James Balagizi

James Balagizi

Balagizi playing for England U17 in 2019
Personal information
Full name	James O'Gee Balagizi [1]
Date of birth	(2003-09-20) 20 September 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth	Manchester, England [2]
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) [2]
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team	Forest Green Rovers (on loan from Liverpool)
Number	26 [3]
Youth career
	Liverpool
	Manchester City
	Liverpool
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–	Liverpool	0	(0)
2022–2023	→ Crawley Town (loan)	14	(2)
2023–2024	→ Wigan Athletic (loan)	3	(0)
2024	→ Kilmarnock (loan)	5	(0)
2025–	→ Forest Green Rovers (loan)	2	(1)
International career‡
2019	England U16	5	(0)
2019	England U17	2	(0)
2021	England U18	1	(0)
2021–	England U19	8	(0)
2022–	England U20	3	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:53, 13 September 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 10:50, 1 October 2024 (UTC)

James O'Gee Balagizi (born 20 September 2003) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Forest Green Rovers on loan from Premier League club Liverpool.

Early life

Born in Manchester, Balagizi started his career with Liverpool, before joining Manchester City at the age of six. ^[4] 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. ^{[5] [6]}

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. ^{[7] [8]} He signed his first professional contract in September 2020. ^[6]

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. ^[9]

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. ^[10] He was recalled to Liverpool on 20 January 2023 after sustaining an injury, having made sixteen appearances and scored three goals for Crawley. ^[11]

On 19 July 2023, he joined EFL League One club Wigan Athletic on loan for the 2023–24 season. On 4 January 2024, Liverpool recalled Balagizi from his loan. ^[12] He subsequently joined Kilmarnock on loan until the end of the season. ^[13]

In August 2025 he joined Forest Green Rovers on a season long loan. ^[14]

International career

Balagizi was born in England and is of Zimbabwean and DR Congolese descent. ^[15] He has represented England at numerous youth levels. ^{[2] [6]}

On 21 September 2022, Balagizi made his England U20 debut as a substitute during a 3-0 victory over Chile at the Pinatar Arena. ^[16]

Career statistics

As of 14 November 2023 ^[17]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Liverpool U21	2020–21 [18]	—			—		—		—		1 [a]	0	1	0
Liverpool	2021–22	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Crawley Town (loan)	2022–23 [19]	League Two	14	2	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	16	3
Wigan Athletic (loan)	2023–24 [20]	League One	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	3 [a]	0	7	0
Career total			17	2	0	0	3	1	0	0	4	0	24	3

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. "James Balagizi signs". Forest Green Rovers. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
4. 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)
5. "Profile". liverpoolfc.com. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
6. Jones, Neil (12 May 2021). "James Balagizi: Liverpool wonderkid who left Man City behind". goal.com. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. "Norwich City 0–3 Liverpool". bbc.co.uk. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
10. "Balagizi joins for the season". Crawley Town F.C. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
11. "James Balagizi recalled from Crawley Town loan". Liverpool FC. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
12. Glenn Price. "News: James Balagizi returns from Wigan Athletic loan spell". Liverpool FC. 4 January 2024.
13. "James Balagizi joins Kilmarnock on loan". Liverpool FC. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
14. "James Balagizi joins Forest Green Rovers on loan". Liverpool F.C. 28 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
15. Lusby, Jack (22 March 2022). "Liverpool youth rejects attempt to switch nationality".
16. Crane, Liam (21 September 2022). "Report: England MU20s 3-0 Chile". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
17. James Balagizi at Soccerway
18. "Games played by James Balagizi in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
19. "Games played by James Balagizi in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
20. "Games played by James Balagizi in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2020.

External links

• James Balagizi at the Liverpool F.C. website
• James Balagizi – UEFA competition record ( archive )