Samuel Iling-Junior Explained

Samuel Iling-Junior
Full Name:Samuel Iling-Junior
Birth Date:4 October 2003
Birth Place:Islington, England
Height:1.82m[1]
Position:Winger, wing-back
Currentclub:Bologna
(on loan from Aston Villa)
Clubnumber:14
Youthyears1:2011–2020
Youthclubs1:Chelsea
Youthyears2:2020–2021
Youthclubs2:Juventus
Years1:2021–2023
Clubs1:Juventus Next Gen
Caps1:9
Goals1:3
Years2:2022–2024
Clubs2:Juventus
Caps2:36
Goals2:2
Years3:2024–
Clubs3:Aston Villa
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2024–
Clubs4:→ Bologna (loan)
Caps4:3
Goals4:1
Nationalyears1:2018
Nationalteam1:England U15
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2018–2019
Nationalteam2:England U16
Nationalcaps2:8
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2019
Nationalteam3:England U17
Nationalcaps3:5
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2021–2022
Nationalteam4:England U19
Nationalcaps4:7
Nationalgoals4:1
Nationalyears5:2022–2023
Nationalteam5:England U20
Nationalcaps5:6
Nationalgoals5:2
Nationalyears6:2023–
Nationalteam6:England U21
Nationalcaps6:10
Nationalgoals6:2
Club-Update:17:07, 6 October 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:12:42, 17 November 2024 (UTC)

Samuel Iling-Junior (born 4 October 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger or wing-back for Serie A club Bologna, on loan from club Aston Villa.

A youth product of Chelsea and Juventus, Iling-Junior made his debut for reserve team Juventus U23 in the 2021–22 season, while also reaching the UEFA Youth League semi-finals with the U19 squad. In the following campaign, Iling-Junior started with Juventus Next Gen, scoring four goals in seven matches, and then was promoted to the first team in December 2022, after making his debut both in Serie A and Champions League.

Iling-Junior has represented England at various youth international levels, having won a UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2022.

Club career

Early career

Born in Islington,[2] London, Iling-Junior joined Chelsea academy in 2011 at the age of eight,[3] [4] and spent nine years with the club.[5] He was promoted to the under-19s aged 16.[6] In 2020, he decided to leave Chelsea, rejecting an athletic scholarship deal,[7] attracting the interest from clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus; he signed a three-year contract with the latter in September of that year.

Juventus

2020–2022

On 7 October 2020, Iling-Junior was included in The Guardian's list of the 60 best young talents in the world born in 2003.[8] On 2 April 2021, he was first called up by Juventus U23 alongside his U19 teammate Gabriele Mulazzi for a Serie C match against Alessandria.[9] He finished the 2020–21 season with four goals and seven assists in 28 matches for the under-19 team.

On 22 August, he made his debut for Juventus U23 in a 3–2 win against Pro Sesto in the Coppa Italia Serie C. His Serie C debut came on 3 October, replacing Nikola Sekulov in the second half against Mantova.[10] Iling-Junior was first called up to the first team on 21 May 2022, for a match against Fiorentina.[11]

In the 2021–22 season, he improved his stats, having played 36 matches and scored 13 goals. Iling-Junior also helped the U19s reach the UEFA Youth League semifinals, their best-ever placing in the competition.[12]

2022–2024

Iling-Junior scored his first professional goal on 3 September 2022, in the 13th minute in Trento–Juventus Next Gen, their first season match.[13] He made his Serie A debut for the first team in a match against Empoli, on 21 October, coming on as a substitute for Filip Kostić in the 84th minute.

