James Balagizi
Balagizi playing for England U17 in 2019
Personal information
Full name James Balagizi[1]
Date of birth (2003-09-20) 20 September 2003
Place of birth Manchester, England[2]
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Wigan Athletic
(on loan from Liverpool)
Number 24
Youth career
Liverpool
Manchester City
Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– Liverpool 0 (0)
2022–2023 → Crawley Town (loan) 14 (2)
2023–2024 → Wigan Athletic (loan) 3 (0)
International career‡
2019 England U16 5 (0)
2019 England U17 2 (0)
2021 England U18 1 (0)
2021– England U19 7 (0)
2021– England U20 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:22, 3 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:24, 27 September 2022 (UTC)

James Balagizi (born 20 September 2003) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Liverpool.

Early life

Born in Manchester, Balagizi started his career with Liverpool, before joining Manchester City at the age of six.[3] After Manchester City decided against enrolling him at St Bede's College, Balagizi and his family decided to return to Liverpool, and he rejoined at under-11 level for a compensation fee of £9,000.[4][5]

Club career

Balagizi progressed well through the youth ranks at Liverpool, and is seen as one of their brightest prospects, despite a string of injuries limiting his youth team development.[6][7] He signed his first professional contract in September 2020.[5]

He was named on the bench for the senior squad for the first time in a 3–0 EFL Cup win over Norwich City in September 2021.[8]

On 30 June 2022, Balagizi signed for Crawley Town on a season long loan. He would score twice in a 3-2 loss at home to Northampton Town. He would score his third Crawley goal in the Carabao Cup in a 2-0 win over Fulham.[9] He was recalled to Liverpool on 20 January 2023 after sustaining an injury, having made sixteen appearances and scored three goals for Crawley.[10]

On 19 July 2023, he joined EFL League One club Wigan Athletic on loan for the 2023–24 season. On 4 January 2024, Liverpool recalled Balagizi from his loan.[11]

International career

Balagizi was born in England and is of Zimbabwean and DR Congolese descent.[12] He has represented England at numerous youth levels.[2][5]

On 21 September 2022, Balagizi made his England U20 debut as a substitute during a 3-0 victory over Chile at the Pinatar Arena.[13]

Career statistics

As of 14 November 2023[14]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Liverpool U21 2020–21[15] ————1[lower-alpha 1]010
Liverpool 2021–22 Premier League 000000000000
Crawley Town (loan) 2022–23[16] League Two 14200210000163
Wigan Athletic (loan) 2023–24[17] League One 300010003[lower-alpha 1]070
Career total 17200310040243
  1. 1 2 Appearances in the EFL Trophy

References

  1. ↑ "Updated squad lists for 2022/23 Premier League". Premier League. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "James Balagizi: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  3. ↑ O'Neill, Caoimhe (1 May 2021). "James Balagizi shows City what they are missing with another superb display". theathletic.com. Retrieved 2 November 2021. (subscription required)
  4. ↑ "Profile". liverpoolfc.com. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 Jones, Neil (12 May 2021). "James Balagizi: Liverpool wonderkid who left Man City behind". goal.com. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  6. ↑ Addison, Matt; Dunn, Connor (7 October 2020). "Liverpool teenage prodigy James Balagizi tipped for very bright future amid Man City frustration". liverpoolecho.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  7. ↑ Addison, Matt (20 August 2021). "Liverpool starlet compared to Yaya Touré showing Gini Wijnaldum traits as big few months await". liverpool.com. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  8. ↑ "Norwich City 0–3 Liverpool". bbc.co.uk. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  9. ↑ "Balagizi joins for the season". Crawley Town F.C. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  10. ↑ "James Balagizi recalled from Crawley Town loan". Liverpool FC. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  11. ↑ Glenn Price. "News: James Balagizi returns from Wigan Athletic loan spell". Liverpool FC. 4 January 2024.
  12. ↑ Lusby, Jack (22 March 2022). "Liverpool youth rejects attempt to switch nationality".
  13. ↑ Crane, Liam (21 September 2022). "Report: England MU20s 3-0 Chile". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  14. ↑ James Balagizi at Soccerway
  15. ↑ "Games played by James Balagizi in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  16. ↑ "Games played by James Balagizi in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  17. ↑ "Games played by James Balagizi in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
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