November 2025, he joined South Shields on loan, where he remained for the duration of the 2025–26 season. Wheeldon left Derby County upon the expiry of his contract in June 2026.
==Club career== Wheeldon started his career as a youth player at Notts County, before joining Derby County as an under-16s player.<ref name="dcfcprofile">{{Cite web |title=Lennon Wheeldon |url=https://www.dcfc.co.uk/teams/player/lennon-wheeldon |access-date=8 April 2025 |website=dcfc.co.uk |publisher=Derby County F.C.}}</ref><ref name="bostonloan">{{Cite news|date=8 November 2024|title=Derby County confirm striker transfer before Preston North End clash |language=en-GB|work=DerbyshireLive|url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/derby-county-transfers-lennon-wheeldon-9739500|access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref> On 8 November 2023, he made his debut for Derby County as a substitute in a 4–1 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s in the EFL Trophy.<ref name="LW23">{{soccerbase season|185554|2023|accessdate=8 April 2025}}</ref> In this game he came on as a 74th-minute substitute for James Collins and was able to create a goal scoring chance for Kane Wilson.<ref>{{Cite news|date=8 November 2023|title=Derby County player ratings v Wolves under-21s as young duo shine and Collins lethal|language=en-GB|work=DerbyshireLive|url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/derby-county-player-ratings-wolves-8893584|access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref> In August 2024, it was announced that Wheeldon had signed his first professional contract at Derby County.<ref>{{Cite news|date=9 August 2024|title=ACADEMY NEWS: Seven Young Rams Sign First Professional Deals|language=en-GB|work=Derby County|url=https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2024/08/academy-news-seven-young-rams-sign-first-professional-deals-august-2024|access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref>
On 23 November 2024, he joined National League side Boston United on a one-month loan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 November 2024|title=ACADEMY NEWS: Wheeldon makes Boston United loan move |url=https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2024/11/academy-news-wheeldon-makes-boston-united-loan-move-2 |access-date=8 April 2025 |website=dcfc.co.uk |publisher=Derby County F.C.}}</ref><ref name="bostonloan"/> The loan was ended in January 2025, with Wheeldon making four appearances for Boston, without scoring a goal.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2 January 2025|title=Wheeldon loan spell concluded |language=en-GB|work=Boston United|url=https://www.bostonunited.co.uk/news/wheeldon-loan-spell-concluded-2893377.html|access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref> On 5 April 2025, he made his league debut for Derby County as a substitute in a 1–0 away loss to Swansea City.<ref name="LW24"/><ref>{{Cite news|date=5 April 2025|title=Swansea City 1–0 Derby County|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cgqv83dgjqkt|access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref>
Ahead of the 2025–26 season, Wheeldon was one of a selection of under-21 players who took part in first team activities during pre-season.<ref name="eustaceaug25">{{Cite news|date=16 August 2025|title=John Eustace reveals what he told Derby County young guns amid rare but 'great' opportunity|language=en-GB|work=DerbyshireLive|url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/derby-county-academy-john-eustace-10429360|access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref> On 12 August 2025, Wheeldon played in Derby's EFL Cup tie against West Bromwich Albion, as a 63rd-minute substitute, a match which Derby won via a penalty shootout.<ref name="wbaeflc">{{Cite news|date=12 August 2025|title=West Bromwich Albion 1–1 Derby County|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c9qy051q1w1t|access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref> He had an impact in the match as he headed wide in the 69th minute, missing a good goalscoring opportunity.<ref name="wbaeflc"/><ref name="eustaceaug25"/> Derby head coach John Eustace praised Wheeldon's impact in the game, as well as he general development.<ref name="eustaceaug25"/>
On 8 November 2025, Wheeldon joined National League North side South Shields on a month-long loan.<ref>{{Cite news|date=8 November 2025|title=Lennon Wheeldon signs on loan|language=en-GB|work=South Shields F.C.|url=https://www.southshieldsfc.co.uk/post/lennon-wheeldon-signs-on-loan|access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref> On 15 November 2025, Wheeldon scored twice in South Shields 6–2 FA Trophy win over Dunston.<ref>{{Cite news|date=15 November 2025|title=South Shields 6–2 Dunston UTS|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cp3dxwxelyzt|access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=15 November 2025|title=MATCH REPORT: South Shields 6–2 Dunston FC|language=en-GB|work=South Shields|url=https://www.southshieldsfc.co.uk/post/match-report-south-shields-6-2-dunston-fc|access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref> On 27 November 2025, the loan was extended until early January 2026.