Dom Ballard
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dominic Ballard[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 1 April 2005 | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Reading (on loan from Southampton) | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2013–2022 | Southampton | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022– | Southampton | 2 | (0) |
| 2023– | → Reading (loan) | 10 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | England U17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2022– | England U18 | 3 | (3) |
| 2023– | England U19 | 8 | (4) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:29, 25 November 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:39, 24 November 2023 (UTC) | |||
Dominic Ballard (born 1 April 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One club Reading on loan from EFL Championship club Southampton.
Early life[edit]
Ballard spent the formative years of his childhood living in Greece, before his family moved back to England in 2010 and settled in Berkshire.[2] When he was first invited to train at Southampton, Ballard and his parents would commute to the south coast a couple of times a week.[2]
Club career[edit]
Southampton[edit]
Ballard signed his first professional contract with Southampton in April 2022.[3]
On 23 August 2022, in the Carabao Cup, he made his senior debut and scored his first goal for Southampton's first team in a 3–0 win at Cambridge United in the EFL Cup.[4] On 21 May 2023, Ballard made his Premier League debut in a 3–1 defeat to Brighton, replacing Joe Aribo in the 70th minute.[5]
On 27 June 2023, Ballard signed a two-year contract extension until 2026.[6]
Reading (loan)[edit]
On 1 September 2023, Ballard joined League One side Reading on a season-long loan.[7] He made his debut for the club on 16 September 2023 in a 2–1 victory against Bolton Wanderers.[8] On 19 September 2023, Ballard scored a brace during a 0–9 victory against Exeter City in the EFL Trophy.[9][10] He scored his first league goal for the club on 3 October 2023 in a 3–1 defeat to Northampton Town.[11] During a 1–2 victory against Wycombe Wanderers on 25 November 2023, Ballard was forced off in the first half after suffering a leg injury from a fall.[12] Three days later, Head Coach Rubén Sellés confirmed that Ballard would be out for the season after snapping his patellar tendon.[13]
International career[edit]
Having previously represented England U17s, Ballard made his U18 debut during a 1–0 win over the Netherlands in Pinatar on 21 September 2022.[14]
On 6 September 2023, Ballard made his England U19 debut during a 1–0 defeat to Germany in Oliva.[15]
Career statistics[edit]
Club[edit]
- As of 25 November 2023
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Southampton U23 | 2021–22 | — | — | — | — | 3[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||
| Southampton | 2022–23[16] | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | |
| 2023–24[17] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | |||
| Reading (loan) | 2023–24[17] | League One | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 2 | 12 | 5 |
| Career total | 12 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 6 | ||
- Notes
- ^ a b Appearances in the EFL Trophy
References[edit]
- ^ "2021/22 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ a b Tanswell, Jacob (12 October 2022). "'He is born to score goals': Ballard's form and confidence will not be lost on Hasenhuttl". The Athletic. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
- ^ "Ballard secures pro deal". southamptonfc.com. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ "Cambridge United 0-3 Southampton". BBC. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- ^ Mann, Mantej (21 May 2023). "Brighton & Hove Albion 3–1 Southampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ Ballard, Dom (27 June 2023). "Southampton's Dom Ballard caps debut season with new contract signed". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- ^ "Dom Ballard seals Reading loan". Southampton FC. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ "Reading 2–1 Bolton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ^ Preston, Andy (20 September 2023). "Exeter City 0–9 Reading: Royals thump League One high flyers in EFL Trophy with miraculous display". Reading Today. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ^ "Royals record biggest win since 1901". Reading FC. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ^ "Northampton Town 3–1 Reading". BBC Sport. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
- ^ House, Alfie (26 November 2023). "Young Southampton striker stretchered with concerning injury". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ "Reading FC boss on Carlisle win and Dom Ballard injury". readingchronicle.co.uk. Reading Chronicle. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ Veevers, Nicholas (21 September 2022). "Late winner seals victory for MU18s over Netherlands". England Football. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ "Report: England MU19s 0-1 Germany". England Football. 6 September 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Dom Ballard in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Games played by Dom Ballard in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2023.