Jamal Baptiste

Jamal Marcus Baptiste (born 11 November 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender most recently for Manchester City.

Club career
Baptiste joined West Ham United at the age of eight. In the 2018–19 season, Baptiste broke into West Ham's under-18 squad, whilst still a schoolboy. Baptiste later debuted for the under-23's at the age of 15, becoming the second youngest ever player to represent West Ham's under-23 side. Upon his 17th birthday, on 11 November 2020, Baptiste signed his first professional contract with West Ham. On 23 January 2021, Baptiste made his debut, as a substitute, for West Ham in a 4–0 FA Cup win against Doncaster Rovers. On 9 December 2021, he played a full-match for West Ham in a 1–0 home defeat against Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League.

In May 2023, Baptiste said he would be leaving West Ham at the end of the 2022–23 season as he felt he had played sufficient academy level football and was ready to play in a first-team environment. He also revealed a diagnosis of Guillain–Barré syndrome which had kept him out of the game for five months, and the help he had received with treatment from the personal doctor of West Ham chairman, David Sullivan.

On 2 September 2023, Baptise made a move to English club Manchester City as a free agent, and on the same day, he was loaned out to Belgian side Lommel. The loan was for half a season, until the end of 2023.

Without playing for the club, he was released by Manchester City at the end of the 2023–24 season.

On 16 July 2024, Baptise appeared on trial for Portsmouth FC in a friendly at Gosport Borough.

International career
In October 2019, after previously representing England's under-16 side, Baptiste was called up for England's under-17's for the first time.

On 2 September 2021, Baptiste made his debut for England U19, starting a 2–0 victory over Italy U19's at St George's Park.

Style of play
Terry Westley, academy manager at West Ham during Baptiste's formative years, has praised Baptiste's height, power and pace. West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna has lauded Baptiste's composure, with former West Ham striker Carlton Cole comparing Baptiste to former West Ham academy graduate Rio Ferdinand after coaching Baptiste in the club's academy. Baptiste himself has said he models his game on Virgil van Dijk and former West Ham and England defender Matthew Upson.