Matthew Joseph Virtue-Thick[3] (born 2 May 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two side Fleetwood Town. He has previously played for Liverpool and Notts County.
Virtue joined Liverpool at under-11 level, having played with Chelsea until the age of 9.[4] He moved on loan to Notts County in January 2018.[5]
He was named captain of Liverpool's Under-23 team in October 2018.[6] In January 2019, he signed for Blackpool.[7] He scored his first professional goal against Accrington Stanley on 5 March 2019.[8]
On 16 October 2020, Virtue signed a new two-year contract with Blackpool.[9] In December 2020 he tested positive for COVID-19 and had to self-isolate, missing matches.[10] In October 2021 he extended his contract for a further year.[11]
He moved on loan to Lincoln City on 1 September 2022.[12] He made his debut coming off the bench against Cambridge United on 3 September 2022.[13] He scored his first goal for Lincoln City against Bristol Rovers in a 6–3 win on 17 September 2022.[14] After a period injured, he returned to the Lincoln first-team.[15]
Following the conclusion of the 2023–24 season, Blackpool confirmed that Virtue would be departing the club upon the expiration of his contract.[16]
Virtue signed for Fleetwood Town on 1 July 2024.[17]
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Liverpool | 2017–18[18] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2018–19[8] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Notts County (loan) | 2017–18[18] | League Two | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
Blackpool | 2018–19[8] | League One | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 |
2019–20[19] | League One | 24 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 31 | 3 | |
2020–21[20] | League One | 16 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 20 | 2 | |
2021–22[21] | Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
2022–23[22] | Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
2023–24[23] | League One | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 34 | 1 | |
Total | 84 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 104 | 9 | ||
Lincoln City (loan) | 2022–23[22] | League One | 30 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 36 | 4 |
Fleetwood Town | 2024–25[24] | League Two | 41 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 9 |
2025–26[25] | League Two | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 48 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 56 | 9 | ||
Career total | 175 | 20 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 211 | 22 |