On 25 October, Iling-Junior made his Champions League debut against Benfica, replacing Kostić in the 70th minute with Juventus trailing 4–1.[14] He assisted Arkadiusz Milik's 4–2 goal after six minutes, and provided a key pass for Weston McKennie's goal two minutes later. Four days later, in an away match against Lecce, Iling-Junior assisted Nicolò Fagioli's winner after only 41 seconds from entering the pitch;[15] however, he suffered a right-ankle sprain after being fouled by Federico Di Francesco, ruling him out for 20 days.[16]

On 19 December, Juventus announced that Iling-Junior renewed his contract until 2025, being subsequently promoted to the first team.[17] He was promoted after scoring four goals in nine matches for Next Gen (two of which were during the previous season). He made his first-minute debut with the first team on the 19th of the following month, in Juventus–Monza, in the Coppa Italia.[18]

On 2 March 2023, Iling-Junior started the first leg of the final of the Coppa Italia Serie C with Juventus Next Gen and scored a 47th-minute equaliser against Vicenza, against whom they lost 2–1.[19] [20] On 11 April, he also played the second leg, in which he kicked a penalty he had won over the post at the 90th minute; they lost 3–2 (5–3 on aggregate).[21] [22] On 7 May, he made his first start in Serie A and scored his first goal with Juventus' first team, netting the opener in a 2–0 away win over Atalanta.[23] [24]

On 7 January 2024, Iling-Junior scored his first and only goal of the 2023–24 season in a 2–1 away league win over Salernitana.[25]

Aston Villa

On 1 July 2024, Iling-Junior signed for Premier League club Aston Villa on a permanent deal, as part of a double-transfer from Juventus, alongside Enzo Barrenechea.[26] [27] [28] The deal commanded a €14 million fee, plus €3 million in add-ons, and was related to the transfer of Douglas Luiz to Juventus, despite being a separate transaction.[29]

Loan to Bologna

On 27 August 2024, Illing-Junior joined Serie A club Bologna on a season-long loan.[30] [31]

International career

Born in England, Iling-Junior is of DR Congolese descent.[32] He was a member of the England U17s' 2019 Syrenka Cup-winning squad.[33]

On 6 October 2021, he made his debut for the England U19s as a substitute during a 3–1 defeat to France in Marbella, Spain.[34] On 17 June 2022, Iling-Junior was included in the England U19 squad for the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship,[35] which England won with a 3–1 extra-time victory over Israel on 1 July.[36] [37] [38]

On 21 September 2022, he made his England U20 debut in a 3–0 win over Chile at the Pinatar Arena in Spain.[39] On 24 March 2023, he scored a brace in England U20's 2–0 win over Germany U20.[40]

On 11 September 2023, Iling-Junior made his England U21 debut in a 3–0 win away to Luxembourg in a 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying match.[41]

Style of play

Iling-Junior mainly plays a winger, either on the left or right. His versatility allowed him to be deployed various areas of the pitch by Juventus U19 coach Andrea Bonatti, namely as a left-back, left or right forward, attacking midfielder or central midfielder. His main qualities are his goalscoring, dribbling and running abilities.[42]

Personal life

Iling-Junior moved to Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic, which he found challenging. He has since become nearly fluent in Italian.

Career statistics

Club

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Juventus U232021–22Serie C10———1[43] 020
Juventus Next Gen2022–23Serie C83———32115
Total9300000032135
Juventus2022–23Serie A12110—50—181
2023–24Serie A24130———271
Total36240005000452
Aston Villa2024–25Premier League00000000—00
Bologna (loan)2024–25Serie A3100—40—71
Career total48640009042658

