Dom Ballard

Dom Ballard

Personal information
Full name	Dominic Ballard [1]
Date of birth	(2005-04-01) 1 April 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth	Guildford, England [2]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Cambridge United (on loan from Southampton)
Number	29
Youth career
2013–2022	Southampton
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–	Southampton	2	(0)
2023–2024	→ Reading (loan)	10	(3)
2024–2025	→ Blackpool (loan)	18	(1)
2025–	→ Cambridge United (loan)	1	(0)
International career‡
2022	England U17	3	(0)
2022–	England U18	3	(3)
2023–	England U19	8	(4)
2024–	England U20	6	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:02, 28 January 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:38, 12 December 2024 (UTC)

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

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. ^[3] 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. ^[3]

Club career

Southampton

Ballard signed his first professional contract with Southampton in April 2022. ^[4]

On 23 August 2022, he made his senior debut and scored his first goal for Southampton's first team in a 3–0 victory against Cambridge United in the EFL Cup. ^[5] On 21 May 2023, Ballard made his Premier League debut in a 3–1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, replacing Joe Aribo in the 70th minute. ^[6]

On 27 June 2023, Ballard signed a two-year contract extension until 2026. ^[7]

Reading (loan)

On 1 September 2023, Ballard joined League One side Reading on a season-long loan. ^[8] He made his debut for the club on 16 September 2023 in a 2–1 victory against Bolton Wanderers. ^[9] On 19 September 2023, Ballard scored a brace during a 0–9 victory against Exeter City in the EFL Trophy. ^{[10] [11]} He scored his first league goal for the club on 3 October 2023 in a 3–1 defeat to Northampton Town. ^[12] During a 1–2 victory against Wycombe Wanderers on 25 November 2023, Ballard was forced off in the first half after suffering a leg injury from a fall. ^[13] Three days later, head coach Rubén Sellés confirmed that Ballard would be out for the season after snapping his patellar tendon. ^[14]

Blackpool (loan)

On 13 August 2024, Ballard joined League One side Blackpool on a season-long loan. ^{[15] [16]} He made his debut for the club on 17 August 2024 in a 3–0 home defeat against Stockport County after he replaced Ashley Fletcher in the 72nd minute. ^[17] On 24 August 2024, Ballard scored his first goal for the club in a 4–4 draw with Cambridge United. ^[18] He suffered a shoulder injury during a 2–0 victory against Huddersfield Town on 24 September 2024, with head coach Steve Bruce later confirming Ballard was expected to be sidelined for several weeks. ^{[19] [20]} On 3 January 2025, he was recalled from loan and returned to Southampton. ^{[21] [22]}

Cambridge United (loan)

On 27 January 2025, Ballard joined League One side Cambridge United on loan for the remainder of the 2024–25 season. ^[23]

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. ^[24]

On 6 September 2023, Ballard made his England U19 debut during a 1–0 defeat to Germany in Oliva. ^[25]

On 6 September 2023, Ballard made a goalscoring England U20 debut during a 1–1 draw away to Turkey. ^[26]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 28 January 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Southampton U23	2021–22	—	—		—		—		3 [a]	0	3	0
Southampton	2022–23 [27]	Premier League	2	0	1	0	1	1	—		4	1
	2023–24 [28]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2024–25 [29]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		2	0	1	0	1	1	—		4	1
Reading (loan)	2023–24 [28]	League One	10	3	1	0	0	0	1 [a]	2	12	5
Blackpool (loan)	2024–25 [29]	League One	18	1	2	0	1	0	1 [a]	0	22	1
Cambridge United (loan)	2024–25 [29]	League One	1	0	—		—		0	0	1	0
Career total			31	4	4	0	2	1	5	0	42	7

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. Dom Ballard at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
3. 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.
4. "Ballard secures pro deal". southamptonfc.com. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
5. "Cambridge United 0-3 Southampton". BBC. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
6. Mann, Mantej (21 May 2023). "Brighton & Hove Albion 3–1 Southampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
7. Ballard, Dom (27 June 2023). "Southampton's Dom Ballard caps debut season with new contract signed". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
8. "Dom Ballard seals Reading loan". Southampton FC. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
9. "Reading 2–1 Bolton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
10. 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.
11. "Royals record biggest win since 1901". Reading FC. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
12. "Northampton Town 3–1 Reading". BBC Sport. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
13. House, Alfie (26 November 2023). "Young Southampton striker stretchered with concerning injury". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
14. "Reading FC boss on Carlisle win and Dom Ballard injury". readingchronicle.co.uk. Reading Chronicle. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
15. "Dom Ballard joins on loan". Blackpool FC. 13 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
16. "Ballard Blackpool bound on loan". Southampton FC. 13 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
17. "Blackpool 0–3 Stockport County". BBC Sport. 17 August 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
18. "Cambridge United 4–4 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
19. Wynn, Amos (25 September 2024). "Southampton loanee hit with 'cruel' injury blow in Blackpool's victory over Huddersfield Town". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
20. Wynn, Amos (27 September 2024). "Blackpool hit with mixed injury news ahead of Burton Albion clash with new concern emerging alongside latest on Southampton loanee". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
21. "Academy duo recalled from loan". Southampton FC. 3 January 2025. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
22. Rees-Julian, George (3 January 2025). "Southampton FC recall two starlets from League One loans". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
23. "Ballard joins Cambridge United on loan". Southampton FC. 27 January 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
24. Veevers, Nicholas (21 September 2022). "Late winner seals victory for MU18s over Netherlands". England Football. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
25. "Report: England MU19s 0-1 Germany". England Football. 6 September 2023.
26. "RReport: England Elite League Squad 1-1 Turkiye". England Football. 6 September 2023.
27. "Games played by Dom Ballard in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
28. "Games played by Dom Ballard in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
29. "Games played by Dom Ballard in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2024.