Education
Born in Torpoint, Stephens attended Torpoint Community College, and joined Plymouth Argyle in 2005 at the age of 11.
Born in Torpoint, Stephens attended Torpoint Community College, and joined Plymouth Argyle in 2005 at the age of 11.
Born in Torpoint, he began his career as a youth player with Plymouth Argyle, remaining with the club as a professional until 2011. Although starting his career as a right back, Stephens has recently been converted into a centre back. He can also operate as a left back, or in a defensive midfielder role, and has played internationally for the England under-18, under-19 and under-20 sides.
Plymouth Argyle
He progressed to the club"s youth team in 2009 after a number of impressive performances in the junior section of the Milk Cup.
He was then promoted to the club"s reserve team, having appeared regularly in the Youth Alliance. Stephens began training with the club"s first team in September 2010 and was included in an 18-man squad for their league match against Sheffield Wednesday.
Primarily a right back, Stephens can play in a variety of positions. "Jack is a right-back but he can play in the centre as well.
He"s comfortable in both positions," said John James, the club"s youth development officer
"I like him at right-back because he does get forward well, he"s quick, he likes to take people on and he"s a good header of the ball. He"s a big lad – 6ft 1in I think – and he"s still growing."
Southampton
He joined Southampton on 5 April 2011 for a fee of £150,000, signing an initial three-year contract, and was placed in the club"s development squad. In 2012 he was promoted to the first team ahead of the club"s return to the Premier league.
= Swindon Town (loan) On 13 March 2014, Stephens joined League One side Swindon Town on loan until 3 May 2014.
Stephens re-signed on 1 September 2014 on loan until January 2015. = Middlesbrough (loan) On 31 July 2015 Stephens signed a two-year contract extension, taking his deal to the summer of 2019, and subsequently completed a season-long move to Championship side Middlesbrough.
= Coventry City (loan) On 1 February 2016, Stephens joined League One side Coventry City on loan for the remainder of the season. Stephens made his debut for the England under-21 side on 12 November 2015 in a 0-0 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but was sent off in the 72nd minute.