Alfie Mawson and Charlie Daniels have become the first British footballers to sign up to Juan Mata’s Common Goal project under which participants donate a percentage of their salary to charity.
Mawson, the Swansea and England Under-21 defender, and Daniels, the Bournemouth defender, take the number of people who have joined Mata in the initiative to 11. Each of those, comprising 10 players and the Hoffenheim head coach, Julian Nagelsmann, has pledged to donate at least 1% of their earnings.
“I’ve experienced pretty much everything that you can live as a player in England – maybe that’s why I’ll never forget where I’ve come from,” said Daniels. “Football is such an important part of my life, as it is for so many people in this country. It just seems right that our national sport gives something back to society.”
The 31-year-old, who has spent much of his career in League One, notably with Leyton Orient, added: “If my pledge can help spread the idea of Common Goal, especially among the younger players, then it will be one of the proudest achievements of my career.”
Mawson, who is 23, said: “It was only a few years ago that I was playing non-league and helping out my dad at the weekends with his market stall. I’m now at a great place and I want to concentrate 100% on my football.
Quick GuideCommon Goal: some of those who have signed up so far
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Mats Hummels
Bayern Munich and Germany defender, left, was first to join initiative. 'I’m putting the call out to all my fellow footballers,' he said
Alex Morgan
USA World Cup winner, Orlando Pride striker, said she was 'thrilled' to sign up next with her international colleague Megan Rapinoe
Megan Rapinoe
Seattle Reign midfielder said: 'Myself and Alex felt it was important that women’s football was represented from the outset'
Giorgio Chiellini
Juventus and Italy defender contacts by email to join the project. 'Hello. I’m Giorgio Chiellini, player of Juventus,' it begins
Serge Gnabry
The 22-year-old, on loan at Hoffenheim from Bayern Munich, becomes the sixth and youngest member of the team
Dennis Aogo
Stuttgart’s former Germany international says he will donate two per cent of his salary. 'I asked myself: "Why only one per cent?"'
Alex Brosque
Sydney FC captain, who had a spell with Feyenoord, is the first to sign up from outside Europe and the United States
Julian Nagelsmann
The 30-year-old Hoffenheim head coach has become the first manager to sign up to the initiative
Hasan Ali Kaldırım
The Fenerbahce wing-back says he is 'proud to be the first Turkish player to make the pledge'
Alfie Mawson
Swansea defender and Bournemouth's Charlie Daniels become the first British players to sign up
Charlie Daniels
The defender says it 'seems right that our national sport gives something back to society'
“I don’t want to cause any fuss or anything but joining Common Goal allows me to focus on my career while forming part of something that can really help transform lives of those less fortunate. It’s a good thing for football.”
Manchester United’s Mata launched the project in August. “I’ve been speaking to several English players who have shown an interest in Common Goal and it’s brilliant that Charlie and Alfie are the first players to make the pledge,” he said.