Forest Green Rovers director of football Mark Bowen says the club is ‘incredibly thankful to Liverpool for allowing us to aid James Balagizi’s development,’ after the highly-rated midfielder joined the National League leaders on a season-long loan.
Balagizi, who has Zimbabwean and DR Congolese roots, has represented England at youth level but remains eligible to play for either of his African nations of heritage.
Bowen said, “James is a top talent and we’re delighted to be able to attract a player of his ability to the football club in amongst fighting off interest from clubs higher up the pyramid. We’re incredibly thankful to Liverpool for trusting us with this stage of his development.”
The 21-year-old has been on Liverpool’s books since the age of 11 and was a standout in their academy, helping the U18s reach the FA Youth Cup final in 2020/21.
His technical ability, versatility, and athleticism have made him a player tipped for a bright future.
The youngster now links up with a Forest Green side managed by Robbie Savage, who are unbeaten at the top of the National League table with 13 points from their first five games.
The club are among the early favourites for promotion, and Balagizi is seen as a valuable addition to strengthen their midfield options as they aim to return to the Football League.
The move marks the latest stage in Balagizi’s development following previous loan spells at Crawley Town, Wigan Athletic and Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock.
