Balagizi on Brink of Departure from Liverpool
James Balagizi is edging closer to a departure from Liverpool, with the 21-year-old midfielder currently on trial at Swedish side Osters IF. While not formally listed among the club’s 15 academy players out of contract this summer, the expectation is that he will leave before the 2025/26 campaign begins.
Balagizi’s time at Liverpool has been curtailed by persistent injuries and limited opportunities, culminating in just six appearances for the U21 side in the 2024/25 season. Despite being a highly rated talent during his youth, his development has stagnated in recent years, prompting a search for consistent senior football elsewhere.
Trial in Sweden Suggests Fresh Start
His representatives are actively exploring exit routes, and a move abroad has surfaced as a likely option. According to Swedish radio station P4 Kronoberg, Balagizi is currently with Osters IF as part of their pre-season training schedule. He is expected to feature in a friendly against Goteborg on Thursday, a fixture that could prove decisive in shaping his immediate future.
Liverpool are understood to be open to facilitating Balagizi’s exit. While reports suggesting he could walk away as a free agent are premature, the club are unlikely to demand a significant fee. A nominal transfer could be agreed, with all parties focused on securing the best environment for the player’s long-term growth.
Career Stalled by Untimely Injuries
Once tipped for first-team involvement, Balagizi’s career trajectory took a hit following an untimely arm injury in 2021. That setback ruled him out of Jurgen Klopp’s pre-season plans, where he had been earmarked for an opportunity to impress. Though he featured on the bench in cup games against Norwich and Shrewsbury during the 2021/22 season, those appearances were fleeting—and are now four years in the past.
His struggle to gain traction in the senior setup has forced a reassessment of his career direction. At 21, Balagizi finds himself at a crossroads, with a switch to Sweden potentially offering a valuable reset.
Communication Key with English Coach at Osters
Osters IF might seem an unconventional step, but it could offer Balagizi a more sustainable path to regular first-team football. Importantly, the club’s head coach, Martin Foyston, is an Englishman and former Fulham video analyst. Having built his coaching credentials in Scandinavian football, Foyston’s presence may ease Balagizi’s transition to a new footballing culture.
“Foyston has been schooled in Scandinavian football in recent years but is a native Englishman, born in Hull, and began his career as a video analyst with Fulham.”
More Academy Departures Expected
Balagizi is not the only Liverpool youngster contemplating a summer move. Beyond the seven players already confirmed to be released, others including Oakley Cannonier and Isaac Mabaya are also set to seek fresh opportunities. The churn reflects a broader strategy to trim the academy roster while allowing fringe players the chance to establish themselves elsewhere.
Liverpool’s decision to allow Balagizi to explore options now appears to be in the best interests of both club and player. Though his Anfield chapter may close without a first-team appearance, the midfielder retains the talent to resurrect his promise—possibly starting in Sweden.
