Aaron Harper-Bailey
{{Short description|English footballer}}
{{Sources exist|date=August 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Aaron Harper-Bailey
| image =
| fullname =
| birth_place = Smethwick
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|2001|09|29}}{{Cite web |title=Aaron Harper-Bailey: Overview |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/129709/Aaron-Harper-Bailey/overview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240122224021/https://www.premierleague.com/players/129709/Aaron-Harper-Bailey/overview |archive-date=22 January 2024 |access-date=28 August 2024 |website=Premier League}}
| height = 1.94m
| position = Defender
| currentclub = Drogheda United
| clubnumber = 5
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2022
| youthclubs1 = Rushall Olympic
| youthyears2 = 2022–2024
| youthclubs2 = West Bromwich Albion
| years1 = 2022–2024
| clubs1 = West Bromwich Albion
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2024
| clubs2 = → Kidderminster Harriers (loan)
| caps2 = 2
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2024
| clubs3 = Drogheda United
| caps3 = 5
| goals3 = 0
| club-update = 16:41, 14 May 2025 (UTC)
}}
Aaron Harper-Bailey (born 29 September 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Drogheda United in the League of Ireland Premier Division.
Club career
=Youth years=
In July 2022, Harper-Bailey joined National League North club Rushall Olympic following a successful pre-season trial during which he impressed the coaching team.{{Cite web |date=8 September 2022 |title=Player News: Dream Move for Harper-Bailey as Pics Provide Platform |url=https://www.rofc.co.uk/news/player-new--dream-move-for-harper-bailey-as-pics-provide-platform |access-date=28 August 2024 |website=Rushall Olympic}} Just under 2 months later, his performance earned him a transfer to EFL Championship club West Bromwich Albion. He made over 28 appearances for the club's U23 team.{{Cite web |date=26 January 2024 |title=Harper-Bailey boosts defence |url=https://harriers.co.uk/news/2024/01/26/harper-bailey-boosts-defence/ |access-date=28 August 2024 |website=Kidderminster Harriers}} Becoming a regular starter for the youth side in Premier League 2.{{Cite news |date=29 July 2024 |title=Drogheda sign Aaron Harper-Bailey from West Brom |url=https://www.lmfm.ie/news/sport/drogheda-sign-aaron-harper-bailey-from-west-brom/ |access-date=28 August 2024 |work=LM FM}} Harper-Bailey left the club in late June following the expiration of his contract.{{Cite news |date=30 July 2024 |title=Free agent lands new home following West Brom exit |url=https://the72.co.uk/2024/07/30/west-brom-departed-aaron-harper-bailey-joins-drogheda-united/ |access-date=28 August 2024 |work=The 72}} He never made a senior appearance for the Baggies.
==Kidderminster Harriers (loan)==
On 26 January 2024, Harper-Bailey joined on an initial one-month loan. The player made 2 appearances for the Harriers during his short time at the club, featuring against Oxford City and Gateshead . Harper-Bailey returned to West Bromwich Albion on 23 February of the same year, following the end of his loan.{{Cite web |date=23 February 2024 |title=Aaron Harper-Bailey returns from Kidderminster Harriers loan |url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/aaron-harper-bailey-returns-kidderminster-harriers-loan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418081632/https://www.wba.co.uk/news/aaron-harper-bailey-returns-kidderminster-harriers-loan |archive-date=18 April 2024 |access-date=28 August 2024 |website=West Bromwich Albion}}
==Drogheda United==
On 29 July 2024, Harper-Bailey signed a permanent deal with League of Ireland Premier Division club Drogheda United following the expiration of his contract at West Brom. He currently wears number 5 for the League of Ireland Premier Division club.
Harper-Bailey made his debut for Drogheda on 16 August 2024 as a substitute in a 9-0 FAI Cup third round win against Wilton United.
Style of play
Harper-Bailey is a left-footed Defender with strong physical attributes.{{Cite news |date=27 July 2022 |title=Signing: Emerging Defender Snapped up Following Impressive Pre Season |url=https://www.rofc.co.uk/news/signing--emerging-defender-snapped-up-following-impressive-pre-season |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727144309/https://www.rofc.co.uk/news/signing--emerging-defender-snapped-up-following-impressive-pre-season |archive-date=27 July 2022 |access-date=28 August 2024 |work=Rushall Olympic}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played on 28 March 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/aaron-haper-bailey/870890/|title=England - A. Harper-Bailey - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National Cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup & FAI Cup}} !colspan=2|League Cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup}} !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| West Bromwich Albion
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| Kidderminster Harriers (loan)
|2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearance(s) in the FA Trophy|name=statsFAT}} | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Drogheda United
|2024 |rowspan="2"|LOI Premier Division |3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearance(s) in the Leinster Senior Cup|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2025
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|1 appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup; 1 appearance in the Leinster Senior Cup}} | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career Total
!6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
{{Drogheda United F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harper-Bailey, Aaron}}
Category:Footballers from Smethwick
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Drogheda United F.C. players
Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. players