James Hill (footballer, born 2002) explained

James Hill
Full Name:James Clayton Hill[1]
Birth Date:10 January 2002
Birth Place:Bristol, England
Height:1.84 m[2]
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Bournemouth
Clubnumber:23
Youthyears1:–2018
Youthclubs1:Fleetwood Town
Years1:2018–2022
Clubs1:Fleetwood Town
Caps1:43
Goals1:1
Years2:2022–
Clubs2:Bournemouth
Caps2:6
Goals2:0
Years3:2023
Clubs3:Heart of Midlothian (loan)
Caps3:14
Goals3:0
Years4:2023–2024
Clubs4:Blackburn Rovers (loan)
Caps4:18
Goals4:1
Nationalyears1:2021–2022
Nationalteam1:England U20
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2022–
Nationalteam2:England U21
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:15:00, 28 April 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:13:59, 12 June 2022 (UTC)

James Clayton Hill (born 10 January 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for club Bournemouth.

Early and personal life

His father is Matt Hill, also a footballer.

Club career

Fleetwood Town

Hill made his senior debut for Fleetwood Town in the EFL Cup, against Leicester City on 28 August 2018. Aged just 16 on his debut, Hill became the club's youngest ever first-team player.[3] He turned professional in February 2019.[4] [5] He made his "impressive" league debut on 19 April 2019, against Peterborough United, with his long throw leading to Hunter's 95th minute equaliser for Fleetwood Town.[6] Just three days later, on 22 April 2019, Hill made his first league start against his father's former club, Blackpool, which concluded in a 2–1 defeat for the side.

At the end of the 2020–21 season, Hill was offered a new contract at Fleetwood Town.[7]

AFC Bournemouth

On 5 January 2022, Hill joined Championship club AFC Bournemouth for an undisclosed fee said to be a club record for Fleetwood and reported to be £1 million, signing a four-and-a-half-year contract.[8] [9]

He moved on loan to Heart of Midlothian in January 2023,[10] [11] [12] and on loan to Blackburn Rovers in September 2023.[13] He scored his first goal for Blackburn on 29 November 2023 in a 4–2 win against Birmingham City.[14] He was recalled in January 2024.[15]

International career

On 6 September 2021, Hill made his debut for the England U20s during a 6–1 victory over Romania U20s at St. George's Park.[16]

On 10 June 2022, Hill made his England U21 debut during a 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification 5–0 victory away to Kosovo.[17]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Fleetwood Town2018–19League One2000100030
2019–20League One0000000000
2020–21League One280003040350
2021–22League One131001010151
Total431005050531
AFC Bournemouth2021–22Championship10100020
2022–23Premier League00002020
2023–24Premier League50100060
Total60202000100
Heart of Midlothian (loan)2022–23Scottish Premiership140300000170
Blackburn Rovers (loan)2023–24Championship1810020201
Career total8125090501002

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2019 . English Football League . 1 August 2019.
  2. Web site: J. Hill: Summary . 25 June 2022 . Soccerway . Perform Group.
  3. Web site: James Hill makes Fleetwood history as Joey Barton explains 11 team changes at Leicester . 29 August 2018 . 26 October 2018 . Rosie Swarbrick . Blackpool Gazette.
  4. Web site: Fleetwood Town youngster James Hill is following in the footsteps of his father and former Preston North End, Blackpool and Sheffield United player Matt by signing first pro contract . 15 February 2019 . 16 April 2019 . Rosie Swarbrick . Blackpool Gazette.
  5. Web site: James Hill signs first professional contract . 15 February 2019 . 16 April 2019 . Fleetwood Town F.C..
  6. Web site: James Hill could make his first league start as Fleetwood Town head to Blackpool on Easter Monday . 21 April 2019 . 23 April 2019 . Rosie Swarbrick . Blackpool Gazette.
  7. Web site: Retained list announced . www.fleetwoodtownfc.com . 13 May 2021 . 22 June 2021.
  8. Web site: Hill makes club record move to Bournemouth . www.fleetwoodtownfc.com . 5 January 2022.
  9. News: Bournemouth sign Fleetwood's Hill . BBC Sport . 5 January 2022 . 6 January 2022.
  10. News: James' Jambo Delight . www.heartsfc.co.uk . 9 January 2023 . 9 January 2023.
  11. News: Bournemouth's James Hill joins Hearts on loan . BBC Sport . 9 January 2023 . 11 January 2023.
  12. News: James Hill seals Hearts transfer on loan from Bournemouth . Ross . Pilcher . Daily Record . 9 January 2023 . 9 January 2023.
  13. News: Blackburn sign Bournemouth defender Hill on loan . BBC Sport.
  14. News: Blackburn 4–2 Birmingham . . 29 November 2023 . 1 December 2023.
  15. Web site: Bournemouth recall James Hill from Blackburn loan . 10 January 2024 . BBC Sport.
  16. News: Six at SGP for MU20s . Nicholas . Veevers . England Football . 6 September 2021 . 6 September 2021.
  17. News: Match report: Kosovo 0–5 England MU21s . Paul . Eddison . England Football . 10 June 2022 . 12 June 2022.