Baylee Dipepa

Baylee Dipepa
Dipepa with Port Vale in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (2007-01-12) 12 January 2007 (age 17)[1]
Place of birth Blythe Bridge, England[2]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Southampton
Youth career
2015–2023 Port Vale
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2024 Port Vale 25 (3)
2024– Southampton 0 (0)
International career‡
2024– England U17 7 (4)
2024– England U18 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:54, 24 August 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:07, 12 October 2024 (UTC)

Baylee Dipepa (born 12 January 2007) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Southampton.

Dipepa began his career at Port Vale, playing 31 matches by age 17 and winning caps for England U17. He was sold to Southampton for an undisclosed fee in August 2024.

Club career

Port Vale

Dipepa first joined Port Vale at under-9 level.[2] He made his first-team debut after coming on as a substitute in a 1–0 win over Crewe Alexandra in an EFL Trophy group stage game at Vale Park on 5 September 2023.[3] On 9 December, at the age of 16 years and 331 days old he became the seventh-youngest player in the club's history to play a Football League game when he came on as a substitute for Ethan Chislett in a 1–0 win at Exeter City.[4] He signed his first professional contract in January 2024, when manager Andy Crosby and director of football, David Flitcroft went on record to praise his good attitude and future potential.[5] He won his first league start under new manager Darren Moore on 27 February, when he picked up an assist in a 2–2 draw with Fleetwood Town.[6] He scored his first career goal in a 2–1 home defeat to Shrewsbury Town on 10 March to become the second-youngest goalscorer in the club's history after 16-year-old teammate Jack Shorrock.[7] He scored his second goal in a 2–0 win over Bristol Rovers on 29 March after he dribbled the ball from 35 yards (32 m) into shooting range.[8] He signed a contract extension in July 2024 to keep him at the club for three years.[9] He was also named as the club's Young Player of the Year.[10] Upon his departure, manager Darren Moore said that "although everybody at the club is sad to see Baylee leave, the offer was fantastic for the club".[11]

Southampton

On 30 August 2024, Dipepa joined Premier League side Southampton on an undisclosed fee and was assigned to the under-21 squad.[12]

International career

Dipepa was called up to the England under-17 team in March 2024.[13] He scored twice on his debut having come off the substitutes bench in a 5–1 win over Northern Ireland in 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification at St. George's Park.[14] On 20 May 2024, Dipepa was included in the England squad for the 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[15] He scored his only goal of the tournament in the opening group game against France.[16] He came off the bench as a substitute in the quarter-final and successfully took his penalty as England were eliminated by Italy on penalties.[17]

He was named in the England under-18 squad for the Lafarge Foot Avenir in August 2024.[18] On 4 September 2024, he made his U18 debut against Portugal.[19]

Career statistics

As of match played 24 August 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Port Vale 2023–24[20] EFL League One 22 3 0 0 0 0 4[a] 0 26 3
2024–25[21] EFL League Two 3 0 0 0 1 0 1[a] 0 5 0
Total 25 3 0 0 1 0 5 0 31 3
Southampton 2024–25[21] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Career total 25 3 0 0 1 0 5 0 31 3
  1. ^ a b Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Baylee Dipepa". www.fotmob.com. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b Baggaley, Mike (8 January 2024). "Vale planning for stars of the future". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  3. ^ Carville, Matt (5 September 2023). "Match Report | Port Vale 1-0 Crewe Alexandra". Port Vale F.C. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  4. ^ Baggaley, Mike (11 December 2023). "Middlesbrough ticket update as Port Vale prepare for three home games in a week". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Baylee Dipepa Signs Pro Deal with the Valiants". Port Vale F.C. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  6. ^ Baggaley, Mike (28 February 2024). "League Two beckons for Port Vale after Fleetwood agony". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  7. ^ Baggaley, Mike (10 March 2024). "Shrewsbury loss shoves Vale closer to the drop". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  8. ^ Baggaley, Mike (30 March 2024). "Vale gather momentum with Rovers win". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Baylee Dipepa: England Under-17 international signs new Port Vale deal". BBC Sport. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  10. ^ a b "2023/24 Young Player of the Year | Baylee Dipepa | Port Vale FC". Port Vale FC. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Baylee Dipepa Completes Permanent Transfer to Southampton | Port Vale FC". Port Vale FC. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Academy seal four deadline day signings | Southampton FC | News". Southampton FC. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Interview | Baylee Dipepa discusses his call-up to the England Under 17's squad". Port Vale F.C. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  14. ^ Royle, Lewis (20 March 2024). "Report: England MU17s 5-1 Northern Ireland". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  15. ^ Veevers, Nicholas (20 May 2024). "England MU17s squad named for EURO Finals". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  16. ^ Nottingham, Juliet (21 May 2024). "Report: England MU17 4-0 France". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  17. ^ Nottingham, Juliet (30 May 2024). "Report: England MU17s 1-1 Italy (4-5 on pens)". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Port Vale striker named in England U18 squad". onevalefan.co.uk. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  19. ^ Veevers, Nicholas (4 September 2024). "Report: England MU18s 2-2 Portugal". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Games played by Baylee Dipepa in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  21. ^ a b "Games played by Baylee Dipepa in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.