Jamal Baptiste

Jamal Marcus Baptiste (born 11 November 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Belgian club Lommel, on loan from Manchester City.

Jamal Baptiste
Personal information
Full name Jamal Marcus Baptiste[1]
Date of birth (2003-11-11) 11 November 2003[2]
Place of birth Redbridge, England
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Lommel
(on loan from Manchester City)
Youth career
2011–2020 West Ham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2023 West Ham United 0 (0)
2023– Manchester City 0 (0)
2023– → Lommel (loan) 1 (0)
International career‡
2019 England U16 6 (0)
2019 England U17 2 (0)
2021– England U19 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:57, 23 January 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:45, 13 November 2021 (UTC)

Club career

Baptiste joined West Ham United at the age of eight.[3] In the 2018–19 season, Baptiste broke into West Ham's under-18 squad, whilst still a schoolboy. Baptiste later debuted for the under-23's at the age of 15, becoming the second youngest ever player to represent West Ham's under-23 side.[4] Upon his 17th birthday, on 11 November 2020, Baptiste signed his first professional contract with West Ham.[5] On 23 January 2021, Baptiste made his debut, as a substitute, for West Ham in a 4–0 FA Cup win against Doncaster Rovers.[6] On 9 December 2021, he played a full-match for West Ham in a 1–0 home defeat against Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League.[7]

In May 2023, Baptiste said he would be leaving West Ham at the end of the 2022–23 season as he felt he had played sufficient academy level football and was ready to play in a first-team environment. He also revealed a diagnosis of Guillain–Barré syndrome which had kept him out of the game for five months, and the help he had received with treatment from the personal doctor of West Ham chairman, David Sullivan.[7]

On 2 September 2023, Baptise made a move to English club Manchester City as a free agent, and on the same day, he was loaned out to Belgian side Lommel.[8] The loan is for half a season, until the end of 2023.[9]

International career

In October 2019, after previously representing England's under-16 side, Baptiste was called up for England's under-17's for the first time.[10]

On 2 September 2021, Baptiste made his debut for England U19, starting a 2–0 victory over Italy U19's at St George's Park.[11]

Style of play

Terry Westley, academy manager at West Ham during Baptiste's formative years, has praised Baptiste's height, power and pace.[12] West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna has lauded Baptiste's composure,[3] with former West Ham striker Carlton Cole comparing Baptiste to former West Ham academy graduate Rio Ferdinand after coaching Baptiste in the club's academy. Baptiste himself has said he models his game on Virgil van Dijk and former West Ham and England defender Matthew Upson.[13]

Career statistics
As of match played 9 December 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
West Ham United U21 2019–20[14] ———1[lower-alpha 1]010
2020–21[15] ———3[lower-alpha 1]030
Total 0000004040
West Ham United 2020–21[15] Premier League 0010000010
2021–22[15] 0000001[lower-alpha 2]010
2022–23[15] 0000000000
Total 0010001020
Career total 0010005060
  1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League

References
  1. Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.
  2. "Jamal Baptiste". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  3. "West Ham wonderkid Jamal Baptiste outlines his inspiration after signing first pro deal". Football London. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  4. "Jamal Baptiste". West Ham United F.C. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  5. "Jamal Baptiste signs first professional contract". West Ham United F.C. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  6. "West Ham United 4–0 Doncaster Rovers". BBC Sport. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  7. Colman, Jonty (24 May 2023). "Jamal Baptiste confirms West Ham exit and lifts lid on David Moyes' comments". Football.London. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  8. "Jamal Baptiste joins Man City as free agent from West Ham". Tribuna.com. 2 September 2023.
  9. "WELKOM JAMAL BAPTISTE!" [WELCOME JAMAL BAPTISTE!] (in Dutch). Lommel SK. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  10. "West Ham United Academy trio receive England call-ups". West Ham United F.C. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  11. "England MU19s 2-0 Italy". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  12. "West Ham youngster must pay no attention to big praise". HITC. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  13. "Carlton Cole says impressive academy prospect Jamal Baptiste has been training with West Ham first team and could be the new Rio Ferdinand". Hammers News. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  14. "Games played by Jamal Baptiste in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  15. "Games played by Jamal Baptiste in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.