33 Facts About Hal Robson-Kanu

Thomas Henry Alex "Hal" Robson-Kanu was born on 21 May 1989 and is a professional footballer who plays as a forward and is currently a free agent.

Hal Robson-Kanu made his Premier League debut in 2012 and went on to score 30 goals in 228 games for the club before his release in 2016.

At international level Hal Robson-Kanu initially represented the country of his birth, England, at under-19 and under-20 level.

Hal Robson-Kanu was selected to represent Wales at UEFA Euro 2016, where they made the semi-finals.

Hal Robson-Kanu went on to play at Acton Ealing Whistlers for a number of seasons.

Hal Robson-Kanu was released by the club at 15 and joined Reading after speaking to then Academy manager Brendan Rodgers.

The 2007 Peace Cup in South Korea saw Hal Robson-Kanu involved with the Reading senior team for the first time with appearances against River Plate and Shimizu S-Pulse.

Steve Coppell's policy of resting first-team players for cup matches saw Hal Robson-Kanu selected on the bench for the first time on 5 January 2008 for the FA Cup third round tie against Tottenham Hotspur, though he remained an unused substitute.

Hal Robson-Kanu struck twice more in the next two games against Huddersfield Town and Swansea City and returned to Reading with three goals in eight appearances.

Hal Robson-Kanu re-joined Southend on a month's loan on 21 August 2008 and after one goal in six appearances extended his spell for a second month.

Hal Robson-Kanu cemented a regular place in the Swindon team and started in all 20 of his appearances for the club before returning to Reading after three months.

Hal Robson-Kanu scored five goals during pre-season, including a hat-trick against Jonsereds IF in just 28 minutes during the first game of the tour of Sweden.

Hal Robson-Kanu was used mainly as a substitute during his first season, starting just four times in 18 appearances.

Hal Robson-Kanu's contract expired at the end of the season and despite interest from other Championship clubs including Millwall and Portsmouth, he signed a new three-year contract with Reading in July keeping him with the club until 2014.

Hal Robson-Kanu struck twice playing up front in the warm-up fixtures and began the season in good goalscoring form with two in the first four games against Leicester City and Barnsley.

Hal Robson-Kanu scored twice more during the campaign, including a spectacular volley against Millwall and finished the season having made 37 appearances, the most in his career to date.

In Kebe, McAnuff and new signing Garath McCleary, Hal Robson-Kanu faced stiff competition for places on the wing for Reading's return to the Premier League.

The game against Villa proved to be Brian McDermott's last in charge and Hal Robson-Kanu, having played only a bit-part role under the former manager, began to feature more prominently with the appointment of Nigel Adkins.

Hal Robson-Kanu signed a new contract in July 2013, keeping him with Reading until June 2016.

On 31 August 2016 after reportedly turning down "significant offers" from Asia, Hal Robson-Kanu signed a two-year contract, with the option of a third year, with Premier League side West Bromwich Albion.

In July 2017, Hal Robson-Kanu signed a new three-year contract with West Brom.

Hal Robson-Kanu missed the playoff campaign after receiving a red card against Derby County on the final day of the season.

On 27 May 2021 it was announced that Hal Robson-Kanu would leave West Bromwich Albion after five years following the conclusion of his contract, having appeared for the club 154 times scoring 24 goals.

Hal Robson-Kanu was born in England to a Nigerian father, and an English mother of Welsh descent.

Hal Robson-Kanu initially represented England at international level, making his debut for the under-19 side against Germany in November 2007.

Hal Robson-Kanu made a second appearance against Croatia the following year before winning one cap for the England under-20s against Montenegro in 2009.

The switch came about when Welsh coach Brian Flynn came to the Reading training ground to see Simon Church, and Glen Little jested that Hal Robson-Kanu would be eligible for Wales through going on holiday there.

Hal Robson-Kanu told Flynn that the family went to Tenby via picking up his grandmother in Caerphilly, and Flynn asked whether she was born in Wales.

Hal Robson-Kanu continued to play for the under-21s after his senior debut and made a further three appearances, scoring twice, with his last appearance coming in a defeat to Italy which ended Wales hopes of qualifying for the European Under-21 Football Championships.

Hal Robson-Kanu gained notoriety when during a friendly game against the Netherlands, his shorts tore and he had to change shorts in the middle of the game, showing off his briefs.

Hal Robson-Kanu then made 9 appearances, scoring once, as Wales failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

On 29 August 2018, Hal Robson-Kanu announced his retirement from international football.

Hal Robson-Kanu was not included in Rob Page's squad for UEFA Euro 2020 that May.