Baylee Dipepa
{{Short description|English footballer (born 12 January 2007)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}{{Use British English|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Baylee Dipepa
| image = Baylee Dipepa.jpg
| caption = Dipepa with Port Vale in 2023
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|2007|1|12}}{{cite web |title=Baylee Dipepa|url=https://www.fotmob.com/players/1533550/baylee-dipepa |website=www.fotmob.com |access-date=9 January 2024}}
| birth_place = Blythe Bridge, England{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Mike |title=Vale planning for stars of the future |url=https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/vale-planning-for-stars-of-the-future |access-date=8 January 2024 |work=Valiant's Substack |date=8 January 2024}}
| height =
| position = Striker
| currentclub = Southampton
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2015–2023
| youthclubs1 = Port Vale
| years1 = 2023–2024
| clubs1 = Port Vale
| caps1 = 25
| goals1 = 3
| years2 = 2024–
| clubs2 = Southampton
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2024–
| nationalteam1 = England U17
| nationalcaps1 = 7
| nationalgoals1 = 4
|nationalyears2 = 2024–
|nationalteam2 = England U18
|nationalcaps2 = 7
|nationalgoals2 = 1
| club-update = 15:54, 24 August 2024 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 19:39, 20 March 2025 (UTC)
}}
Baylee Dipepa (born 12 January 2007) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for {{English football updater|Southamp}} club Southampton.
Dipepa began his career at Port Vale, playing 31 matches by age 17 and winning caps for England U17. He was sold to Southampton for an undisclosed fee in August 2024.
Club career
= Port Vale =
Dipepa first joined Port Vale at under-9 level. He made his first-team debut after coming on as a substitute in a 1–0 win over Crewe Alexandra in an EFL Trophy group stage game at Vale Park on 5 September 2023.{{cite news |last1=Carville |first1=Matt |title=Match Report {{!}} Port Vale 1-0 Crewe Alexandra |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/2023/september/match-report--port-vale-1-0-crewe-alexandra/ |access-date=6 September 2023 |work = Port Vale F.C. |date=5 September 2023 |language=en-gb}} On 9 December, at the age of 16 years and 331 days old he became the seventh-youngest player in the club's history to play a Football League game when he came on as a substitute for Ethan Chislett in a 1–0 win at Exeter City.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Mike |title=Middlesbrough ticket update as Port Vale prepare for three home games in a week |url=https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/middlesbrough-ticket-update-as-port |access-date=12 December 2023 |work=Valiant's Substack |date=11 December 2023}} He signed his first professional contract in January 2024, when manager Andy Crosby and director of football, David Flitcroft went on record to praise his good attitude and future potential.{{cite news |title=Baylee Dipepa Signs Pro Deal with the Valiants |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/2024/january/baylee-dipepa-signs-pro-deal-with-the-valiants/ |access-date=19 January 2024 |work = Port Vale F.C. |date=19 January 2024 |language=en-gb}} He won his first league start under new manager Darren Moore on 27 February, when he picked up an assist in a 2–2 draw with Fleetwood Town.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Mike |title=League Two beckons for Port Vale after Fleetwood agony |url=https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/league-two-beckons-for-port-vale |access-date=28 February 2024 |work=Valiant's Substack |date=28 February 2024}} He scored his first career goal in a 2–1 home defeat to Shrewsbury Town on 10 March to become the second-youngest goalscorer in the club's history after 16-year-old teammate Jack Shorrock.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Mike |title=Shrewsbury loss shoves Vale closer to the drop |url=https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/shrewsbury-loss-shoves-vale-closer |access-date=10 March 2024 |work=Valiant's Substack |date=10 March 2024}} He scored his second goal in a 2–0 win over Bristol Rovers on 29 March after he dribbled the ball from {{convert|35|yd}} into shooting range.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Mike |title=Vale gather momentum with Rovers win |url=https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/vale-gather-momentum-with-rovers |access-date=30 March 2024 |work=Valiant's Substack |date=30 March 2024}} He signed a contract extension in July 2024 to keep him at the club for three years.{{cite news |title=Baylee Dipepa: England Under-17 international signs new Port Vale deal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cy0839k7m1jo |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=5 July 2024}} He was also named as the club's Young Player of the Year.