Full name Krystian Bielik Name Krystian Bielik Place of birth Konin, Poland Role Footballer | Number 37 Height 1.89 m 2012–2014 Lech Poznan Weight 78 kg | |
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Date of birth (1998-01-04) 4 January 1998 (age 17) Playing position Current team Arsenal F.C. (#36 / Midfielder) Similar People Alex Oxlade‑Chamberlain, Per Mertesacker, Gabriel Paulista, Gedion Zelalem, Francis Coquelin | ||
Krystian Bielik vs Portsmouth (Home) 09/03/19
Krystian Bielik ([ˈkrɘ̟stʲan 'bʲɛlik], born 4 January 1998) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a centre back for English club Arsenal. He first played senior football with Legia Warsaw in 2014, and spent the second half of the 2016–17 season on loan at EFL Championship club Birmingham City. Internationally, he has represented Poland up to under-19 level.
Contents
- Krystian Bielik vs Portsmouth Home 090319
- Krystian bielik incredible wonderkid arsenal f c 2015
- Legia Warszawa
- Arsenal
- Birmingham City loan
- International career
- Career statistics
- Honours
- References
Krystian bielik incredible wonderkid arsenal f c 2015
Legia Warszawa
Bielik started playing football for his hometown club, Górnik Konin before being spotted by Lech Poznań scouts in 2012, and later joining their developmental academy. He won the Polish U-17 Championships with the club in early 2014. However, in July 2014, Bielik joined Lech's archrivals, Legia Warszawa for 50,000 zł (£9,000), and on 24 August, he made his Ekstraklasa debut against Korona Kielce.
Arsenal
In early 2015, Arsenal agreed a reported £2.4 million deal for Bielik with Legia Warsaw. On 21 January, Arsenal completed the Bielik deal with the Polish midfielder signing for an undisclosed fee, subject to regulatory processes.
Bielik made his senior Arsenal debut in the League Cup fourth round on 27 October 2015, replacing fellow debutant Glen Kamara after 60 minutes of a 3–0 loss at Sheffield Wednesday. He was a member of the Arsenal under-21 team that reached the 2015–16 U21 Premier League Division 2 play-off final, held at the Emirates Stadium in May 2016, in which they beat Aston Villa U21 3–1.
Birmingham City (loan)
On 31 January 2017, Bielik joined EFL Championship club Birmingham City on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season. He made his debut in the starting eleven for the visit to Preston North End on 14 February, and played the whole match as Birmingham lost 2–1. His next appearance was ten days later, as a substitute after centre-back Paul Robinson was sent off with Birmingham 2–0 up away to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Bielik partnered Ryan Shotton in central defence as Birmingham conceded once but, thanks in part to his "two last-ditch challenges in the closing stages", managed to hold on for the win. Playing on the right of a back three alongside Shotton and Robinson in mid-March against Newcastle United, Bielik contributed to a clean sheet, a performance that confirmed his place in the starting eleven for the next few weeks and encouraged manager Gianfranco Zola to consider loaning him again in 2017–18.
Zola's dismissal coincided with the return to fitness of Michael Morrison and Birmingham's need for points, and incoming manager Harry Redknapp reverted to a back four and prioritised playing to the team's strengths for the last three matches of the season. He used Bielik only in the final match, away to Bristol City, as a substitute playing in front of the defence to help the team hold on to their one-goal lead and thus avoid relegation to League One.
International career
Bielik was named in Poland's squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Career statistics
Honours
Arsenal U21