Shandon Baptiste

Oxford United

Early years

A midfielder, Baptiste began his youth career with Reading at the age of seven and deemed "too small" by the club, he was released at age 15. After a spell in park football and the John Madejski Academy, Baptiste undertook a scholarship with Oxford United in September 2015. Despite suffering two successive dislocated shoulder injuries during the 2016–17 season, he signed a six-month professional contract in May 2017, which commenced in August 2017. Baptiste made two EFL Trophy appearances during the first half of the 2017–18 season and he signed a new 18-month contract, with the option of a further year, in December 2017. On 22 December 2017, Baptiste joined National League South club Hampton & Richmond Borough on a one-month loan, which was later extended until the end of the 2017–18 season. He made 23 appearances in a season which ended in defeat on penalties to Braintree Town in the National League South play-off Final.

2018–19 season

Baptiste began the 2018–19 League One season as a regular in the team and scored his first senior goal in a 3–0 EFL Cup second-round victory over Newport County on 28 August 2018. After his sixth appearance of the season, he signed a four-year contract extension. Baptiste missed two months with a third shoulder dislocation and upon his return in January 2019, he suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury during an FA Cup third round match versus Brentford. He made 14…

In November 2014, Baptiste was included in the English Schools' U18 squad for a development weekend at Lilleshall. Three years later and having graduated to professional football, he made three friendly appearances for Grenada during the 2017–18 season and scored one goal. Baptiste was named in the squad for four 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying matches in September 2019, but later declined the call up, in order to maintain his potential eligibility for England.

Baptiste is a box-to-box midfielder and has been described as "energetic, great on the ball and works very hard pressing".

Baptiste was born in Grenada and moved to England at the age of three.