Nathan James Smith (born 3 April 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League Two club Port Vale.

He made his Football League debut for Port Vale in August 2016 and went on to win the club's Player of the Year award for the 2016–17 relegation season.

[28] Speaking in February 2017, caretaker manager Michael Brown said that Smith set a good example to his teammates by playing through a hamstring injury.

[30][31] However, despite Smith enjoying success on an individual level, Port Vale were in turmoil as they suffered relegation and the chairman subsequently resigned.

[34] After suffering a dip in form at the start of the 2018–19 season, Smith was dropped for the home game with Crawley Town on 18 August, putting to an end his run of 110 consecutive appearances that he had made since his debut two years previously.

[37] The three centre-backs then went on to form a back three in a 3–5–2 formation, which was instigated after a 6–2 home defeat to Lincoln City on 13 October and kept four clean sheets by the end of the month.

[40] He started the 2019–20 season in a central defensive partnership with Legge, though was criticised by Northampton Town manager Keith Curle for allegedly manhandling 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) striker Harry Smith.

[44] He lost his first-team place to Shaun Brisley in January due to injury, but impressed coach Danny Pugh with his performance at right-back in a 3–0 win over Colchester United on 15 February.

[49] Smith remained a consistent member of the defence during the 2020–21 season, only missing a run of games when he had to isolate after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

[50] Speaking in April, recently appointed manager Darrell Clarke described him as a "genuine winner" following a good run of defensive form for the team.

[52] A consistent part of the back three during the 2021–22 season, he caused an opposition player to be sent off in two successive games as Crawley Town's Joel Lynch and Accrington Stanley's Colby Bishop were both dismissed for elbowing Smith in off the ball incidents.

[59] He was voted as the club's Player of the Month for December after he helped the team to record two clean sheets in victories over Plymouth Argyle and Morecambe.

[61][62] He also played all seven games of February, scoring against Barnsley, helping to keep a clean sheet against Exeter City, and having a goal against Accrington Stanley controversially ruled out.

[68] On 4 November, Smith received the first red card of his career after being sent off for bringing down Mark Helm in a 0–0 draw with Burton Albion in the FA Cup.

[69][70] He was named as the EFL League One third-highest performer of the weekend after he contributed with a goal and "a tackle, an interception and six clearances, as well as six accurate long balls" in a 3–0 win over Blackpool on 29 December.

[77] Ben Heneghan, Connor Hall and Jesse Debrah were all in good form and preferred ahead of Smith by Moore, with ball-playing midfielders or full-backs Tom Sang or Kyle John played on occasions when the trio of centre-backs missed out.

[79] He made only his second league start of the season on New Year's Day, when he put in a man of the match performance in a 0–0 home draw with Cheltenham Town.

[83] Six months later, Port Vale coach Gary Brabin said Smith needed to work on his ball-playing abilities and to be more vocal, whilst praising his dependability, pace, strength and passion.