Matthew Cox

Brentford

2021–22 season On 22 July 2021, Cox transferred to the B team at Premier League club Brentford and signed three-year contract, with the option of a further year, for an undisclosed fee. As a result of a long-term injury suffered by first-choice goalkeeper David Raya in October 2021, Cox was promoted onto the first team substitutes' bench as backup for loanee Álvaro Fernández. Cox dropped back out of the matchday squad, He made 18 B team appearances during the 2021–22 season. ankle injuries suffered by Strakosha during the season saw Cox serve as Raya's backup for 24 matches. He also made seven appearances during the B team's 2022–23 Premier League Cup-winning campaign. He began the season as first-choice goalkeeper, but following a dip in form, he was dropped in favour of Jed Ward in late January 2024. Cox made just one further appearance before the end of the season and finished a mid-table campaign on 34 appearances.

2024–25 season and loan to Crawley Town During the first half of the 2024–25 season, Cox served as third-choice goalkeeper behind Mark Flekken and Hákon Valdimarsson and was an unused substitute during two EFL Cup matches. On 28 January 2025, he joined League One club Crawley Town on loan until the end of the 2024–25 season. Cox went straight into the starting lineup and suffered a torn hamstring during his third appearance, which necessitated his return to Brentford for treatment. He did not appear again before the end of the League One season,

2025–26 season and loan to Shrewsbury Town Behind new signing Caoimhín Kelleher and Hákon Valdimarsson in the pecking order, Cox failed to win a call into a matchday squad during the first half of the 2025–26 season. Cox made 18 appearances during his spell and was voted the club's Young Player of the Year.

International career Cox was capped twice by England at U17 level in February 2020. One month later, Cox won his maiden call into the U20 squad for a pair of friendlies and made his debut as a late substitute for James Trafford in a 5–0 win over the Czech Republic in the second match.

Returning to the U19 team for the remainder of the 2021–22 season, Cox was a part of the squad which qualified for the 2022 UEFA European U19 Championship. He was named in the Finals squad and started in four of the team's five matches during its victorious campaign.

Cox was called into the U21 squad for 2025 European U21 Championship qualifiers on three occasions during the 2023–24 season and he was an unused substitute during four matches.

Style of play In July 2022, Brentford head coach Thomas Frank stated that Cox "has all the attributes a modern goalkeeper needs. He has very good positioning when coming for crosses and is a great shot stopper and with the ball at his feet. He has attributes like a hunger to acquire new tools in every training session, a mature personality and outstanding learning skills". His father is a rugby union coach and his sister Katie is a goalkeeper in the Chelsea Women youth system. As of 2021, Cox was living in Chessington.

Career statistics

Honours England U19 UEFA European U19 Championship: 2022

Individual UEFA European U19 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2022