Owen Beck (footballer)

Owen Michael Beck (born 9 August 2002) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a left-back for club Liverpool. He is a Wales under-21 international.

Youth
Beck first played for the junior teams of his hometown club, Flint Town United as a striker. At the age of 10 he was awarded with a Flintshire Footballer of the Year award by Ian Rush. He then joined the youth set-up at Tranmere Rovers before moving to Stoke City, switching to playing in the full-back position.

He then joined Liverpool's Academy from Stoke as an under-13 player. He broke into the under-18 team in the 2019–20 season and was also a part of their Under-19 UEFA Youth League squad. He moved up to the under-23 squad for the 2020–21 season becoming a playing regular.

Liverpool
In June 2020 he signed his first professional contract with the club, improved his terms in November 2020 and in July 2021 he signed a new long-term contract with the club.

He made two appearances for the first team in the 2021–22 pre-season, playing friendlies against Athletic Club and CA Osasuna. On 27 October 2021, he made his competitive debut for the first team in an EFL Cup game against Preston North End.

2022–23: Loans at Famalicão and Bolton
On 11 July 2022 Beck joined Portuguese club Famalicão on loan for the duration of the 2022–23 season. Having made no appearances he was recalled on 31 August and sent on loan to Bolton Wanderers instead. His best friend, Conor Bradley, was also on loan at Bolton. Beck made his league debut for Bolton in November 2022, coming on as a substitute in a 0–0 draw with Cambridge United. The loan was terminated by mutual agreement on 26 January 2023.

2023–24: Loans at Dundee
On 3 July 2023, Beck joined Scottish Premiership club Dundee on a season-long loan. He made his competitive debut in a 1–0 Scottish League Cup group stage win away to Bonnyrigg Rose. He impressed during the early part of the season, and picked up the club's man of the match award during a home draw with Kilmarnock. Beck scored his first Dundee goal (as well as his first professional goal) in the league against Hibernian.

After excelling and becoming a fan favourite at Dens Park, Liverpool activated their recall clause on 1 January 2024 to terminate Beck's loan deal with Dundee due to an injury crisis at the left-back position. On 21 January, Beck made his Premier League debut with Liverpool as a substitute in a victory away to Bournemouth, ruling out a potential move to a third club this season due to having played for the maximum number of two clubs in one season.

On 30 January, Beck rejoined Dundee on loan until the end of the season. He made his return that same day, starting and assisting the only Dundee goal in an away draw against Aberdeen. In mid-March, Beck would return to Liverpool to get treatment for persistent groin injuries which would keep him out of action for the remainder of the season. In April 2024, Beck was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year.

International career
Beck played for Wales as a schoolboy.

In October 2018 he featured in the Wales under-17 team in a match against Kazakhstan, playing 72 minutes of a UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification match.

In March 2021 he was called up for the Wales under-21 team for a friendly match against the Republic of Ireland but was an unused substitute on matchday.

In August he was again called up and made his debut on 7 September as a 79th minute substitute in a 4–0 victory over Bulgaria in a Euro 2023 qualifying game. He scored his first goal for the Welsh under-21 team on 12 November 2021 with the opening goal in a 7–0 victory over Gibraltar.

In October 2023, Beck was called up to the Wales senior national team for the first time. He would also get called up to the Wales U21 side the following day, with the clarification that Beck would be joining the senior squad for their match against Gibraltar, before joining the U21 side for the rest of the international window.

Personal life
Beck was born to parents Shaun Beck and Sara James. He has an older brother, Leon, and a younger brother, Theo. Beck is the great-nephew of former Liverpool striker Ian Rush, whose sister Carol is Beck's grandmother.

Honours
Liverpool Academy Dundee
 * Lancashire Senior Cup: 2021-22
 * PFA Scottish Premiership Team of the Year: 2023-24