{{cite news |title=2023/24 Young Player of the Year {{!}} Baylee Dipepa {{!}} Port Vale FC |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/202324-young-player-year-baylee-dipepa |access-date=18 July 2024 |work=Port Vale FC |date=16 July 2024 |language=en}} Upon his departure, manager Darren Moore said that "although everybody at the club is sad to see Baylee leave, the offer was fantastic for the club".{{cite news |title=Baylee Dipepa Completes Permanent Transfer to Southampton {{!}} Port Vale FC |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/baylee-dipepa-completes-permanent-transfer-southampton-0 |access-date=1 September 2024 |work=Port Vale FC |date=31 August 2024 |language=en}}
= Southampton =
On 30 August 2024, Dipepa joined Premier League side Southampton on an undisclosed fee and was assigned to the under-21 squad.{{cite news |title=Academy seal four deadline day signings {{!}} Southampton FC {{!}} News |url=https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/academy-seal-four-deadline-day-signings |access-date=1 September 2024 |work=Southampton FC |date=31 August 2024 |language=en-gb}}
International career
Dipepa was called up to the England under-17 team in March 2024.{{cite news |title=Interview {{!}} Baylee Dipepa discusses his call-up to the England Under 17's squad |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/2024/march/interview--baylee-dipepa-discusses-his-call-up-to-the-england-under-17s-squad/|access-date=19 March 2024 |work=Port Vale F.C|date=19 March 2024|language=en-gb}} He scored twice on his debut having come off the substitutes bench in a 5–1 win over Northern Ireland in 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification at St. George's Park.{{cite news |last1=Royle|first1=Lewis|title=Report: England MU17s 5-1 Northern Ireland|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Mar/20/england-mens-under-17s-northern-ireland-match-report-20242003|access-date=22 March 2024|work=EnglandFootball.com|date=20 March 2024}} On 20 May 2024, Dipepa was included in the England squad for the 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.{{cite news |last1=Veevers |first1=Nicholas |title=England MU17s squad named for EURO Finals |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/May/20/england-mens-under-17s-squad-named-for-EURO-Finals-in-cyprus-20242005 |access-date=21 May 2024|work=EnglandFootball.com|date=20 May 2024|language=en}} He scored his only goal of the tournament in the opening group game against France.{{Cite web|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/May/21/england-mu17s-france-euro-match-report-20242105|website=EnglandFootball.com|accessdate=6 June 2024|date=21 May 2024|first=Juliet|last=Nottingham|title=Report: England MU17 4-0 France}} He came off the bench as a substitute in the quarter-final and successfully took his penalty as England were eliminated by Italy on penalties.{{Cite web|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/May/30/england-mu17s-italy-u17-euro-quarter-final-20243005|website=EnglandFootball.com|accessdate=6 June 2024|date=30 May 2024|first=Juliet|last=Nottingham|title=Report: England MU17s 1-1 Italy (4-5 on pens)}}
He was named in the England under-18 squad for the Lafarge Foot Avenir in August 2024.{{cite news |title=Port Vale striker named in England U18 squad |url=https://www.onevalefan.co.uk/2024/08/port-vale-striker-named-in-england-u18-squad/ |access-date=30 August 2024 |work=onevalefan.co.uk |date=30 August 2024}} On 4 September 2024, he made his U18 debut against Portugal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Sep/04/england-mens-under-18s-v-portugal-match-report-20240409|website=EnglandFootball.com|accessdate=5 September 2024|date=4 September 2024|first=Nicholas|last=Veevers|title=Report: England MU18s 2-2 Portugal}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 24 August 2024}}
| 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"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|EFL Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Port Vale
|2023–24{{Soccerbase season|182803|2023|accessdate=1 August 2023}} |22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4{{efn|name=EFT|Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 26 | 3 | |
| 2024–25{{Soccerbase season|182803|2024|accessdate=1 August 2023}}
|3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=EFT}} | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 31 | 3 | |
| Southampton
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 31 | 3 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dipepa, Baylee}}
Category:Footballers from Staffordshire
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Port Vale F.C. players
Category:Southampton F.C. players