25 Facts About Leon Barnett

Leon Peter Barnett was born on 30 November 1985 and is an English former professional footballer.

Leon Barnett began his career with Luton Town where he made his professional debut.

Leon Barnett joined Norwich City on loan in 2010 before completing a permanent transfer in January 2011.

Leon Barnett finished his career with spells at Bury and Northampton Town after being forced to retire at the age of 32 due to a heart condition.

Leon Barnett joined Luton Town in 2002 and progressed through their youth system.

On 18 November 2004, Leon Barnett joined Southern League Premier Division club Aylesbury United on a one-month loan.

Leon Barnett made a total of six appearances for the club.

Leon Barnett won the Luton Town Player of the Season award, voted for by the club's supporters.

Leon Barnett made 36 appearances during the season, scoring three times.

Leon Barnett made 20 league appearances for Coventry during his time with the club.

Leon Barnett ended the season having made 18 appearances and scoring once.

On transfer deadline day, it appeared Leon Barnett was no longer in the future plans of manager Chris Hughton, after he was offered as part of a bid in an attempt to sign Birmingham City defender Curtis Davies.

On 14 March 2013, Leon Barnett completed a one-month loan move to Championship club Cardiff City as a replacement for injured captain Mark Hudson.

Leon Barnett formed a defensive partnership with Ben Turner during his spell at the club, making eight appearances, as Cardiff won the Championship title and promotion to the Premier League.

On 1 August 2013, Leon Barnett signed a three-year contract with newly relegated Championship club Wigan Athletic, transferring from Norwich City for an undisclosed fee.

Leon Barnett ended his first season with the club having made 53 appearances and scoring five goals in all competitions.

Leon Barnett was named in the starting lineup on eight further occasions, and finished the season with 24 appearances in all competitions.

Leon Barnett signed a two-year contract with League One club Bury on 19 July 2016.

On 31 May 2017, Leon Barnett signed a two-year contract with League One club Northampton Town on a free transfer.

Leon Barnett signed a new one-year contract with Northampton in June 2018, with the option of a further year.

Leon Barnett retired from playing on 26 November 2018, as a result of a heart condition.

Leon Barnett was sent to a cardiologist and was fitted with a heart rate monitor and, after a second incident in a match against Bury in October 2018, test results showed that his heart rate was reaching dangerous levels of 300 bpm.

Leon Barnett was fitted with a pacemaker after being diagnosed with myocarditis and was advised that continuing his playing career would be unsafe.

Leon Barnett subsequently announced his retirement with Northampton honouring the remainder of his contract and offering him the opportunity to work at the club to gain coaching experience.

Leon Barnett married Kylie Baldry in 2015 and the pair have three children together.