Tommy Elphick (born 7 September 1987) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-back and currently an assistant manager at Premier League club AFC Bournemouth.

Elphick started at the Brighton & Hove Albion academy and progressed through the ranks to be named first-team captain, leading the side to promotion to the Football League Championship in 2011.

[4] Elphick progressed through the youth ranks at Brighton & Hove Albion, alongside his brother Gary, and in 2004, he signed his first year apprentice at the club.

[6] At some point during his early Brighton & Hove Albion career, Elphick was loaned out to non–league side Bognor Regis Town.

[7] It was not until 12 December 2005 that Elphick made his Brighton debut, when he played alongside his brother, who was sent–off during the match, and came on as a substitute for Leon Knight, in a 5–1 loss against Reading.

Having been told by Manager Mark McGhee that he won't be loaned out, due to defensive crisis and deemed "too inexperienced",[10] it was not until on 7 April 2007 when Elphick made his first start in central defence, in a 2–0 loss against Doncaster Rovers.

[14] The day after signing a contract with the club, Elphick made his first league appearance of the season, in a 2–1 win over Northampton Town.

[30] Despite being suspended in October[31] and injury,[32] which he played with an injured ankle since December,[33] Elphick finished the 2008–09 season, making 44 appearances and scoring twice in all competitions.

However, in a 3–2 loss against Southend United on 19 September 2009, Elphick was at fault when he gave away a ball to Francis Laurent, who scored a winning in the last minute.

[41] However, due to the performance of Gordon Greer and Adam El-Abd, Elphick struggled to regain in the starting eleven and spent most of the season on the substitute bench.

[49] Ahead of the 2012–13 season, Elphick made his first appearance for the club in fourteen months, in a friendly match, in a 3–0 win over Lewes.

[53] Elphick made his Bournemouth debut, in the opening game of the season, where he played 90 minutes and making his first start, in a 1–1 draw against Portsmouth.

[56] Having made an impact, Elphick established himself in the starting eleven in the first team by forming a central defensive partnership with Miles Addison[57] and then Steve Cook.

[61] Despite stating he's willing to sit out of the squad in hopes of helping the club reach promotion to the Championship next season after spending two matches as unused substitute,[62] Elphick made his return to the first team on 29 March 2013, in a 1–0 win over Colchester United.

[64] In the 2013–14 season, Elphick found himself in a competition with Cook and Elliott Ward, as well as, Manager Eddie Howe's squad rotation.

After helping the club winning promotion, Elphick was awarded the supporters' player of the year[74] and credited Howe for the influence he made this season.

[77] Elphick continued to remain in the first team at the start of the season until he suffered ankle injury during a 4–3 win over West Ham United and was sidelined until the New Year.

[78] After recovering from injury in January,[79] Elphick remained on the sidelines until he appeared as unused substitute, in a 0–0 draw against Watford on 27 February 2016.

[90] Elphick made his Aston Villa debut (as well as captain), in the opening game of the season, in a 1–0 loss against Sheffield Wednesday.

Ahead of the 2017–18 season, Elphick was linked a move away from Aston Villa, with local rivals Birmingham City, or Sunderland.

[98] He made his first appearance of the season on 22 August 2017, starting the whole game as captain, in a 4–1 win over Wigan Athletic in the second round of the League Cup.

[105] After spending two months rehabilitating his knee,[106] Elphick made returned to football on 28 April 2018, coming on as a substitute for Omar Richards in a 4–0 loss to Ipswich Town.

[111] Following his departure from Aston Villa, on 15 June 2019 Elphick signed a two-year contract with Championship club Huddersfield Town.

[119] While playing for Bournemouth, Elphick was involved in a superstitious episode, when he was pictured clutching a goalpost pre–match but was not included in the match photo.

[121] After being questioned by the police and released on bail, Elphick was informed that no charges were to be brought against him in relation to the allegation and he was eliminated from the enquiry.