Honours

Juventus Next Gen

Juventus

England U19

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Samuel Iling-Junior: Overview . Premier League . 10 February 2023 . 10 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230210023157/https://www.premierleague.com/players/64521/Samuel-Iling/overview . live.
  2. News: Kinsella . Nizaar . 12 December 2022 . The next John Terry? Five starlets who could shine for England in 2026 . 22 December 2022 . Evening Standard . en . 21 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221221231347/http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/england-world-cup-2026-elliott-ramsey-chukwuemeka-colwill-iling-junior-b1046664.html . live.
  3. News: Brewin . John . 27 June 2022 . England youngsters reaping rewards of pathway at Under-19 Euros . The Guardian . 8 February 2023 . 13 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230113152015/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/jun/27/england-have-great-incentive-to-excel-at-under-19-euros-says-foster . live.
  4. News: Kinsella . Nizaar . 1 November 2022 . Chelsea tinged with regret as Samuel Iling-Junior rises to Juventus challenge . Evening Standard . 9 February 2023 . 9 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230209133349/https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-fc-samuel-iling-junior-juventus-b1036817.html . live.
  5. News: Albanese . Giovanni . Chi è Iling-Junior, l'esterno che la Juve ha pescato giovanissimo dal Chelsea . Who is Iling-Junior, the winger that Juve brought in from Chelsea at a very young age . 22 October 2022 . . it-IT . 22 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221022155903/https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Juventus/23-11-2021/chi-iling-junior-esterno-che-juve-pescato-giovanissimo-chelsea-430106707433.shtml . live.
  6. Web site: Agresti . Romeo . 26 October 2022 . Samuel Iling-Junior: l'ex Chelsea che ha esordito in Serie A con la Juventus . 26 October 2022 . . it . 1 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221101085647/https://www.goal.com/it/notizie/samuel-iling-junior-chelsea-juventus/1uwqwdfbuuln1sxl4vpd4p86e . live.
  7. Web site: 11 February 2022 . U19 Alla scoperta di Iling: "Essere alla Juve è un sogno" . 11 January 2022 . . it . 11 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220211173035/https://www.juventus.com/it/juventus-tv/u19-alla-scoperta-di-iling-essere-alla-juve-e-un-sogno . live.
  8. News: Christenson . Marcus . Powell . Jim . Blight . Garry . Next Generation 2020: 60 of the best young talents in world football . en-GB . The Guardian . 22 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220426215616/http://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2020/oct/08/next-generation-2020-60-of-the-best-young-talents-in-world-football . 26 April 2022 . 0261-3077.
  9. Web site: Baridon . Marco . 3 April 2021 . Juve Primavera, Zauli pesca per la sua Under 23: in due alla prima chiamata . 13 May 2022 . Juventus News 24 . it-IT . 3 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221103170015/https://www.juventusnews24.com/juve-primavera-mulazzi-iling-convocati-alessandria-juventus-u23-barrenechea-riccio/ . live.
  10. Web site: JuventusNews24 . Redazione . 3 October 2021 . Esordio Iling-Junior con la Juventus U23: prima presenza in Serie C . 11 May 2022 . Juventus News 24 . it-IT . 1 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221101124010/https://www.juventusnews24.com/esordio-iling-junior-juventus-u23-prima-presenza-serie-c/ . live.
  11. Web site: JuventusNews24 . Redazione . 21 May 2022 . Convocati Juve per la Fiorentina, UFFICIALE: riecco McKennie. Sei assenti . 21 May 2022 . Juventus News 24 . it-IT . 1 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221101124010/https://www.juventusnews24.com/convocati-juve-fiorentina-scelte-allegri-rientro-mckennie-sei-assenze-ultime-notizie/ . live.
  12. Web site: Il Benfica in finale grazie ai calci di rigore. Non basta la gran rimonta della Juve . 28 May 2022 . La Gazzetta dello Sport . it-IT . 9 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220609135606/https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Juventus/22-04-2022/juve-benfica-youth-league-diretta-risultato-live-440157423137.shtml . live.
