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United Kingdom David Bentley transitioned from a professional football career in the Premier League to become an entrepreneur with various business interests.
Bentley is involved with Sala and has a range of different business interests, including a bespoke flooring company, and owns restaurants and bars all over Spain and Gibraltar. He co-owns a restaurant with Raheem Sterling.
Bentley has experience with GFF Contracts ltd and is involved in a bespoke flooring business.
David Michael Bentley, born on August 27, 1984, in Peterborough, England, began his youth football career at Wormley Rovers before joining Arsenal at the age of 13. He signed his first professional contract with Arsenal in September 2001. Initially earmarked as a promising talent, Bentley’s opportunities in Arsenal’s senior squad were limited, leading to loan spells at Norwich City and then Blackburn Rovers. He played 26 league matches for Norwich City during the 2004–2005 season, scoring two goals. During this period, he openly discussed overcoming a gambling addiction, which peaked with placing 100 bets a day. In January 2006, Bentley secured a permanent transfer to Blackburn Rovers, where he delivered strong performances, including a hat-trick against Manchester United in his first match after signing permanently. His consistent play for Blackburn led to him being voted the club’s Player of the Year for the 2006–2007 season.
Bentley’s career progressed, and he made his senior international debut for England against Israel in September 2007. In July 2008, Tottenham Hotspur signed Bentley on a six-year contract for a reported £15 million fee. His time at Tottenham included an impressive 43-yard dipping volley against his former club, Arsenal, in a 4–4 draw in October 2008. However, his form at Tottenham later declined, and he experienced several loan spells: at Birmingham City (2011), West Ham United (2011), and FC Rostov (2012), where he became the first Englishman to play in the Russian Premier League. He then had a brief return to Blackburn Rovers on loan in 2013.
After being released by Tottenham Hotspur in June 2013, Bentley announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 29 in June 2014. He cited a loss of passion for the sport, describing the modern game as “robotic” and overly “calculated.” Post-retirement, Bentley diversified his interests, becoming a co-owner of a restaurant in Marbella, Spain, and investing in beach clubs and other restaurants in Woodford Green, London. In 2015, he participated in a job-swap documentary, training for and playing a Gaelic football match for Crossmaglen Rangers.
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