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Dean Whitehead (born January 21, 1982 in Abingdon, Oxfordshire) is a fast developing football midfielder. As a youngster he played for Abingdon Town F.C.'s youth team, before joining the YTS of his local league club, Oxford United. He progressed through the ranks at Oxford, developing a reputation as a tough-tackling midfielder with good passing skills. After playing for the club for around 5 seasons, his contract expired and he turned down the new contract offer from the club. He got his big break in the summer of 2003 when he signed for Sunderland on a free transfer. Sunderland were ordered to pay £150,000 to Oxford at an FA tribunal, to compensate for the time and money put into his development.

A superb passer of the ball he also takes excellent corners and has considerable pace. He quickly became a key member of the first-team as Sunderland won the 2005 Football League Championship, and was chosen as Players' Player of the Year by his team-mates at the end of the season. He has since been given a one-year extension to his contract, keeping him at the club until 2009.

Deano, as is his nickname, has now been given a new three-year contract, after being the only shining light in a dismal season for his current club. He proved his undoubted talent with a swerving 25-yard free kick past England goalkeeper, Paul Robinson, in a league game against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. He has been linked with a £4-million move to Liverpool in many tabloids and also a £3-million move to Charlton Athletic and Blackburn Rovers. More recently Reading have had a £1.2 million bid rejected. His old club, Oxford United, are to be receiving 25% of whatever transfer fee changes hands.

Whitehead remains an integral player in the Sunderland team, and has gained praise from his manager and fans for his versatility by performing well in midfield and also at right-back. This is one characteristic that makes him such a valued member of the Sunderland squad.

Whitehead was given the captains armband for the second time in the 06/07 season. He originally resigned from the position earlier in the year to concentrate more on his football but Roy Keane gifted it to him again when current captain Steve Caldwell completed a transfer move to Burnley.

• Dean Whitehead career stats at Soccerbase
• Official Sunderland FC Profile
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