Leo Castledine
 Castledine with Chelsea in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leo Alexander Francis Castledine[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 20 August 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Kingston upon Thames, England[2] | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Shrewsbury Town (on loan from Chelsea) | ||
| Number | 19 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2011–2013 | Chelsea | ||
| 2013–2020 | AFC Wimbledon | ||
| 2020–2024 | Chelsea | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024– | Chelsea | 0 | (0) |
| 2024– | → Shrewsbury Town (loan) | 11 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019 | England U15 | 6 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | England U17 | 10 | (2) |
| 2022– | England U18 | 6 | (1) |
| 2023– | England U19 | 5 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:02, 28 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:53, 24 March 2024 (UTC) | |||
Leo Alexander Francis Castledine (born 20 August 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League One club Shrewsbury Town, on loan from Premier League club Chelsea.
Club career
[edit]Born in Kingston upon Thames, where he lived only 15 minutes away from the Cobham Training Centre, Castledine started his career with Chelsea, who he had supported growing up.[3] He spent two years with Chelsea before moving to AFC Wimbledon at the age of seven.[3] Growing up, he also played rugby, and was enrolled in the elite academy of professional club Harlequins.[3]
Initially beginning his career with Wimbledon in a more defensive role, he moved up the pitch to operate as a midfielder.[4] Settling into his new role well, he was involved in Wimbledon under-18's pre-season tour of Italy, playing alongside players four years his senior, and went on to make his under-18 debut in 2019 - becoming the youngest Wimbledon player to ever do so.[4]
A year later, in March 2020, he rejoined Chelsea, naming Mason Mount and Jack Grealish as his favourite current players.[4][5] He signed his first professional contract with The Blues in August 2022, on his seventeenth birthday, and has already been called up to train with the first team.[3][6]
Castledine made his senior debut for Chelsea as a substitute in a 6–1 EFL Cup semi-final second-leg win over Middlesbrough on 23 January 2024.[7]
On 26 August 2024, Castledine joined League One side Shrewsbury Town on a season-long loan deal.[8]
International career
[edit]Castledine has represented England at under-15, under-17 and under-18 level.[2]
On 15 November 2023, Castledine scored on his England U19 debut during a 6–0 win over Romania in Marbella.[9]
Personal life
[edit]He is the son of former Wimbledon footballer, and television presenter, Stewart Castledine, as well as former Homes Under the Hammer host Lucy Alexander.[3][10] Leo has an older sister, Kitty, an actress who currently stars in EastEnders.
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of match played 23 January 2024[11]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Chelsea U21 | 2022–23 | — | — | — | — | 5[a] | 0 | 5 | 0 | |||||
| 2023–24 | — | — | — | — | 3[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Chelsea | 2023–24 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
- ^ a b Appearances in EFL Trophy
References
[edit]- ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2022/23 retained lists". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
- ^ a b c Leo Castledine at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b c d e Johnson, Simon (24 November 2022). "Chelsea's 17-year-old midfielder who learned from his Wimbledon dad". theathletic.com. Retrieved 27 December 2022. (subscription required)
- ^ a b c "Leo departs Wimbledon after seven years to join Chelsea". afcwimbledon.co.uk. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ Shalashov, Michail (11 March 2020). "Chelsea new signing Leo Castledine quotes Mount and Villa's Grealish among favourite players". tribuna.com. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ Kingsley, Igho (21 August 2022). "Talented midfielder reacts to signing new deal with Chelsea". allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ "Match report: Chelsea 6 Middlesbrough 1 (6-2 agg)". chelseafc.com. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Loan move for Castledine". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
- ^ Smith, Frank (15 November 2023). "Report: England MU19s 6-0 Romania". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ "Chelsea sign 14-year-old Leo Castledine from AFC Wimbledon". ghanasoccernet.com. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ Leo Castledine at Soccerway
External links
[edit]
- Profile at the Chelsea F.C. website