  13. Web site: 3 September 2022 . Juventus Next Gen, Iling Junior segna il primo gol della stagione . 9 October 2022 . La Casa di C . it . 9 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221009150741/https://www.lacasadic.com/news-serie-c/iling-junior-primo-gol-juventus-next-gen-trento-3-settembre-2022/ . live.
  14. Web site: 25 October 2022 . Juventus Next Gen, esordio da sogno in Champions League per Iling Junior contro il Benfica . 26 October 2022 . La Casa di C . it . 26 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221026130334/https://www.lacasadic.com/news-serie-c/iling-junior-esordio-champions-league-juventus-25-ottobre-2022/ . live.
  15. Web site: Iling-Junior fa assist, Fagioli segna: i giovani alleviano la crisi della Juventus Goal.com . 31 October 2022 . www.goal.com . 31 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221031102436/https://www.goal.com/it/notizie/iling-junior-assist-fagioli-giovani-crisi-juventus/blt6657f9012a519db0 . live.
  16. Web site: Iling ko, la Juventus perde anche lui dopo il fallaccio di Di Francesco: il comunicato . 31 October 2022 . tuttosport.com . it . 31 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221031102437/https://www.tuttosport.com/news/calcio/serie-a/juventus/2022/10/30-99176645/iling_ko_la_juventus_perde_anche_lui_dopo_il_fallaccio_di_di_francesco_il_comunicato . live.
  17. Web site: 19 December 2022 . Samuel Iling-Junior renews until 2025! – Juventus . 19 December 2022 . . en . 19 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221219160158/https://www.juventus.com/en/news/articles/samuel-iling-junior-renews-until-2025 . live.
  18. Web site: JuventusNews24 . Redazione . 2023-01-19 . Iling-Junior, prima da titolare! Esordio dal primo minuto in Juve Monza . 2023-05-07 . Juventus News 24 . it-IT.
  19. Web site: Baridon . Marco . 2 March 2023 . Juventus Next Gen Vicenza 1-2: ai veneti il primo atto, Iling non basta . 3 March 2023 . Juventus News 24 . it-IT . 2 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230302235607/https://www.juventusnews24.com/juventus-next-gen-vicenza-live-sintesi-moviola-tabellino-risultato-cronaca-finale-andata-coppa-italia-serie-c-2022-23-highlights/ . live.
  20. Web site: JuventusNews24 . Redazione . 2 March 2023 . Soulé e Iling-Junior guidano la Juventus Next Gen: titolari nella finale col Vicenza . 3 March 2023 . Juventus News 24 . it-IT . 13 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230313222958/https://www.juventusnews24.com/marchionni-juventus-next-gen-novara-parole-dichiarazioni-conferenza-stampa/ . live.
  21. Web site: Baridon . Marco . 2023-04-11 . Vicenza Juventus Next Gen 3-2: bianconeri sconfitti in finale, vincono i veneti! . 2023-04-11 . Juventus News 24 . it-IT.
  22. Web site: JuventusNews24 . Redazione . 2023-04-11 . Iling-Junior si procura e sbaglia il rigore: il Vicenza conduce 3-2 – VIDEO . 2023-04-11 . Juventus News 24 . it-IT.
  23. Web site: 7 May 2023 . Juve power to win at Atalanta . 2023-05-07 . . en.
  24. Web site: Gamba . Emanuele . 7 May 2023 . Atalanta-Juventus 0-2: gol di Iling-Junior e Vlahovic, bianconeri secondi . 10 May 2023 . . it-IT.
  25. Web site: Guidi . Marco . 8 January 2024 . Juve ecco il Vlahovic che serve: gol decisivo al 91', Salernitana rimontata e Inter sempre a +2 . 12 June 2024 . . it-IT.
  26. Web site: 1 July 2024 . ACCORDO CON L'ASTON VILLA PER LA CESSIONE DEFINITIVA DEI CALCIATORI ILING-JUNIOR E BARRENECHEA . 1 July 2024 . Juventus.com . it-IT.
  27. Web site: 1 July 2024 . Aston Villa confirm double signing . 1 July 2024 . Aston Villa Football Club.
  28. Web site: 1 July 2024 . Aston Villa sign Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea from Juventus . 1 July 2024 . BBC Sport.
  29. News: Tanswell . Jacob . 1 July 2024 . Iling-Junior and Barrenechea offer Villa more than just help with PSR . 1 July 2024 . The Athletic . The New York Times . 0362-4331.
  30. Web site: 27 August 2024 . Samuel Iling Jr completes loan switch . 27 August 2024 . Aston Villa Football Club.
  31. Web site: 27 August 2024 . Samuel Iling-Junior al Bologna . 27 August 2024 . Bologna FC 1909 . it-IT.
