Eric Dier

Eric Jeremy Edgar Dier (born 15 January 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich, on loan from Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the England national team.

Dier moved to Portugal from England in 2001 with his parents and five siblings (two sisters and three brothers) when he was seven years old.

They spent a year living in Lagos, Algarve region, where he briefly played in the youth football team of Esperança de Lagos, before moving to Lisbon.

After the move, his mother was offered a job running the hospitality programme at UEFA Euro 2004.

Dier was accepted by Sporting CP's youth academy, and in 2010, his parents returned to England while Dier remained in Portugal living at Sporting CP's Academia Sporting in Alcochete.

While playing football at the International Preparatory School in Lisbon, Dier's footballing ability was spotted by his P.E. teacher Miguel Silva, who referred him to Sporting CP for a trial at the age of eight.

Dier signed professional terms with Sporting CP in April 2010.

The Portuguese club beat Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur to his signature.

Sporting CP also sold 50% economic rights of the player to a third-party owner, Quality Football Ireland Limited.

Dier represented Everton U18s ten times during his loan spell and won the 2010–11 U18 Premier League with the team.

In January 2011, Dier agreed to join Everton on loan until 30 June.

Sporting CP's official website stated that the loan was "an opportunity for the athlete to grow in a more competitive and demanding environment".

Dier encountered difficulties resettling into English life, but in the summer of 2011, he extended his loan stay in the Everton academy for an additional 12 months.

Dier grew up in Portugal, where he came through the youth ranks at Sporting CP, making his reserve and senior debuts in 2012.

On 26 August 2012, Dier made his debut with Sporting B in a 2012–13 Segunda Liga 3–1 away win against Atlético, replacing Diego Rubio in the 77th minute.

On 4 November 2012, Dier scored his first senior goal with a direct free kick against Benfica B in a 3–1 away win in the Segunda Liga.

On 11 November 2012, Dier was called to play for the first team in a Primeira Liga 1–0 home win against Braga, assisting Ricky van Wolfswinkel for the match's only goal.

Fifteen days later, he scored his first goal for Sporting CP's first squad in a 2–2 league away draw against Moreirense.

In 2014, he moved to English club Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £4 million, going on to score 13 goals and total 365 appearances for the club, including in the 2015 Football League Cup final and the 2019 UEFA Champions League final.

After ten years with Tottenham, he moved to Bayern Munich in January 2024, initially on loan but a clause activated in March 2024 confirms the deal is to be made permanent.

Despite interest from Portugal, Dier opted to represent England in international football.

On 2 August 2014, Dier signed a five-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur in a £4 million transfer.

He made his competitive debut for the club on the first day of the 2014–15 Premier League season away to West Ham United on 16 August, and scored the only goal of the match in added time.

Eight days later, in his second match and in his White Hart Lane debut, he headed in a corner from Erik Lamela in an eventual 4–0 win over newly promoted Queens Park Rangers.

He made his debut for the senior team in November 2015, and was chosen for UEFA Euro 2016, the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Dier was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire to Jeremy and Louise Dier.

His father is a former professional tennis player.

Dier is the grandson of Ted Croker, a former secretary of The Football Association (FA) and president of Cheltenham Town, and great-nephew of Peter Croker, who both played professionally for Charlton Athletic.

Dier started on 1 March 2015 as Tottenham lost the 2015 League Cup Final to Chelsea at Wembley.

Dier signed a new contract on 9 September 2015, lasting until 2020.

During the 2015–16 season, he was utilised as a defensive midfielder by Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino, establishing himself as the regular partner to Mousa Dembélé as Tottenham challenged eventual champions Leicester City for the Premier League title.

On 15 August, he scored Tottenham's first goal of the Premier League season in a 2–2 draw at home to Stoke City, and on 26 September, Dier scored the team's equalising goal in a 4–1 home victory over Manchester City.

On 13 September 2016, Dier signed a new five-year contract to last until 2021.

During the 2016–17 season, Dier returned to the centre-back position due to Tottenham's acquisition of defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama and injuries to defenders Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen.

He made his UEFA Champions League debut in a 2–1 loss to Monaco in Tottenham's opening group match at Wembley Stadium.

On 25 October 2016, Dier captained Tottenham for the first time in a 2–1 loss to Liverpool at Anfield in the fourth round of the EFL Cup.

He was also given the captain's armband for the 3rd and 4th round FA Cup ties against Aston Villa and Wycombe Wanderers respectively.

On 1 April 2017, Dier scored his first goal of 2016–17 in a 2–0 win over Burnley in the Premier League.

In the 2018–19 season, Dier scored his first goal of the season, which is his first in 18 months, in the 1–0 win against Cardiff City, helping Tottenham to their joint best start of a season in the Premier League after eight games.

He underwent surgery mid-December 2018 due to appendicitis, and returned to the team on 20 January 2019, coming on as a substitute in the game against Fulham.