Jaiden Kamil Bartolo (born 10 February 2006) is a Gibraltarian footballer who plays as a forward for National League South club Weymouth, on loan from EFL League One club Wycombe Wanderers. Born in England, he represents the Gibraltar national football team at international level.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jaiden Kamil Bartolo | ||
| Date of birth | 10 February 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Slough, Berkshire, England | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Weymouth (on loan from Wycombe Wanderers) | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2011–2013 | Glacis United | ||
| 2013–2015 | Lions Gibraltar | ||
| 2015–2016 | Lincoln Red Imps | ||
| 2016–2017 | Atlético Zabal | ||
| 2017–2018 | Calderón | ||
| 2018–2019 | San Roque | ||
| 2019 | Peña Madridista Linense | ||
| 2019 | Balón Linense | ||
| 2019–2020 | Taraguilla | ||
| 2020–2023 | Manchester 62 | ||
| 2023–2024 | Wealdstone | ||
| 2023 | → Amersham Town (loan) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2023 | Manchester 62 | 8 | (5) |
| 2023–2024 | Wealdstone | 0 | (0) |
| 2024– | Wycombe Wanderers | 2 | (0) |
| 2024– | → Weymouth (loan) | 7 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | Gibraltar U16 | 3 | (2) |
| 2021–2022 | Gibraltar U17 | 9 | (6) |
| 2023 | Gibraltar U19 | 4 | (0) |
| 2023– | Gibraltar U21 | 3 | (0) |
| 2024– | Gibraltar | 7 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 November 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2024 | |||
Club career
editBartolo spent his youth playing for various youth teams in Spain, for teams around Cádiz and La Línea de la Concepción just across the border from Gibraltar, before joining Manchester 62.[1] He made his debut for their Gibraltar Intermediate League under-23 team on his 16th birthday, scoring 4 goals as a substitute in a 7–4 win against Lynx under-23.[2] 2 days later, on 12 February 2022, he scored on his first team debut for the Red Devils of Gibraltar, in a 2–0 win against College 1975.[3] He made a further 5 appearances, including a hat-trick against Lynx,[4] as his side won the GFA Challenge Trophy.
The next season was spent largely attending trials in the UK, though he returned over winter to play twice for Manchester 62. After reportedly attracting interest from Watford,[5] these trials eventually resulted in a move to Wealdstone in July 2023, to play for their academy.[6] There, his form caught the eye and saw him regularly train with the senior team from August. After scoring 16 goals in 6 games for their under-19 team and 8 goals in 4 games for their under-23 team, on 18 December 2023 it was announced that Bartolo had been offered professional terms and been promoted to the Stones first team,[7] appearing on the bench for the first time on 13 January 2024 in the FA Trophy match against Chelmsford City.[8] He left the Stones at the end of the season.[9]
On 5 June 2024, it was announced that Bartolo had signed for EFL League One side Wycombe Wanderers, with his move to the Chairboys going through on 1 July.[10] He was given the number 29 later that month, which was vacated by his compatriot Tjay De Barr the previous season. On 19 October 2024 he joined National League South side Weymouth, playing that same day in a 1–1 draw with Chesham United.[11]
International career
editBorn in England to parents of Sri Lankan and Maltese descent and raised in Gibraltar, Bartolo is eligible to represent England, Sri Lanka, Malta and Gibraltar. He made his debut for Gibraltar under-17 on 10 September 2021, scoring in a 2–1 victory over Faroe Islands. He captained them for the first time on 25 August 2022 in a friendly against Liechtenstein, scoring a hat-trick in an 8–2 victory - a record win for Gibraltar at any level since joining UEFA in 2013.[5] His under-21 debut came on 15 June 2023, in a 3–1 defeat to Moldova after playing in an unofficial friendly against Iraq under-20 3 months prior.
He received his first call up to the senior team in March 2022's preliminary squad,[12] but was left out of the final squad. He eventually made his full international debut on 26 March 2024, in a 1–0 defeat to Lithuania.[13]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played on 23 November 2024
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup | Continental | Other[b] | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester 62 | 2021–22 | Gibraltar Football League | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 6 | 5 | |||
| 2022–23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 8 | 5 | |||||
| Wealdstone | 2023–24 | National League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2024–25 | EFL League One | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Weymouth (loan) | 2024–25 | National League South | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 17 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 6 | ||
International
edit- As of match played 19 November 2024.
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gibraltar U16 | |||
| 2022 | 3 | 2 | |
| Total | 3 | 2 | |
| Gibraltar U17 | |||
| 2021 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 4 | 4 | |
| Total | 9 | 6 | |
| Gibraltar U19 | |||
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 4 | 0 | |
| Gibraltar U21 | |||
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 3 | 0 | |
| Gibraltar | |||
| 2024 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 7 | 0 | |
Honours
edit- Manchester 62
Personal life
editBartolo was born in Slough in the United Kingdom, but moved to Gibraltar at the age of 2 when his parents relocated.[14] His younger brother, Kai, is also a footballer who played alongside him at Manchester 62 and Wealdstone's academies, as well as for Hayes and Yeading United.
References
edit- ^ Jaiden Bartolo LaPreferente. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ Match Report: Manchester 62 Intermediate vs Lynx Intermediate Gibraltar FA. 10 February 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ Match Report: Manchester 62 vs College 1975 Gibraltar FA. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ Sixteen Year Old Goal Hero Gives Manchester 62 Lead in Challenge Group Gibraltar Chronicle. 6 March 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ a b Historic Win for Gibraltar U17s with 8–2 Victory Against Liechtenstein Gibraltar Chronicle. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ Wealdstone U19 FA Full-Time. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ Academy hotshot Bartolo signs Wealdstone FC. 18 December 2023 (Updated 28 December 2023). Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ Report: Chelmsford City 0–1 Wealdstone Wealdstone FC. 13 January 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ Retained List 2024 Wealdstone FC. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Jack and Jaiden to join in July Wycombe Wanderers FC. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ Bartolo Signs on Loan Weymouth FC. 19 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
- ^ Ribas calls up youngsters like Bartolo to squad and includes Lopes Gibraltar Chronicle. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ Lithuania 1–0 Gibraltar UEFA.com. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ INTERVIEW | Hear from two of our top academy prospects Jaiden Bartolo and Blesk Ekpenyong Wealdstone FC on YouTube. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2024.