Jaiden Bartolo Explained

Jaiden Bartolo
Fullname:Jaiden Kamil Bartolo
Birth Date:10 February 2006
Birth Place:Slough, Berkshire, England
Height:1.84m
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Wycombe Wanderers
Clubnumber:29
Youthyears1:2011–2013
Youthclubs1:Glacis United
Youthyears2:2013–2015
Youthclubs2:Lions Gibraltar
Youthyears3:2015–2016
Youthclubs3:Lincoln Red Imps
Youthyears4:2016–2017
Youthclubs4:Atlético Zabal
Youthyears5:2017–2018
Youthclubs5:Calderón
Youthyears6:2018–2019
Youthclubs6:San Roque
Youthyears7:2019
Youthclubs7:Peña Madridista Linense
Youthyears8:2019
Youthclubs8:Balón Linense
Youthyears9:2019–2020
Youthclubs9:Taraguilla
Youthyears10:2020–2023
Youthclubs10:Manchester 62
Youthyears11:2023–2024
Youthclubs11:Wealdstone
Youthyears12:2023
Youthclubs12:Amersham Town (loan)
Years1:2022–2023
Caps1:8
Goals1:5
Clubs1:Manchester 62
Years2:2023–2024
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Clubs2:Wealdstone
Years3:2024–
Caps3:2
Goals3:0
Clubs3:Wycombe Wanderers
Nationalyears1:2022
Nationalteam1:Gibraltar U16
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2021–2022
Nationalteam2:Gibraltar U17
Nationalcaps2:9
Nationalgoals2:6
Nationalyears3:2023–
Nationalteam3:Gibraltar U19
Nationalcaps3:4
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2023–
Nationalteam4:Gibraltar U21
Nationalcaps4:3
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2024–
Nationalteam5:Gibraltar
Nationalcaps5:3
Nationalgoals5:0
Pcupdate:10 August 2024
Ntupdate:6 June 2024

Jaiden Kamil Bartolo (born 10 February 2006) is a Gibraltarian footballer who plays as a forward for club Wycombe Wanderers. Born in England, he represents the Gibraltar national football team at international level.

Club career

Bartolo spent his youth playing for various youth teams in Spain, for teams around Cádiz and La Línea de la Concepción just across the border from Gibraltar, before joining Manchester 62.[1] He made his debut for their Gibraltar Intermediate League under-23 team on his 16th birthday, scoring 4 goals as a substitute in a 7–4 win against Lynx under-23.[2] 2 days later, on 12 February 2022, he scored on his first team debut for the Red Devils of Gibraltar, in a 2–0 win against College 1975.[3] He made a further 5 appearances, including a hat-trick against Lynx,[4] as his side won the GFA Challenge Trophy.

The next season was spent largely attending trials in the UK, though he returned over winter to play twice for Manchester 62. After reportedly attracting interest from Watford,[5] these trials eventually resulted in a move to Wealdstone in July 2023, to play for their academy.[6] There, his form caught the eye and saw him regularly train with the senior team from August. After scoring 16 goals in 6 games for their under-19 team and 8 goals in 4 games for their under-23 team, on 18 December 2023 it was announced that Bartolo had been offered professional terms and been promoted to the Stones first team,[7] appearing on the bench for the first time on 13 January 2024 in the FA Trophy match against Chelmsford City.[8] He left the Stones at the end of the season.[9]

On 5 June 2024, it was announced that Bartolo had signed for EFL League One side Wycombe Wanderers, with his move to the Chairboys going through on 1 July.[10] He was given the number 29 later that month, which was vacated by his compatriot Tjay De Barr the previous season.

International career

Born in England to parents of Sri Lankan and Maltese descent and raised in Gibraltar, Bartolo is eligible to represent England, Sri Lanka, Malta and Gibraltar. He made his debut for Gibraltar under-17 on 10 September 2021, scoring in a 2–1 victory over Faroe Islands. He captained them for the first time on 25 August 2022 in a friendly against Liechtenstein, scoring a hat-trick in an 8–2 victory - a record win for Gibraltar at any level since joining UEFA in 2013. His under-21 debut came on 15 June 2023, in a 3–1 defeat to Moldova after playing in an unofficial friendly against Iraq under-20 3 months prior.

He received his first call up to the senior team in March 2022's preliminary squad,[11] but was left out of the final squad. He eventually made his full international debut on 26 March 2024, in a 1–0 defeat to Lithuania.[12]

Career statistics

Club

Club statistics
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester 622021–22Gibraltar Football League650065
2022–23200020
Total850085
Wealdstone2023–24National League00000000
Wycombe Wanderers2024–25EFL League One2000001030
Career total10500000010115

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Gibraltar U16
202232
Total32
Gibraltar U17
202152
202244
Total96
Gibraltar U19
202340
Total40
Gibraltar U21
202330
Total30
Gibraltar
202430
Total30

Honours

Manchester 62

2021–22

Personal life

Bartolo was born in Slough in the United Kingdom, but moved to Gibraltar at the age of 2 when his parents relocated.[13] His younger brother, Kai, is also a footballer who plays alongside him at Wealdstone's academy as well as for Hayes and Yeading United.

Notes and References

  1. https://www.lapreferente.com/J397648C13163/manchester-62/bartolo.html Jaiden Bartolo
  2. https://www.gibraltarfa.com/competitions/intermediate-league-21-22-1505577/match-report/manchester-62-fc-intermediate-7-lynx-fc-intermediate-4-1530868 Match Report: Manchester 62 Intermediate vs Lynx Intermediate
  3. https://www.gibraltarfa.com/competitions/challenge-group-21-22-1580936/match-report/manchester-62-fc-2-college-1975-fc-0-1580955 Match Report: Manchester 62 vs College 1975
  4. https://www.chronicle.gi/sixteen-year-old-goal-hero-gives-manchester-62-lead-in-challenge-group/ Sixteen Year Old Goal Hero Gives Manchester 62 Lead in Challenge Group
  5. https://www.chronicle.gi/historic-win-for-gibraltar-u17s-with-8-2-victory-against-liechtenstein/ Historic Win for Gibraltar U17s with 8–2 Victory Against Liechtenstein
  6. https://fulltime.thefa.com/displayTeam.html?divisionseason=221063137&teamID=149683423 Wealdstone U19
  7. https://www.wealdstone-fc.com/post/academy-hotshot-bartolo-signs Academy hotshot Bartolo signs
  8. https://www.wealdstone-fc.com/post/report-chelmsford-city-0-1-wealdstone Report: Chelmsford City 0–1 Wealdstone
  9. https://www.wealdstone-fc.com/post/retained-list-2024 Retained List 2024
  10. https://www.wwfc.com/news/2024/june/05/jack-and-jaiden-to-join-in-july/ Jack and Jaiden to join in July
  11. https://www.chronicle.gi/ribas-calls-up-youngsters-like-bartolo-to-squad/ Ribas calls up youngsters like Bartolo to squad and includes Lopes
  12. https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/match/2037953--lithuania-vs-gibraltar/ Lithuania 1–0 Gibraltar
  13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTu5oi0lgKQ INTERVIEW | Hear from two of our top academy prospects Jaiden Bartolo and Blesk Ekpenyong