Leon Bailey

Bailey started his career playing for the Phoenix All-Star Academy operated by his adoptive father, Craig Butler.[https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/leon-bailey-bayer-leverkusen-kidknap-raids-and-mayonnaise-made-it-top Kidnap, raids and mayonnaise: how Leon Bailey fought for his giant dream – and made it to the top] fourfourtwo.com In 2011, Butler arrived in Europe to find a club for Bailey and Butler's biological son, Kyle. Bailey caught the eye of Genk in Belgium, but because of the very strict regulations on minors by FIFA, they could not offer him a contract.{{cite web |url=http://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20150713_01774450|title=Genk wint strijd om 'meest gewilde belofte ter wereld|website=Nieuwsblad.be|date=13 July 2015 }} Bailey almost joined Standard Liège,{{cite web |url=http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/949/Belgisch-Voetbal/article/detail/1718099/2013/10/07/Genk-en-Standard-verwikkeld-in-louche-affaire-om-jonge-tester.dhtml |title=Genk en Standard verwikkeld in louche affaire om jonge tester|website=HLN.be}} but the transfer was not approved because Butler had no work permit. Aged 13, Bailey signed for Austrian non-league side Anif Jugend,{{Cite web|last=Preece|first=Ashley|date=3 September 2021|title=Leon Bailey blazing a trail as Jamaican youngsters beat Aston Villa|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-leon-bailey-jamaica-21469776|access-date=3 September 2021|website=BirminghamLive|language=en}} before moving to Liefering.

In the beginning of 2013, Bailey signed a professional contract with Slovakian side Trenčín.{{cite web |url=http://www.astrencin.sk/en/clanek.asp?id=1159 |title=AS Trencin expect an arrival of two talented Jamaicans}} In October 2013, Bailey reached a verbal agreement with Ajax, but a transfer did not materialize due to FIFA rules.{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraaf.nl/telesport/voetbal/ajax/22013253/__Ajax_mondeling_akkoord_met_Bailey__.html#voetbal/298/fixtures/|title=Sport - Het laatste nieuws uit Nederland leest u op Telegraaf.nl|website=Telegraaf}}

Bailey joined Genk in 2015 from Trenčín. He made his Belgian Pro League debut on 21 August 2015 in a 3–1 away defeat against Sint-Truiden replacing Siebe Schrijvers after 62 minutes.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/08/21/belgium/pro-league/sint-truidense-vv/krc-genk/2038984/|title=Sint-Truiden vs. Genk – 21 August 2015 – Soccerway|publisher=soccerway.com|access-date=29 August 2015}} He scored his first professional goal for KRC Genk on 21 November versus OH Leuven. At the end of the 2015–16 season he won the Belgian Young Footballer of the Year award. His goal in the Europa League against Rapid Wien on 15 September 2016 was chosen as the top goal of the competition for the 2016–17 season by UEFA.{{Citation|last=UEFA.tv|title=UEFA Europa League 2016/17 – Top ten goals|date=26 May 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI9G6LNsLKQ|access-date=3 August 2017}}

Bailey joined Bayer Leverkusen in January 2017 for a fee of €20 million, after interest from Manchester United and Chelsea. He made his debut for Leverkusen on 3 February 2017, in a 1–0 defeat against Hamburg. His Champions League debut came on 24 February 2017, in a 2–2 draw against Atlético Madrid. He made ten appearances for Leverkusen in his first half season at the club.{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=87296&season_id=149|title=Leon Bailey - Football Stats - Bayer Leverkusen - Season 2016/2017 - Soccer Base|website=www.soccerbase.com}}

He scored his first goal for the club on 11 August 2017, in the first game of the 2017–18 season in a 3–0 victory in the German Cup against Karlsruher SC. His first league goal for the club came on 29 September against Schalke 04.{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=87296&season_id=150|title=Leon Bailey - Football Stats - Bayer Leverkusen - Season 2017/2018 - Soccer Base|website=www.soccerbase.com}} He finished the season scoring 12 goals in 34 games in all competitions, helping guide Bayer Leverkusen to a fifth-place finish in the Bundesliga.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/german-bundesliga/table|title=German Bundesliga Table - Football - BBC Sport|date=27 May 2024 }} On 30 November 2019, he scored twice in a 2–1 win over champions Bayern Munich, one goal with each foot.{{cite web |last1=Magee |first1=Will |title=Leon Bailey talks Bayern Munich and Bundesliga behind closed doors – but he won't talk about his manager |url=https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/leon-bailey-bayer-leverkusen-bayern-munich-interview-manager-peter-bosz-434485 |website=i newspaper|date=5 June 2020 }}

