Leighton Baines

Infobox Football biography
playername = Leighton Baines


fullname = Leighton John Baines
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1984|12|11|df=y
cityofbirth = Kirkby
countryofbirth = England
height = height|ft=5|in=8
currentclub = Everton
clubnumber = 3
position = Left back
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2002–2007
2007–
clubs = Wigan Athletic
Everton
caps(goals) = 145 (4)
026 (0)
nationalyears = 2004–2007
nationalteam = England U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 016 (1)
pcupdate = 19:06, 24 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 15:54, 21 June 2007 (UTC)

Leighton John Baines (born 11 December 1984 in Liverpool, Merseyside) is an English footballer, who plays left-back for Everton in the English Premier League. He won 16 caps for the England Under-21 team.

Playing career

Wigan

Baines made his debut for Wigan Athletic in 2002, and soon became an established member of the Wigan first team, and was a regular when Wigan earned promotion to the Premiership in 2004–05, in which he scored his first goal for the club, a spectacular strike from long-range against Ipswich Town.

Baines signed a new contract with Wigan in February 2005 despite being linked to a number of Premiership clubs, including Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton, [cite web |title=Baines commits to Latics |url=http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=254724&plid=12745&clid=111&cpid=10 |publisher=skysports.com |accessdate=2006-09-23 ] and extended his contract again after impressive displays in his first season in the Premiership.

He scored a vital goal for England against Germany on 6 October, 2006, securing a 1–0 win in the first leg of a UEFA European U21 Championship play-off. He played all four of England's matches in the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship finals.

Everton

Transfer rumours surrounded Baines throughout the summer before the 2007–08 Premiership season, as he was linked with Everton, Newcastle and Sunderland. On 25 July, 2007, Baines rejected a move to Sunderland, after their bid of a reported £6 million was accepted by Wigan, with it being suggested that the player favoured a move back to his home city of Liverpool. [cite web |title=Baines rejects Sunderland switch |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/6288856.stm |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2007-07-25 ] On 6 August 2007, it was confirmed by Wigan and the player himself that Everton had completed the signing of Baines, for an initial £5 million, with another £1m in add-ons, depending on Baines' appearances for Everton. [cite web |title=Baines joins Everton |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_2643417,00.html |publisher=Sky Sports | accessdate=2007-08-06 ] [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6934188.stm |title=Everton capture Baines from Wigan |date=2007-08-07 |accessdate=2007-08-07 |publisher=BBC Sport ] However, he has rarely featured in his first season (13 starts, 9 as sub) due to an injury and the good form of Phil Jagielka and Joseph Yobo at centre back which has kept Joleon Lescott at left back.

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=30558|name=Leighton Baines