  32. Web site: Samuel Iling-Junior exclusive: from Highbury to Juventus' first team — via Chelsea. James. Horncastle. The Athletic.
  33. Web site: 10 September 2019 . YOUNG LIONS LIFT THE SYRENKA CUP WITH A PENALTY SHOOTOUT WIN OVER HOSTS POLAND . 7 October 2021 . England Football . en . 20 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220320191659/https://www.thefa.com/news/2019/sep/10/england-u17s-poland-report-100919 . live.
  34. Web site: 6 October 2021 . Young Lions suffer defeat in their first of three internationals in Spain . 7 October 2021 . England Football . en . 6 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211006210532/https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2021/Oct/06/england-mu19s-france-match-report-20210610 . live.
  35. Web site: Ian Foster has picked his 21-strong squad for this month's UEFA U19 EURO Finals in Slovakia . Frank . Smith . 17 June 2022 . 18 June 2022 . EnglandFootball.com . 17 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220617092912/https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2022/Jun/17/england-mu19s-squad-named-for-UEFA-U19-EURO-in-Slovakia-20221706 . live.
  36. News: Israel 1–3 England (aet): Chukwuemeka and Ramsey the extra-time heroes as Young Lions fight back . UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations . Sam . Honeyman . 1 July 2022 . 19 November 2022 . 19 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221119192148/https://www.uefa.com/under19/news/0277-1585addeb047-8422a993d714-1000--israel-1-3-england-aet-chukwuemeka-and-ramsey-the-extra-time-he/ . live.
  37. Web site: England win U19 EURO title after 3–1 win against Israel . Nicholas . Veevers . 1 July 2022 . 4 July 2022 . EnglandFootball.com . 1 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220701213355/https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2022/Jul/01/england-mu19s-v-israel-uefa-u19-euro-final-match-report-20220107 . live.
  38. Web site: Europei U19, trionfa l'Inghilterra: Israele si arrende nei supplementari . 22 October 2022 . tuttosport.com . it . 22 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221022142353/https://www.tuttosport.com/news/calcio/2022/07/01-94332784/europei_u19_trionfa_l_inghilterra_israele_si_arrende_nei_supplementari . live.
  39. Web site: Report: England MU20s 3–0 Chile . Liam . Crane . 21 September 2022 . 25 September 2022 . EnglandFootball.com . 25 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220925094523/https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2022/Sep/21/england-mu20s-chile-pinatar-match-report-20222109 . live.
  40. Web site: Juventus, Iling-Junior illumina l'Inghilterra U20: doppietta alla Germania . 2023-03-26 . tuttosport.com . it.
  41. Web site: Report: Luxembourg 0-3 England MU21s. Oli. Dickson Jefford. 11 September 2023. 11 September 2023. EnglandFootball.com.
  42. Web site: 22 October 2022 . ILING JUNIOR, L'ESORDIENTE CHE HA AFFASCINATO ALLEGRI . 22 October 2022 . Alfredo Pedullà . it-IT . 22 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221022155726/https://www.alfredopedulla.com/iling-junior-lesordiente-che-ha-affascinato-allegri/ . live.
  43. For Coppa Italia Serie C stats not covered by Soccerway, see Web site: Profile Player Samuel Iling-Junior . 19 December 2022 . myjuve.it . 19 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221219202522/https://www.myjuve.it/nextgen-players-juventus/samuel-iling_junior-1891.aspx . live.
  44. Web site: Baridon . Marco . 2023-04-11 . Vicenza Juventus Next Gen 3-2: bianconeri sconfitti in finale, vincono i veneti! . 2023-04-16 . Juventus News 24 . it-IT.
  45. Web site: 2024-05-16 . LA JUVENTUS VINCE LA COPPA ITALIA FRECCIAROSSA . JUVENTUS WINS THE FRECCIAROSSA ITALIAN CUP . 2024-05-16 . . it .
  46. Web site: JuventusNews24 . Redazione . 2 July 2022 . Iling campione d'Europa! Il bianconero trionfa con la sua Inghilterra . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220702115056/https://www.juventusnews24.com/iling-campione-europa-juve-primavera-inghilterra-europei-u19/ . 2 July 2022 . 2 July 2022 . Juventus News 24 . it-IT.

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