On 4 August 2021, 23-year-old Bailey signed for Premier League club Aston Villa.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=4 August 2021|title=Aston Villa is delighted to confirm the signing of Leon Bailey from Bayer Leverkusen|url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/august/Villa-confirm-Leon-Bailey-signing/|access-date=4 August 2021|website=Aston Villa Football Club}} On 14 August 2021, he made his Premier League debut as a substitute in a 3–2 loss to Watford.{{Cite news|last=Thomason|first=Ellie|date=14 August 2021|title=Watford beat Villa on Premier League return|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58124896|access-date=15 August 2021}} On 18 September, he scored his first goal for Villa in a 3–0 home victory over Everton, in which he also took a corner that led to a Lucas Digne own goal.{{Cite news|last=Maher|first=Matt|date=18 September 2021|title=Dean Smith hails 'crowd favourite' Leon Bailey following Aston Villa win|work=Express & Star|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/aston-villa/2021/09/18/dean-smith-hails-crowd-favourite-leon-bailey-following-aston-villa-win/|access-date=19 September 2021}} Bailey's first season with Aston Villa was punctuated with injuries - suffering a hamstring injury in August that ruled him out for a month, a quad injury in the game above against Everton that ruled him out for another month, another thigh injury in December that ruled him out until February, which was followed by an ankle injury in April which prematurely ended his season - ultimately limiting Bailey to only 7 starts.{{Cite web |last=Bayliss |first=Jake |date=2022-05-05 |title=Leon Bailey sends 'very tough' Aston Villa message after latest injury setback |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leon-bailey-aston-villa-injury-23878696 |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=BirminghamLive |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Agbonlahor |first=Gabriel |date=12 July 2022 |title=Aston Villa idol issues '100%' Bailey claim after key reveal |url=https://www.footballinsider247.com/aston-villa-idol-issues-100-leon-bailey-claim-after-key-reveal/ |access-date=23 July 2022 |website=Football Insider |language=en-GB}}

On 6 November 2022, Bailey scored the first goal under Unai Emery in a 3–1 home victory over Manchester United and was later named player of that month.{{cite web |url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2022/december/01/bailey-voted-november-player-of-the-month/ |title=Bailey voted November Player of the Month |publisher=Aston Villa FC |date=1 December 2022 }} On 6 December 2023, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Manchester City, which was his club's first win against the latter since 2013.{{cite web |last=McNulty |first=Phil |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67644794 |title=Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City: Unai Emery's side look top-four quality |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 December 2023 }}

Bailey scored against Hibernian in both home (3-0) & away legs (0-5) to help qualify Villa for the UEFA Conference League group stage as well as against Ajax (4-0) in the Round of 16 eventually bowing out to Olympiakos (6-2 on aggregate) in the semi-finals.{{Cite web |last=Club |first=Aston Villa Football |date=2023-08-31 |title=Aston Villa 3-0 Hibernian (8-0 agg) |url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2023/august/31/aston-villa-v-hibernian/#:~:text=Aston%20Villa%20secured%20their%20place,progressing%208-0%20on%20aggregate. |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=Aston Villa Football Club}}{{Cite web |title=Aston Villa bow out of Europa Conference League |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/4001623 |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=www.premierleague.com |language=en}} In that season, Bailey scored 10 goals in the Premier League to help Villa finish fourth & qualify for the UEFA Champions League.{{Cite web |title=Leon Bailey Aston Villa Midfielder, Profile & Stats {{!}} Premier League |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/20489/Leon-Bailey/overview |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=www.premierleague.com |language=en}} In the 24/25 season, Bailey scored his first goal of the season against Leicester at home on the 20th match day.

Leon Bailey became the second Jamaican player to score in the UEFA Champions League, following Wes Morgan, after scoring for Aston Villa against Club Brugge in a 1-3 win on March 4, 2025. [https://www.instagram.com/avfc_statto/p/DGz7WKRMwKx/?api=%E9%A9%AC%E6%9D%A5%E8%A5%BF%E4%BA%9A%E9%AB%98%E6%B8%8A%E7%BA%A6%E7%82%AEWhatsApp%EF%BC%9A601168119942%E5%AD%A6%E7%94%9F%E5%85%BC%E8%81%8C.fjiw&hl=zh-cn]

