Leo Castledine

English footballer
Leo Castledine
Castledine with Chelsea in 2022
Personal information
Full name Leo Alexander Francis Castledine[1]
Date of birth (2005-08-20) 20 August 2005 (age 18)
Place of birth Kingston upon Thames, England[2]
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Chelsea
Number 54
Youth career
2011–2013 Chelsea
2013–2020 AFC Wimbledon
2020–2024 Chelsea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Chelsea 0 (0)
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 27 December 2022
‡ 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 currently playing as a midfielder for Chelsea.

Club career

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]

International career

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.[8]

Personal life

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][9] Leo has an older sister, Kitty, an actress who currently stars in EastEnders.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 23 January 2024[10]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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
  1. ^ a b Appearances in EFL Trophy

References

  1. ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2022/23 retained lists". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  2. ^ a b c Leo Castledine at WorldFootball.net
  3. ^ 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)
  4. ^ a b c "Leo departs Wimbledon after seven years to join Chelsea". afcwimbledon.co.uk. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Kingsley, Igho (21 August 2022). "Talented midfielder reacts to signing new deal with Chelsea". allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Match report: Chelsea 6 Middlesbrough 1 (6-2 agg)". chelseafc.com. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  8. ^ Smith, Frank (15 November 2023). "Report: England MU19s 6-0 Romania". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  9. ^ "Chelsea sign 14-year-old Leo Castledine from AFC Wimbledon". ghanasoccernet.com. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  10. ^ Leo Castledine at Soccerway

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leo Castledine.
  • Profile at the Chelsea F.C. website
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Chelsea F.C. – current squad