17 Facts About Leon Bailey

Leon Patrick Bailey was born on 9 August 1997 and is a Jamaican professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Premier League club Aston Villa and the Jamaica national team.

Leon Bailey started his career playing for the Phoenix All-Star Academy operated by his adoptive father, Craig Butler.

Leon 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.

Leon Bailey almost joined Standard Liege, but the transfer was not approved because Butler had no work permit.

Aged 13, Leon Bailey signed for Austrian non-league side Anif Jugend, before moving to Liefering.

In October 2013, Leon Bailey reached a verbal agreement with Ajax, but a transfer did not materialize due to FIFA rules.

Leon Bailey made ten appearances for Leverkusen in his first half season at the club.

Leon Bailey finished the season scoring 12 goals in 34 games in all competitions, helping guide Bayer Leverkusen to a fifth-place finish in the Bundesliga.

On 4 August 2021,23-year-old Leon Bailey signed for Premier League club Aston Villa.

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.

Leon 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.

In March 2017 it was reported that Leon Bailey would refuse Jamaica call ups until the standards of Jamaican football improved.

In September 2017, Leon 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".

In May 2019, Leon Bailey was named to the Jamaican provisional squad for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, with Leon Bailey officially announcing that he would accept the call-up and represent the Reggae Boyz.

Leon Bailey was thought to have been eligible to represent England as he has two grandparents who have British citizenship.

On March 20,2024, Leon Bailey announced via a podcast on YouTube that he will be taking a break from the Jamaican National Team.

On June 12,2024, Leon Bailey was listed in Jamaica's Copa America 2024 squad.