James Balagizi has officially confirmed that his long association with Liverpool has come to an end. The midfielder's 11-year chapter at Anfield is now closed.
The 22-year-old joined the Merseyside giants at the age of 11 and progressed through their academy, but he never quite managed to secure a place in the first team. Balagizi's departure was hinted at over the summer when Liverpool included him in their list of academy graduates leaving the club upon the expiration of their contracts.
Balagizi took to social media to share a heartfelt farewell message.
From the age of 11 to 22, it has been an honour to represent this special club for much of my life. I am incredibly grateful and happy for all the experiences I have gained over the years. A huge thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey — my teammates, coaches, and staff. This is a period I will always look back on fondly, with all its highs, lows, and lessons learned. I hope to carry this experience into my future professional career. I also want to thank everyone who supported me in any capacity. YNWA.
Throughout his career, Balagizi had loan spells at Crawley Town, Wigan Athletic, Kilmarnock, and Forest Green Rovers. During his time at Crawley in the first half of the 2022/23 season, he made 16 appearances and scored three goals.
Balagizi appeared on the bench for Liverpool's first team on two occasions and also featured for the under-18s in the final of the 2021 FA Youth Cup.
