Benjamin John Heneghan (born 19 September 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL League Two club Port Vale.
[4] He played alongside Ross Barkley under Alan Stubbs and David Weir in the reserve team at Goodison Park.
[14] Heneghan switched to his preferred central back position in January, when Chester signed right-back Ryan Higgins.
[15] Heneghan finished the season as a first-choice centre-back playing 44 matches and scoring eight goals, including against Stockport County and Southend United in the Blues run to the second round of the FA Cup.
[18] Heneghan made his debut for the England C team on 1 June 2015 in a 2–1 win over Republic of Ireland U21, describing it as a "huge honour".
[24] Manager Steve Burr said he expected the defender to be subject to a transfer offer due to his age and good form.
[27] On 23 June 2016, Heneghan signed a two-year contract with Scottish Premiership club Motherwell after a deal with agreed with his agent Jake Speight.
[28][29] Manager Mark McGhee credited Martin Foyle for scouting Heneghan and said he would compete with Kieran Kennedy, Louis Laing and Stephen McManus for a centre-back position.
[34] He was reported to be a transfer target of Rangers, though new manager Stephen Robinson said that such speculation would not distract Heneghan from the Steelmen's ultimate successful battle against relegation at the end of the 2016–17 season.
[35] He spent a year in Scotland, playing exactly 50 games in all competitions, scoring one goal in a 2–1 home loss in the Scottish Premiership against Rangers.
[13] Manager Chris Wilder admitted that Heneghan was not his first-choice signing and that he would have preferred to bring in a more experienced player "but our targets changed and we decided to have a punt on him".
[40] He made his first and what turned out to be only appearance for Sheffield United in an FA Cup tie against Preston North End in January 2018, where he was reported to have played well.
[41][42] Wilder decided to keep him at Bramall Lane as cover in the second half of the 2017–18 season rather than send him out on loan and rejected a transfer bid from Northampton Town.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic in England brought the season due a premature end shortly afterwards and Heneghan admitted that "I never heard anything from [new manager] Critchley.
[70] He left Plough Lane following Wimbledon's relegation after manager Johnnie Jackson admitted that it was unrealistic to be able to keep him at the club in League Two.
[82] On 21 September 2023, Heneghan joined Fleetwood Town on a contract of undisclosed length, becoming Lee Johnson's first signing as manager of the Cods.
[85] He impressed on his debut at Burton Albion two days later, despite giving away a penalty, which Johnson blamed on a lack of match sharpness after ten months without a game.
[88] On 24 July 2024, Heneghan joined League Two club Port Vale on a two-year contract, reuniting with former Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore.
[91] Heneghan is a strong and pacey centre-back with sound technical ability who has a professional attitude and quiet personality.