*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:53, 14 February 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:48, 1 April 2019 (UTC)
Pennington joined Everton at the age of 11. In July 2013, he signed a new contract which would keep him at the club until the summer of 2015,[3] followed by a three-year deal taking him to 2018.[4]
He played in two friendlies during July 2015, against Dundee and Leeds United, and made his full debut against Barnsley in the League Cup on 26 August 2015.[5]
Tranmere Rovers (loan)
On 2 January 2014, Pennington joined League One side Tranmere Rovers on a one-month loan deal.[6] He made his debut on 4 January 2014, playing ninety minutes in a 1–1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.[7] On 25 January 2014, he scored his first senior goal in a 1–0 win over Crewe Alexandra.[8] He was recalled by Everton on 22 February 2014 to strengthen their under-21 squad.[9]
On 27 March 2014, he re-joined Tranmere on loan until the end of the season.[10]
Coventry City (loan)
On 27 November 2014, Pennington joined Coventry City on loan until 4 January,[11] and this was subsequently extended to 7 February.[12] In January 2015, he was voted as the club's Player of the Month in a poll conducted by the Coventry Telegraph.[13] On 7 February 2015, his loan was extended to the end of the season, with Pennington from then on being played more consistently at his more natural centre-back position.[14] Pennington was named as Coventry City Young Player of the Year 2014–15, voted for unanimously by Coventry City manager Tony Mowbray and his coaching staff.[15][16]
Walsall (loan)
On 23 March 2016, Pennington joined Walsall on loan until the end of the season.[17]
Return to Everton
On 21 April 2016, having played five games for Walsall, his loan was terminated at the minimum 28-day point due to a defensive crisis at his parent club.[18] He was recalled to be available for Everton's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United. After picking up a hamstring injury in the final day of the Premier League 2015–16 season on 15 May 2016 in a 3–0 victory against Norwich City,[19]
a recurrence of the injury in pre-season required surgery and ruled Pennington out until January 2017.[20]
After returning from injury, his first goal came on 1 April 2017, in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool, levelling the game at 1–1, in an eventual 3–1 loss.[21]
Leeds United (loan)
On 19 July 2017, Pennington joined Leeds United on a season-long loan,[22][23] for a reported loan fee of £500,000.[24] On 6 August 2017, Pennington made his Leeds United debut in a 3–2 victory against Bolton Wanderers. He picked up an ankle injury in the match and had to be replaced by fellow debutant Conor Shaughnessy in the second half.[25] He was unavailable until the latter half of September, when he returned to the bench.[26] In October, Pennington returned intermittently to the starting eleven.[27]
After 24 appearances, on 18 May 2018, Leeds announced Pennington would be returning to his parent club upon the expiry of his loan.[28]
Return to Everton
He returned to Everton to play in the 2018–19 pre season under their new manager Marco Silva, and on 11 May 2018 Pennington signed a new long-term contract at the club, keeping him there until the end of the 2021 season.[29]
Ipswich Town (loan)
On 31 August 2018, Pennington joined Ipswich Town on loan until the end of the season.[30] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw against Birmingham City on 29 September 2018; he was sent off in the match.[31]
Hull City (loan)
On 8 August 2019, Pennington joined Hull City on loan for the 2019–20 season.[32] He made his first appearance for the club in the first round of the EFL Cup in a 3–0 win at Tranmere Rovers.[33]
Shrewsbury Town (loan)
On 31 December 2020, Pennington joined League One side Shrewsbury Town on loan until the end of the 2020–21 season.[34] On 24 April, he scored his first goal for the. club in the 53rd minute during a 1-0 win at Blackpool.
Shrewsbury Town
On 27 May 2021, Pennington signed for Shrewsbury Town on a permanent deal following his release from Everton.[35]
Blackpool
After rejecting the offer of a new contract with Shrewsbury, Pennington agreed to join Blackpool on 1 July 2023.[36]
International career
Pennington made his debut for England U19s on 21 March 2013, coming on as a 70th-minute substitute in a 1–0 win over Turkey.[37]
Career statistics
As of match played 13 February 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
^Sanghera, Mandeep (1 April 2017). "Liverpool 3–1 Everton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 April 2017. Jagielka flicked on a corner at the near post and, after Ashley Williams got a touch, Matthew Pennington arrived to slot in his first Everton goal on his first appearance of the season.