Eli King (footballer)

Eli King

King in 2025.
Personal information
Full name	Eli Josef King [1]
Date of birth	(2002-12-23) 23 December 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth	Wales
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) [2]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Cardiff City
Number	24
Youth career
0000–2021	Cardiff City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–	Cardiff City	6	(0)
2022–2023	→ Crewe Alexandra (loan)	15	(0)
2023–2024	→ Morecambe (loan)	20	(1)
2024	→ Ross County (loan)	15	(0)
2024–2025	→ Stevenage (loan)	27	(1)
International career‡
2018	Wales U17	3	(0)
2021–2024	Wales U21	15	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18:25, 13 August 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 12:11, 15 October 2024 (UTC)

Eli Josef King (born 23 December 2002) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Cardiff City, and the Wales under-21 national team. ^[3]

Club career

He made his first-team debut on 23 October 2021 as a second-half substitute in the 2–0 Championship defeat against Middlesbrough. ^{[4] [5]}

He moved on loan to Crewe Alexandra in August 2022, ^[6] making his Crewe debut in a goalless draw at Bradford City on 27 August 2022. ^[7] He returned to Cardiff in January 2023. ^[8]

King joined Morecambe in July 2023 on loan for the 2023–24 season. ^[9] He scored his first goal for Morcambe against Doncaster Rovers on 12 December 2023, in a 5–0 victory. ^[10] On 8 January 2024, King was recalled by Cardiff City. ^[11] A week after his return to Cardiff City, he joined Scottish Premiership club Ross County on loan until the end of the season. ^{[12] [13]}

In August 2024 he moved on loan to Stevenage for the season. ^[14]

International career

After playing for Wales under-17s, ^[15] King was selected for the Wales under-21 squad in November 2021. ^[16] He was called up again in September 2022 for the Wales under-21s' friendly with Austria. ^[17]

Career statistics

As of match played 12 August 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup [a]		League cup [b]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Cardiff City	2021–22 [18]	Championship	4	0	1	0	0	0	—		5	0
	2022–23 [7]	Championship	1	0	0	0	1	0	—		2	0
	2023–24 [19]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2024–25 [20]	Championship	0	0	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
	2025–26 [21]	League One	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0
	Total		6	0	1	0	3	0	0	0	10	0
Crewe Alexandra (loan)	2022–23 [7]	League Two	15	0	1	0	0	0	2 [c]	0	18	0
Morecambe (loan)	2023–24 [19]	League Two	20	1	2	1	1	0	1 [c]	0	24	2
Ross County (loan)	2023–24 [19]	Scottish Premiership	15	0	1	0	0	0	2 [d]	0	18	0
Stevenage (loan)	2024–25 [20]	League One	27	1	2	0	0	0	3 [c]	0	32	1
Career total			83	2	7	1	4	0	8	0	102	3

1. Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup
2. Includes EFL Cup
3. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
4. Appearances in the relegation play-offs

References

1. "EFL – Squad List 2021/22" (PDF). English English Football League. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
2. https://www.whoscored.com/players/426861/show/eli-king
3. Eli King at Soccerway
4. "Championship: Cardiff 0–2 Middlesbrough – Payero doubles the lead". 22 October 2021 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
5. Williams, Glen (28 February 2022). "'Top-drawer' starlet King stays behind to clean the changing rooms". WalesOnline.
6. "Crewe sign Cardiff youngster King on loan" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
7. "Games played by Eli King in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
8. Baggaley, Michael (3 January 2023). "Crewe boss Bell confirms loan situation for Brook, King and Leshabela". CheshireLive.
9. "Morecambe sign Cardiff midfielder King on loan" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
10. "Eli King is "Exceptional" for Morcambe as Cardiff City ponder midfield options - Ninian Park". 19 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
11. "Eli King recalled by Cardiff City". www.morecambefc.com. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
12. "Loan | Eli King joins Ross County". www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
13. "Eli King: Cardiff City midfielder joins Ross County on loan". BBC Sport. 15 January 2024.
14. "Eli King: Stevenage sign Cardiff City midfielder on loan". BBC Sport. 22 August 2024.
15. Eli King at WorldFootball.net
16. "Cardiff's King earns Wales U21s call" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
17. "Eli King is loving life at Crewe Alexandra". CreweAlex.net. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
18. "Games played by Eli King in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
19. "Games played by Eli King in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
20. "Games played by Eli King in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
21. "Games played by Eli King in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 August 2025.