Leon Bailey: Career, Net Worth, Awards & Family

When you share a nation with the greatest sprinter in the world, Usain Bolt, it's no surprise that Jamaican footballers are often judged for their pace. Leon Bailey fits the bill perfectly with his searing pace and effectiveness in transitions. Joining Aston Villa in 2021, he's a player who, on his day, is unstoppable. Therefore, several clubs are after him, and a move to Saudi Arabia is also on the cards. At Aston Villa, though, he comes off the bench in most games looking to make a difference for his team.

Several reports have emerged that he prefers a £25 million move to Neom SC in Saudi Arabia and earns massive wages. But to Aston Villa, he adds strength in depth and often provides cover for the club's wingers. Although he didn't win any trophies, Leon Bailey age is just 27 and he is about to hit his prime. It would be disappointing for the Villa fans to see him leave if the transfer materialises. But for now, let's explore his career, net worth, and family more.

Who Is Leon Bailey?

Starting his senior career at Genk, Bailey dominated the flanks at the club. He attracted potential suitors and later moved to Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. Seeing his razzle-dazzle display, Villa fetched him for £30 million, and the fans caught glimpses of his budding talent at the club. He had a terrific 2023/24 season with Villa, appearing in 52 matches, scoring 14 goals, and creating 13 assists.

Leon Bailey Net Worth

Throughout his career, Leon Bailey earned a handsome salary for the clubs he played for. Moreover, he had several sponsorship and endorsement deals, which propelled his net worth to greater heights. However, there are no credible reports available on Leon Bailey net worth in the public domain, although the estimations are between £15-20 million after most of his endorsement deals and contracts.

What Is Leon Bailey Salary?

For Bailey, it all started in Genk as he earned £994 per week in 2015, during his initial playing days. He performed well and then received a contract to play for Bayer Leverkusen. He attracted eyeballs at the German club, earning £66,255 during the 2018-19 season. Hence, with all the money he raked in, Bailey's salary and career trajectory looked promising. Later, he moved to Aston Villa for around £30 million. He earned a contract of £100,000 for the first two years and signed an extension to receive £120,000. According to Capology, Bailey earns a gross pay of £6,240,000 for his Aston Villa performances.

Note that contract extensions within the club have been added to the list to generate more clarity.

Playing Style and Strengths

When it comes to pure right-wingers, Leon Bailey ranks at the top of the list. He's among the dynamic wingers in world football and cuts inside from the right flank to create a chance or score a goal. Apart from his dribbling and the ability to get past his opponents, Bailey is dangerous in transitions and has the pace to burn. Moreover, under Unai Emery, he's a talented winger who tracks back and helps the defence, although his final-third decision-making could get better. You don't find a slow footballer from Jamaica, as the pace-loving nation produced another gem of a footballer who uses it to perfection. With a shoulder drop or with a silky first touch, he uses his acceleration to get past players with ease. Hence, Aston Villa has a gem that has yet to reach its peak.

Leon Bailey Family and Early Life

Unlike most players, Leon Bailey family life was a complex and difficult one, and there's not much information regarding his biological parents, other than that his mother's name was Jean. Later, at age eight, Craig Butler adopted Bailey, and the footballer started to reclaim his lost childhood. He was born in Cassava Piece, north of Jamaica’s capital city of Kingston, in a ghetto where violence and gang crime became the mainstay of the neighbourhood. Butler's stepfather worked as the head of an electronics company, Toshiba, in the Caribbean after graduating from Boston University.

Apart from working at Toshiba, he worked in a football academy, coaching players like Wilfred Ndidi and Wesley. Nicknamed ‘Chippy,’ Butler wanted Bailey to get out of his surroundings as he discovered his love for football at age five. After enduring pain and struggles, he landed in Genk in 2015. According to the Sun, "If Leon had stayed in Jamaica, he could've been a drug dealer or gangster," Butler said. Hence, it all worked out well as Bailey rose to the top.

Who Is Leon Bailey Girlfriend?

Leon Bailey girlfriend is Stephanie Hope. The couple has a son, Leo Cristiano Bailey, who was born in June 2020. Although there were rumours of a split between Leon Bailey and his girlfriend, the couple is still together. She's a YouTube vlogger and a social media influencer. She amassed 46.1k Instagram followers and often posts travel videos and pictures on her handle. Leon Bailey girlfriend has supported him throughout his career and accompanies him wherever he chooses to play.

Leon Bailey Career

When Leon Bailey's at full flow, there's no better sight of football than the Jamaican right winger. Leon Bailey career started at the Phoenix All-Star Academy, where he slowly rose through the ranks, playing for Aston Villa now. It hasn't been a straightforward career for Bailey so far, with thrills and spills along the way. Yet, Bailey's determination to lead his country remains why he's celebrated throughout the country. Here, we look at his club and international career and see how Bailey reached greater heights.

Club Career

After arriving in Europe in his teenage years, Bailey caught the eye of Genk in Belgium. However, FIFA imposed strict regulations on minors, and Bailey couldn't sign with the Belgian club. He signed for Austrian non-league side Anif Jugend and started his youth career. Finally, he joined Genk in 2015 and began showing his worth to the club. At the end of the 2015-16 season, he won the Belgian Young Footballer of the Year award, and it kick-started his journey as a top-class football player for the future. He scored 16 goals in 77 appearances for Genk and then earned a move to Germany.

The following year, Bayer Leverkusen came calling, and Bailey became a star for the German side. In 156 appearances for the club, Bailey scored 39 goals and made 22 assists, proving a creative spark on the right wing. After all those world-class displays, Aston Villa called, and Bailey joined them for around £30 million. He had a stunning season during the 2023-24 campaign, scoring 14 goals and creating 13 assists. With transfer rumours of the Jamaican football star leaving for Saudi Arabia, it looks interesting to see the next chapter of Bailey's incredible journey in football.

International Career

Just like his club career, Bailey's international career started with a bang. He made his way to the Under-23s, and later, after some complications regarding his troubles with the association, Bailey got a call-up for the senior team in 2019. At the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Bailey earned his first international cap against Honduras on June 17, 2019, and scored his first goal against Antigua and Barbuda on September 06, 2019. But yet again, the unprofessional nature of the Jamaican football association caught him by surprise, and he wanted to take a break from the national team. On June 12, 2024, even though Bailey was listed for the Copa America 2024 squad, he declined, and the football association suspended him. But he returned and played some games for his national team.

Leon Bailey Awards and Achievements

Leon Bailey kept winning several individual awards throughout his career, winning the Young Belgian Player of the Year award for the 2015-16 season after scoring seven goals and creating 10 assists. Let's take a detailed look at Leon Bailey awards and achievements: