Eli King (footballer)

Welsh footballer

Eli KingPersonal information

Full name|  Eli Josef King[1]
Date of birth|  (2002-12-23) 23 December 2002 (age 21)
Place of birth|  Wales
Position(s)|  Midfielder
Team information

Current team

|  Stevenage
(on loan from Cardiff City)
Number|  26
Youth career
0000–2021|  Cardiff City
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
2021–|  Cardiff City|  5|  (0)
2022–2023|  → Crewe Alexandra (loan)|  15|  (0)
2023–2024|  → Morecambe (loan)|  20|  (1)
2024|  → Ross County (loan)|  15|  (0)
2024–|  → Stevenage (loan)|  10|  (0)
International career‡
2018|  Wales U17|  3|  (0)
2021–|  Wales U21|  15|  (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:26, 12 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:11, 15 October 2024 (UTC)

Eli Josef King (born 23 December 2002) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Stevenage, on loan from EFL Championship club Cardiff City, and the Wales under-21 national team.[2]

## Club career

[edit]

He made his first-team debut on 23 October 2021 as a second-half substitute in the 2–0 Championship defeat against Middlesbrough.[3][4]

He moved on loan to Crewe Alexandra in August 2022,[5] making his Crewe debut in a goalless draw at Bradford City on 27 August 2022.[6] He returned to Cardiff in January 2023.[7]

King joined Morecambe in July 2023 on loan for the 2023–24 season.[8] He scored his first goal for Morcambe against Doncaster Rovers on 12 December 2023, in a 5-0 victory.[9] On 8 January 2024, King was recalled by Cardiff City.[10] A week after his return to Cardiff City, he joined Scottish Premiership club Ross County on loan until the end of the season.[11][12]

In August 2024 he moved on loan to Stevenage for the season.[13]

## International career

[edit]

After playing for Wales under-17s,[14] King was selected for the Wales under-21 squad in November 2021.[15] He was called up again in September 2022 for the Wales under-21s' friendly with Austria.[16]

## Career statistics

[edit]

As of 12 November 2024
Club  | Season  | League  | National cup  | League cup  | Other  | Total

|
|
|
|
|
|

Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals
Cardiff City | 2021–22[17] | Championship | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 0
2022–23[6] | Championship  | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0
2023–24[18] | Championship  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0
2024–25[19] | Championship  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0
Total  | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0
Crewe Alexandra (loan)  | 2022–23[6] | League Two | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 18 | 0
Morecambe (loan)  | 2023–24[18] | League Two  | 20 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 24 | 2
Ross County (loan)  | 2023–24[18] | Scottish Premiership | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 18 | 0
Stevenage (loan)  | 2024–25[19] | League One  | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 12 | 0
Career total  | 65 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 80 | 2

1. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.
2. ^ Appearances in the relegation play-offs

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "EFL – Squad List 2021/22" (PDF). English English Football League. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
2. ^ Eli King at Soccerway
3. ^ "Championship: Cardiff 0–2 Middlesbrough – Payero doubles the lead". 22 October 2021 - via www.bbc.co.uk.
4. ^ Williams, Glen (28 February 2022). "'Top-drawer' starlet King stays behind to clean the changing rooms". WalesOnline.
5. ^ "Crewe sign Cardiff youngster King on loan" - via www.bbc.co.uk.
6. ^ a b c "Games played by Eli King in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
7. ^ Baggaley, Michael (3 January 2023). "Crewe boss Bell confirms loan situation for Brook, King and Leshabela". CheshireLive.
8. ^ "Morecambe sign Cardiff midfielder King on loan" - via www.bbc.co.uk.
9. ^ "Eli King is "Exceptional" for Morcambe as Cardiff City ponder midfield options - Ninian Park". 19 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
10. ^ "Eli King recalled by Cardiff City". www.morecambefc.com. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
11. ^ "Loan | Eli King joins Ross County". www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
12. ^ "Eli King: Cardiff City midfielder joins Ross County on loan". BBC Sport. 15 January 2024.
13. ^ "Eli King: Stevenage sign Cardiff City midfielder on loan". BBC Sport. 22 August 2024.
14. ^ Eli King at WorldFootball.net
15. ^ "Cardiff's King earns Wales U21s call" - via www.bbc.co.uk.
16. ^ "Eli King is loving life at Crewe Alexandra". CreweAlex.net. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
17. ^ "Games played by Eli King in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
18. ^ a b c "Games played by Eli King in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
19. ^ a b "Games played by Eli King in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 October 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Stevenage F.C. - current squad

* 1 Ashby-Hammond
* 2 James-Wildin
* 3 Butler
* 4 N. Thompson
* 5 Piergianni
* 6 Sweeney
* 7 MacDonald
* 8 Forster-Caskey
* 9 List
* 10 Freeman
* 11 Roberts
* 12 MacGillivray
* 14 Smith
* 15 Vancooten
* 17 Burns
* 18 White
* 19 Reid
* 20 Pressley
* 22 Guinness-Walker
* 23 L.Thompson
* 24 B. Thompson
* 25 Hannam
* 29 Hemmings
* 41 Mitchell
* 42 Alexandrou
* 43 Hicks
* 44 Evans
* 50 Woodford
* Manager: Revell

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Mitchell]: Rylee Mitchell
*[Hicks]: David Hicks
*[Woodford]: Max Woodford