Wales captain Ben Davies has been appointed to the Football Association of Wales (FAW) council, becoming one of eight new members added to the governing body as part of its ongoing reform programme. The 32-year-old Tottenham Hotspur defender joins alongside former Bristol City head coach Lauren Smith, who currently works as an assistant at Manchester City, among the new appointees.
Davies, who holds a degree in business and economics, reached a century of caps for Wales in October 2025 and has made more than 350 appearances for Tottenham since leaving his hometown club Swansea City in 2014. The FAW described the new appointments as "another significant milestone" in delivering its 'Together Stronger for the Future' reform programme.
Why does the FAW say these appointments matter?
According to FAW chief executive Noel Mooney, the changes are designed to ensure the council better represents the modern game.
"One of the ambitions of our governance reforms was to ensure the people helping shape the future of Welsh football better reflect the game we serve today," said FAW chief executive Noel Mooney.
"These appointments achieve exactly that. We have welcomed individuals with outstanding experience from elite football, grassroots football, supporter engagement, governance and community development, alongside young people who will represent the next generation of Welsh football."
Who else has joined the council?
Charl Galloway, co-founder of the Her Game Too Training Centre, joins Davies as a player representative on the council. Smith, who has previously worked with the Wales women's coaching setup, is joined as a coaching representative by Cardiff Draconians manager Nana Baah. Dr Penny Miles and Gareth Watts have been brought in to represent supporters, while Eleeza Khan and Begw Elain have been named as youth council representatives.
FAW president Mike Jones said the changes strengthen the organisation's connection to the wider footballing community.
"Football in Wales is stronger when the people around the council table reflect the people who make our game so special," said FAW president Mike Jones.
"These appointments bring together an outstanding mix of experience, knowledge and fresh perspectives, while ensuring the voices of players, coaches, supporters and young people are represented as we shape the future of Welsh football."
How does this fit with Davies' club career at Tottenham?
The council appointment comes shortly after Davies committed his short-term future to Tottenham, as reported in our earlier coverage of his one-year contract extension, which also confirmed midfielder Yves Bissouma would leave the club as his contract expired. Tottenham's official announcement, made on 10 June 2026, stated that the extension keeps Davies at the club through the 2026-27 season, according to Tottenham Hotspur's club website. A separate report from the same date, published by the London Standard, similarly described the deal as a one-year extension covering the coming season.
Davies became Tottenham's longest-serving player by 2026 after his move from Swansea City in the summer of 2014, and a club statement from June 2025 had already extended his contract to the summer of 2026 before the latest deal was confirmed, according to beIN Sports. Statistics compiled by Sports Mole put his total tally at 363 appearances, 10 goals and 26 assists for Tottenham across all competitions.
What happens next for Davies?
Under the terms of his new deal, Davies is set to remain available for Tottenham throughout the 2026-27 season provided he stays fit and continues to be selected, according to the London Standard. Alongside his club commitments, he now takes up his new role on the FAW council as the organisation continues to implement its governance reforms.
Key Facts
- Ben Davies joins the FAW council as one of eight new appointments.
- He passed a century of Wales caps in October 2025 and has made over 350 appearances for Tottenham since 2014.
- Tottenham confirmed a one-year contract extension for Davies on 10 June 2026, keeping him at the club through 2026-27.
- Other new council members include Lauren Smith, Charl Galloway, Nana Baah, Dr Penny Miles, Gareth Watts, Eleeza Khan and Begw Elain.
- Midfielder Yves Bissouma is set to leave Tottenham as a free agent following his contract's expiry.