Leon Bailey is the first Jamaican player to assist a goal in the UEFA Champions League, following a brilliant pass to Marco Asensio who converted during the second leg of the round of 16 tie against Club Brugge on March 12, 2025. {{Cite web |last=Club |first=Aston Villa Football |date=2025-03-12 |title=Aston Villa 3-0 Club Brugge (6-1 agg) |url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/march/12/aston-villa---club-brugge/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Aston Villa Football Club}}

Bailey played in a friendly match for Jamaica under-23s on 8 March 2015 versus the Cayman Islands under-23 side, where he scored directly from a free kick.{{cite news|last1=Reid|first1=Paul A|title=Late flourish sets stage for U-23 Boyz win over Cayman|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Late-flourish-sets-stage-for-U-23-Boyz-win---over-Cayman_18540388|access-date=28 July 2016|work=Jamaica Observer|date=10 March 2015}}

In March 2017 it was reported that Bailey would refuse Jamaica call ups until the standards of Jamaican football improved.{{cite web|url=http://jamaica-star.com/article/sports/20170313/bailey-wont-play-until-jamaican-football-improves|title=Bailey won't play until Jamaican football improves|website=jamaica-star.com|date=13 March 2017}} In September 2017, Bailey told German football magazine Kicker: "They always want me to play for Jamaica, but I've had personal problems with the association since I was eleven or twelve years old".{{cite web|last1=Germany|first1=kicker online, Nürnberg|title=Bailey: Bereit für Bayer - nicht für Jamaika|url=https://www.kicker.de/bailey_bereit-fuer-bayer---nicht-fuer-jamaika-707389/artikel|website=kicker online|access-date=18 February 2018|language=de-DE}} In January 2018, Winfried Schäfer, the former Jamaica national team coach told a German newspaper Bild "I really wanted to make him a national player. I have invited him several times – among others to the Gold Cup in America and to international matches. I also called at Genk. But his step-father blocked everything."{{cite web|title=Jamaikas Ex-Nationaltrainer Winfried Schäfer kennt Bailey ganz genau - "Leon ist einer wie Scholl!"|url=http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/winfried-schaefer/leon-wie-scholl-49961374.bild.html|website=bild.de|date=25 January 2017|access-date=18 February 2018|language=de}} Bailey was thought to have accepted a call-up in October 2018, but reneged after demanding that his brother Kyle Butler, who at the time played for the reserves of FC Juniors OÖ in the Austrian 2. Liga, be called up too.{{cite web |last=Farry |first=Wayne |url=https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/leon-bailey-jamaica-204163|title=Leon Bailey reneges on Jamaica call-up after unusual conditions aren't met|website=joe.co.uk|date=14 October 2018}}

In May 2019, Bailey was named to the Jamaican provisional squad for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, with Bailey officially announcing that he would accept the call-up and represent the Reggae Boyz.{{cite news|title=Ex-Man Utd prospect Morrison joins Jamaica squad|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/jamaica/story/3858419/ex-man-utd-prospect-morrison-joins-jamaica-squad|publisher=ESPNFC|date=20 May 2019|access-date=20 May 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/leonbailey/status/1131265381207875585|title=I promise to wear the colors black green and gold with honor, pride, and dignity while aiming to be a positive role model for kids with a dream. pic.twitter.com/zegKa7Phi9|last=Bailey ✞|first=Leon|date=22 May 2019|website=@leonbailey|language=en|access-date=22 May 2019}} The 21-year-old would earn his first Jamaica international cap on 17 June 2019 against Honduras.{{cite web|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20190617/reggae-boyz-cap-historic-night-3-2-win-over-honduras|title=Reggae Boyz Cap Historic Night With 3-2 Win Over Honduras|date=17 June 2019|access-date=21 June 2019|publisher=Jamaica Gleaner}} Bailey scored his first goal for Jamaica on 6 September 2019 against Antigua and Barbuda, netting the fifth goal in a 6–0 victory in CONCACAF Nations League play.{{cite web|url=http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/reggae-boyz-whip-guyana-concacaf-nations-league|title=Reggae Boyz whip Antigua in Concacaf Nations League|date=8 September 2019|access-date=8 September 2019|archive-date=25 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225135131/http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/reggae-boyz-whip-guyana-concacaf-nations-league|url-status=dead}}

Bailey was thought to have been eligible to represent England as he has two grandparents who have British citizenship.{{cite web|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/england-keen-on-leon-bailey-for-world-cup-bayer-leverkusen-winger-jamaica-473780.jsp|title=Bayer Leverkusen's Leon Bailey being monitored by England ahead of World Cup 2018 - bundesliga.com|website=bundesliga.com - the official Bundesliga website}} However, it was discovered he was not eligible to play for England as none of his grandparents were born in England.

