Ipswich Town: Former forward Darren Bent turns 40

Darren Bent and the new Ipswich Town academy in-take of 2000. (Image: Newsquest)

Bent came through the Town academy at the age of 14, having been spotted playing for Godmanchester Rovers, and was part of the Blues FA Youth Cup team who reached the semi-finals in 2001.

He was handed his first team debut by George Burley after coming on as a sub for Richard Naylor in the 3-1 win at Helsingborg in the UEFA Cup in November 2001. 

Darren Bent celebrates his goal against Boro. (Image: Newsquest)

The forward scored his first goal for the Blues in the 4-1 League Cup defeat at Newcastle United, before went on to net his first Premier League goal, bagging the winner in the 1-0 home win against Middlesbrough in April 2002. 

Town would be relegated from the top flight and Bent became a key part of Ipswich's first-team squad during the 2002–03 season, which saw Joe Royle become the new Blues' boss after the sacking of Burley. 

Darren Bent scoring against Norwich at Carrow Road. (Image: Newsquest)

In his first full season as a senior player, he scored a total of 18 goals, with a standout strike being in the 2-0 win at Norwich City in the East Anglian derby. 

He also won Town's young player of the award award as the Blues finished seventh in the second tier, just missing out on a play-off spot. 

Shefki Kuqi and Darren Bent forged a great strike partnership. (Image: Newsquest)

The following season, he formed a deadly partnership with Shefki Kuqi, as the Blues reached the Championship play-offs and he scored his first senior hat-trick in the 3-1 win at Walsall during that season. 

Bent finished the season as Ipswich's top scorer with 16 goals, which also included the winning goal against West Ham in the first-leg as Ipswich won 1–0 at Portman Road, before losing the second-leg 2-0 at Upton Park. 

Darren Bent celebrates with Shefki Kuqi and Tommy Miller. (Image: Newsquest)

He continued his goal scoring form alongside strike partner Kuqi as they both finished with 20 goals to be joined top-goal scorers as Town finished 3rd in the 2004–05 season, narrowly missing out on automatic promotion by two points.

Once again, the Blues lost out to the Hammers in the play-off semi-finals for the second consecutive season, which was the last for Bent for Town. 

Darren Bent scored 55 goals for Town. (Image: Newsquest)

In all scored 55 goals in 141 appearances for Town and was a fan favourite during his time at Portman Road, with his raw pace causing havoc for defences.

Bent departed Town to join Charlton for £3 million in the summer of 2005 and soon adapted to life in the Premier League.

Darren Bent was a fans favourite at Portman Road. (Image: Newsquest)

Big money moves to Tottenham (£17m), Sunderland (£10m) and Aston Villa (£18m) followed and he went on to become one of just 34 players to have scored more than 100 Premier League goals. 

Bent joined Derby County on a free transfer in 2015 before finishing his career on loan at Burton Albion in the 2017/18 season. 

Darren Bent celebrates his goal for England with Wayne Rooney and James Milner. (Image: PA)

In total, Bent scored 216 goals in 568 career club games, while also winning 13 England caps, scoring four times.

Since retirement, he has moved seamlessly into the broadcasting world and currently works as a pundit for talkSPORT and as a regular contributor on Sky Sports.