Former Wigan Athletic man makes latest loan return to Liverpool

The 22-year-old - who spent the first half of the 2023/24 campaign with Latics, before returning to Anfield - has been sidelined with hamstring trouble.

"We can confirm James Balagizi has returned to Liverpool," Forest Green confirmed in a statement. "He made 10 appearances for Rovers, scoring a last-minute equaliser against Scunthorpe United earlier in the season.

"Balagizi signed from Liverpool on loan in August 2025. We would all like to thank James for his contributions this season, and we wish him the best for the rest of his career."

The player, who joined Liverpool as an Under-11 and has been part of the senior team's matchday squad on two occasions to date, represented England at every level between Under-16 and Under-20.

However, he has found the step up to senior football a difficult transition.

Balagizi’s first loan at Crawley Town in the 2022/23 campaign saw him make 16 appearances and score three goals, including a stunner which upset Premier League Fulham in the Carabao Cup.

Since then, however, his career has stalled, with only seven appearances for Latics the following season, after which his loan was cancelled.

Hopes had been high that he would make an impact at Wigan.

“It’s a massive club with a massive history - and speaking to the gaffer and everyone around the club, they made me feel really comfortable coming here,” he said after signing.

“The best way for me to develop is by playing as many senior games as possible.”

Then-manager Shaun Maloney added: “We have worked very hard over the summer to convince him to come to us ahead of others, and he will be very suited to how we are looking to play this season."

After leaving Latics in January 2024, Balagizi spent the rest of the campaign in Scotland with Kilmarnock, making another seven appearances.

Last season, he didn’t make a single appearance at senior level and, with his Anfield contract up this summer, he faces a somewhat uncertain future.

Latics have had some unfortunate experiences with Liverpool loan players over the years.

Going back to the 2014/15 campaign under Malky Mackay, Sheyi Ojo and Jerome Sinclair made 11 and one appearances respectively as Latics careered into League One only two years after lifting the FA Cup at Wembley.

Back in the Championship in 2016/17, Adam Bogdan was unable to nail down a regular first-team spot in goal as Latics again suffered relegation under Gary Caldwell and Warren Joyce.

Last season, Scotland international defender Calvin Ramsay arrived with his high hopes, but returned to Anfield in January having only made 12 appearances – most of which came off the bench.

As recently as this season, Isaac Mabaya – who has represented England at every level from Under-15 to Under-19 level – joined last summer to fill the right wing-back role, but ruptured his Achilles on his full debut against Notts County in the Carabao Cup last August.

The solitary success story has been Luke Chambers, but even his second loan spell in 2024/25 at Wigan – after hugely impressing the previous campaign – was wrecked by a long-term back injury from which he is only just returning.