On March 20, 2024, Bailey announced via a podcast on YouTube that he will be taking a break from the Jamaican National Team. In his interview Bailey highlighted key issues he faces whenever he comes to represent the Reggae Boyz, such as the unprofessionalism of the Jamaica Football Federation towards the team and himself.{{Cite web |last=Jacks |first=Bradley |title=Bailey announces break from international football: "Jamaica's national team is not doing anything for me..." |url=https://www.sportsmax.tv/football/regional/item/143488-bailey-blasts-jff-for-unprofessionalism-announces-break-from-international-football |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=www.sportsmax.tv |language=en-gb}}

On June 12, 2024, Bailey was listed in Jamaica's Copa America 2024 squad. His agent and step-father subsequently stated on social media that Bailey's position regarding his participation with Jamaica was unchanged and he would not be joining up with the squad for the tournament.{{Cite news |last=Bosher |first=Luke |title=Bailey included in Jamaica's Copa America squad but father says he won't join up |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5560880/2024/06/13/jamaica-copa-america-2024-squad/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}} In response, the Jamaica Football Federation announced that Bailey had been temporarily suspended from selection for the Jamaican national team.{{Cite web |title=JFF Will Not Select Bailey Temporarily |website=Jamaica Football Federation |url=https://jff.football/jff-will-not-select-bailey-temporarily/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |language=en-US}}

{{updated|match played 16 May 2025|{{cite web |title=L. Bailey |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/leon-bailey/415585/ |website=Soccerway |access-date=17 February 2018}}}}

{{notelist}}

{{updated|match played 25 March 2025|{{NFT player|74632|access-date=7 September 2019}}}}

:Scores and results list Jamaica's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bailey goal

Individual

• Belgian Young Professional Footballer of the Year: 2015–16
• UEFA Golden Boy (award) nomination: 2016{{Cite web |date=2016-09-30 |title=Ja's Bailey on UEFA's Golden Boy shortlist |url=https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20160930/jas-bailey-uefas-golden-boy-shortlist |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=jamaica-gleaner.com |language=en}}
• Europa League goal of the season award: 2016–17{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |date=2017-05-26 |title=Top ten goals of the UEFA Europa League season |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0239-0e9726ee31cb-b8564b117f47-1000--top-ten-goals-of-the-uefa-europa-league-season/ |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=UEFA |language=en}}
• VDV Newcomer of the Season: 2017–18
• VDV Team of the Season: 2017–18
• Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2017–18{{cite news|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/fifa-18-ultimate-team-of-the-season-james-rodriguez-reus-lewandowski-pulisic-479371.jsp|title=CONFIRMED 2017/18 Bundesliga FIFA 18 Team of the Season!|publisher=Bundesliga|date=30 May 2018|access-date=30 May 2018}}
• Bundesliga Goal of the Month: December 2020{{cite web |title=Bundesliga Goal of the Month |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/goal-of-the-month-2020-21-bayern-munich-borussia-dortmund-rb-leipzig-13923 |access-date=9 January 2021 |publisher=Bundesliga}}
• Aston Villa Player of the Month. February 2024 {{Cite web |last=Club |first=Aston Villa Football |date=2024-03-09 |title=Leon Bailey wins Aston Villa Player of the Month for February |url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2024/march/09/bailey-wins-player-of-the-month-february/ |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=Aston Villa Football Club}}
• UEFA Europa Conference League Team of the Season: 2023–24{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |date=2024-06-01 |title=2023/24 Europa Conference League Team of the Season |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaconferenceleague/news/028e-1b06e9b72b53-4ef8f0fc6b7b-1000--2023-24-europa-conference-league-team-of-the-season/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=UEFA |language=en}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.avfc.co.uk/players/leonbailey/ Leon Bailey] at Aston Villa F.C.
• {{Premier League player|20489}}
• {{UEFA player}}
• {{soccerway}}
• {{NFT player}}

{{Aston Villa F.C. squad}}

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{{Jamaica squad 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}

{{Jamaica squad 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}

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{{Belgian Young Professional Footballer of the Year}}

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Category:1997 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Kingston, Jamaica

Category:Jamaican men's footballers

Category:21st-century Jamaican sportsmen

Category:Men's association football wingers

Category:K.R.C. Genk players

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