Dom Ballard

Dominic Ballard (born 1 April 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One club Reading on loan from EFL Championship club Southampton.

Dom Ballard
Personal information
Full name Dominic Ballard[1]
Date of birth (2005-04-01) 1 April 2005
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Reading
(on loan from Southampton)
Number 9
Youth career
2013–2022 Southampton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Southampton 2 (0)
2023– → Reading (loan) 7 (2)
International career‡
2022 England U17 3 (0)
2022– England U18 3 (3)
2023– England U19 5 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:07, 24 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10:36, 19 October 2023 (UTC)

Early life

Ballard spent the formative years of his childhood living in Greece before his family moved back to England in 2010 and settled in Berkshire.[2] When he was first invited to train at Southampton, Ballard and his parents would commute to the south coast a couple of times a week.[2]

Club career

Southampton

Ballard signed his first professional contract with Southampton in April 2022.[3]

On 23 August 2022, in the Carabao Cup, he made his senior debut and scored his first goal for Southampton's first team in a 3–0 win at Cambridge United in the EFL Cup.[4] On 21 May 2023, Ballard made his Premier League debut in a 3–1 defeat to Brighton, replacing Joe Aribo in the 70th minute.[5]

On 27 June 2023, Ballard signed a two-year contract extension until 2026.[6]

Reading (loan)

On 1 September 2023, Ballard joined League One side Reading on a season-long loan.[7] He made his debut for the club on 16 September 2023 in a 2–1 victory against Bolton Wanderers.[8] On 19 September 2023, Ballard scored a brace during a 0–9 victory against Exeter City in the EFL Trophy.[9][10] He scored his first league goal for the club on 3 October 2023 in a 3–1 defeat to Northampton Town.[11]

International career

Having previously represented England U17s, Ballard made his U18 debut during a 1–0 win over the Netherlands in Pinatar on 21 September 2022.[12]

On 6 September 2023, Ballard made his England U19 debut during a 1–0 defeat to Germany in Oliva.[13]

Career statistics

Club
As of 24 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Southampton U23 2021–22 ————3[lower-alpha 1]030
Southampton 2022–23[14] Premier League 201011—41
2023–24[15] Championship 000000—00
Total 201011—41
Reading (loan) 2023–24[15] League One 7200001[lower-alpha 1]284
Career total 92101140155
Notes
  1. Appearances in the EFL Trophy

References
  1. "2021/22 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  2. Tanswell, Jacob (12 October 2022). "'He is born to score goals': Ballard's form and confidence will not be lost on Hasenhuttl". The Athletic. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  3. "Ballard secures pro deal". southamptonfc.com. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  4. "Cambridge United 0-3 Southampton". BBC. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  5. Mann, Mantej (21 May 2023). "Brighton & Hove Albion 3–1 Southampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  6. Ballard, Dom (27 June 2023). "Southampton's Dom Ballard caps debut season with new contract signed". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  7. "Dom Ballard seals Reading loan". Southampton FC. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  8. "Reading 2–1 Bolton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  9. Preston, Andy (20 September 2023). "Exeter City 0–9 Reading: Royals thump League One high flyers in EFL Trophy with miraculous display". Reading Today. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  10. "Royals record biggest win since 1901". Reading FC. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  11. "Northampton Town 3–1 Reading". BBC Sport. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  12. Veevers, Nicholas (21 September 2022). "Late winner seals victory for MU18s over Netherlands". England Football. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  13. "Report: England MU19s 0-1 Germany". England Football. 6 September 2023.
  14. "Games played by Dom Ballard in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  15. "Games played by Dom Ballard in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
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