<ref>{{Cite news|date=27 November 2025|title=ACADEMY NEWS: Price and Wheeldon extend loan spells|language=en-GB|work=Derby County|url=https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2025/11/academy-news-price-and-wheeldon-extend-loan-spells|access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref> On 30 December 2025, Wheeldon scored his first league goal for Shields in a 2–1 win at Darlington.<ref>{{Cite news|date=31 December 2025|title=South Shields manager proud as National League promotion bid gets triple boost after Darlington win |language=en-GB|work=Shields Gazette|url=https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/south-shields-darlington-national-league-north-5459717|access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=30 December 2025|title=Darlington 1–2 South Shields|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/ckgdlx0kgkgt|access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref> In January 2026, the loan was further extended until February.<ref>{{Cite news|date=6 January 2026|title=ACADEMY NEWS: Wheeldon Extends South Shields Stint |language=en-GB|work=Derby County|url=https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2026/01/academy-news-wheeldon-extends-south-shields-stint|access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref> The loan was further extended until 25 April in March.<ref>{{Cite news|date=4 March 2026|title=Lennon Wheeldon extends loan|language=en-GB|work=South Sheilds F.C.|url=https://www.southshieldsfc.co.uk/post/lennon-wheeldon-extends-loan|access-date=4 March 2026}}</ref> Wheeldon made 37 appearances during his loan at South Shields as the club missed out on promotion to the National League in the play-off final.<ref>{{Cite news|title=South Shields 0–2 Kidderminster Harriers|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cp8pqq02gz6t|date= 9 May 2026|access-date=13 May 2026}}</ref>
On 15 May 2026, it was announced that Wheeldon would leave Derby County upon the expiry of his contract in June 2026, he played three times for the first-team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/derby-county-retained-list-202526-10967233|title=Derby County retained list revealed as four leave with defender in contract talks |publisher=Derby Telegraph|date=15 May 2026|access-date=15 May 2026}}</ref>
==International career== In October 2024, Wheeldon was called up by the England under-19 team for friendlies against Portugal, The Netherlands and France.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 October 2024|title=ACADEMY NEWS: Quartet Link Up With International Teams For October Fixtures |url=https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2024/10/academy-news-derby-academy-quartet-link-up-with-international-teams-for-october-fixtures |access-date=8 April 2025 |website=dcfc.co.uk |publisher=Derby County F.C.}}</ref>
==Style of play== Wheeldon has been described as playing like an "old fashioned centre forward".<ref>{{Cite news|date=19 October 2025|title=The Derby County wonderkids who could save them millions|language=en-GB|work=DerbyshireLive|url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/derby-county-stars-academy-future-9533065|access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 9 May 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="4"|Derby County |2023–24<ref name="LW23"/> |League One |0||0||0||0||0||0||1{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearances in the EFL Trophy}}||0||1||0 |- |2024–25<ref name="LW24">{{soccerbase season|185554|2024|accessdate=8 April 2025}}</ref> |Championship |1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||1||0 |- |2025–26<ref name="LW25">{{soccerbase season|185554|2025|accessdate=8 August 2025}}</ref> |Championship |0||0||0||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||1||0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !1!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!1!!0!!3!!0 |- |Boston United (loan) |2024–25<ref name="LW24"/><ref>{{Cite news|date=4 December 2024|title=Boston United 1–0 Alvechurch|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cx2y5xzn9w9t|access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref> |National League |3||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||1{{efn|name=FAT|Appearances in the FA Trophy}}||0||4||0 |- |South Shields (loan) |2025–26<ref name="LW25"/> |National League North |33||5||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||4{{efn|Two appearances in the FA Trophy, two appearances in National League North play-offs}}||2||37||7 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !37!!5!!0!!0!!1!!0!!6!!2!!45!!7 |}
{{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase|185554}} *{{Soccerway|lennon-wheeldon/766759}}
{{Derby County F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wheeldon, Lennon}} Category:2006 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Nottingham Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Derby County F.C. players Category:Boston United F.C. players Category:South Shields F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:England men's youth international footballers Category:21st-century English sportsmen