“‘Fantastic’ Midfielder Makes Official Return to Liverpool as Club Confirms Transfer”
Liverpool prospect James Balagizi has returned to Merseyside after his loan move away from Anfield was ended ahead of schedule.
The 22-year-old midfielder joined Forest Green Rovers on a season-long deal last August, but injuries limited his involvement. A hamstring issue in particular halted his progress, restricting him to just 10 appearances under Robbie Savage.
As reported by The Athletic, Balagizi had already been back at Liverpool in recent weeks to continue his rehabilitation, with his last outing for Forest Green coming in their FA Cup loss to Luton on Halloween.
Forest Green later confirmed the early termination of the loan via their official channels. In a statement, the club said:
“We can confirm James Balagizi has returned to Liverpool. The 22-year-old featured 10 times for Rovers, scoring a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser against Scunthorpe United earlier this season. We thank James for his contribution and wish him well for the future.”
Balagizi’s next move remains unclear. He previously stood out in Liverpool’s academy and during a loan spell at Crawley Town in 2022, where then-manager Kevin Betsy predicted a “fantastic career” for him. However, this is now the third consecutive season in which one of his year-long loans has been cut short in January.
With his Liverpool contract, signed in the summer of 2023, set to expire in six months, a free transfer in the summer is a realistic outcome. Balagizi never made a competitive senior appearance for the Reds, although he was included on the bench for domestic cup matches during the 2021/22 campaign.
A further loan before the end of the season is still possible, but his immediate future is uncertain. Much will depend on his recovery and whether he can rediscover form and consistency elsewhere.
Even if a long-term future at Liverpool now appears unlikely, Balagizi still has the chance to rebuild and carve out a successful career at another club once he is fully fit.