James Balagizi

James Balagizi (born 20 September 2003) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Wigan Athletic, on loan from Premier League club Liverpool.

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– → 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)

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.

International career

Balagizi was born in England and is of Zimbabwean and DR Congolese descent.[11] 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.[12]

Career statistics
As of 3 October 2023[13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Liverpool U21 2020–21[14] ————1[lower-alpha 1]010
Liverpool 2021–22 Premier League 000000000000
Crawley Town (loan) 2022–23[15] League Two 14200210000163
Wigan Athletic (loan) 2023–24[16] League One 300010001050
Career total 17203100020223
  1. 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. "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. 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. Lusby, Jack (22 March 2022). "Liverpool youth rejects attempt to switch nationality".
  12. Crane, Liam (21 September 2022). "Report: England MU20s 3-0 Chile". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  13. James Balagizi at Soccerway
  14. "Games played by James Balagizi in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  15. "Games played by James Balagizi in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  16. "Games played by James Balagizi in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
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