Adan George

Kai Adan George (born 30 July 2002) is an English footballer who plays as a forward for National League club FC Halifax Town.

Adan George

Personal information
Full name	Kai Adan George[1]
Date of birth	(2002-07-30) 30 July 2002 (age 22)[2]
Place of birth	Birmingham, England
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	FC Halifax Town
Number	27
Youth career
	West Bromwich Albion
2015–2018	Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2023	Birmingham City	1	(0)
2018	→ Bromsgrove Sporting (loan)	1	(0)
2020–2021	→ Walsall (loan)	0	(0)
2023	Alvechurch	14	(5)
2023–2024	Rushall Olympic	7	(3)
2024–	FC Halifax Town	31	(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:15, 16 November 2024 (UTC)

George began his football career with West Bromwich Albion before joining Birmingham City's academy in 2015. He made his senior debut while on loan to Bromsgrove Sporting of the Southern League Division One Central in 2018–19, first played for Birmingham at the beginning of the 2020–21 season, and then spent time on loan at League Two club Walsall without making a first-team appearance. After injury disrupted his progress, George was released by Birmingham at the end of the 2022–23 season. He spent three months with Southern League Alvechurch before moving up a level to Rushall Olympic, and joined FC Halifax Town in January 2024.

Early life and youth career

George was born in Birmingham, where he attended Handsworth Grammar School.^[2] He was a member of West Bromwich Albion's academy^[3] before joining Birmingham City's in 2015.^[2] He took up a scholarship with the club in July 2018.^[1] According to coach Steve Spooner, he "is very quick, very powerful and needs to recognise that is his strength. It's about using his strengths and imposing himself on the opponents. But he is capable of scoring goals. He is very direct. He has to work on the technical side of the game, like a lot of the boys."^[4] The player agreed that his pace and power were his best qualities, and felt he needed to improve his composure and dribbling.^[2]

He was one of a number of Birmingham youth players who spent a few weeks on loan at non-league clubs in late 2018. He joined Bromsgrove Sporting of the Southern League Division One Central,^[5] and made one senior appearance, as a second-half substitute in a 3–0 defeat away to Coleshill Town on 1 January 2019, before returning to his parent club.^[6] Although his season was interrupted by injury, he scored eight goals from five matches for Birmingham's under-18s,^[7] and played for their under-23 team that reached the final of its division, in which they finished as runners-up in the 2018–19 Professional Development League Northern Section but lost out to Leeds United on penalties for the overall title.^[8] His performances attracted attention from Premier League clubs,^[9] and his goalscoring in Birmingham's 2019–20 FA Youth Cup run, combined with his not having signed a professional contract, meant interest heightened. By April 2020, when the club made him an offer of professional terms, Spooner described him as having "a physique like a middleweight boxer and you get him running in the channels against you, when he uses his strength as well as his pace, then he causes a problem."^[7]

Club career

In July 2020, George signed a two-year contract with Birmingham City, with an option for a third year.^[10] He made his first-team debut in the opening match of Birmingham's 2020–21 season, playing the whole of the 1–0 defeat at home to Cambridge United in the EFL Cup.^[11] The Birmingham Mail thought he "showed some impressive hold up play and strength with his back to goal but didn't have much joy when he got turned" in what was a promising debut.^[12] He made his first appearance in the Football League a week later, as a second-half substitute in the opening match of the Championship season.^[13]

That was his last appearance before joining League Two club Walsall on 16 October on loan until 3 January 2021.^[14] He was among the substitutes for two league and two cup matches, but remained unused.^[15] George spent the rest of the season with Birmingham's under-23 team, again helping them achieve runners-up spot in the Professional Development League Northern Section and going on to score both goals in a 2–0 win against Sheffield United U23 to secure the overall title.^[16]

George tore his ACL during pre-season, had surgery in September 2021,^[17] and missed the entire season as a result. With his contract due to expire, the club offered him a 12-month deal with the option of another year, which he signed.^[18] He made no more first-team appearances, the club decided not to take up their option, and George was one of 13 professionals released at the end of the 2022–23 season.^[19]

George signed for Southern League Premier Central Division (seventh-tier) club Alvechurch in August 2023.^[20] He scored five goals from 14 league matches before, on 14 November 2023, moving up a level to National League North club Rushall Olympic.^[21] After three goals from 7 league matches, he moved up another level on 11 January 2024, signing for National League club FC Halifax Town.^[22]

Career statistics

As of match played 16 November 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Birmingham City	2018–19[15]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2019–20[15]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2020–21[13]	Championship	1	0	0	0	1	0	—		2	0
	2021–22[23]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2022–23[24]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		1	0	0	0	1	0	—		2	0
Bromsgrove Sporting (loan)	2018–19[6]	Southern League Div. One Central	1	0	—		—		—		1	0
Walsall (loan)	2020–21[13]	League Two	0	0	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
Alvechurch	2023–24[25][26]	Southern League Prem. Div. Central	14	5	2	0	—		2[a]	0	18	5
Rushall Olympic	2023–24[15]	National League North	7	3	—		—		—		7	3
FC Halifax Town	2023–24[15]	National League	15	3	—		—		1[b]	0	16	3
	2024–25[15]	National League	16	0	1	0	—		2[c]	0	19	0
	Total		31	3	1	0	—		3	0	35	3
Career total			54	11	3	0	1	0	5	0	63	11

1. Appearances in FA Trophy
2. Appearance in National League play-offs
3. Appearances in National League Cup

References

1. "List of Players Registered as Scholars in Accordance with Rule C.3 Between 01/07/2018 and 31/07/2018". The Football Association. p. 54. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
2. "Adan George". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
3. "West Bromwich Albion tour". King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys. 7 July 2015. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
4. "Meet Blues' new Scholars for 2018–19". Birmingham City F.C. 16 August 2018. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
5. Tyler, Ben (21 December 2018). "Sporting score trio of young prospects". Bromsgrove Standard. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
6. "Adan George". Aylesbury United Archive. Luke Buckingham-Brown. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
7. Dick, Brian (29 April 2020). "'Pace and power' – The Birmingham City youngster attracting the attention of Leeds United and Spurs". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
8. Dick, Brian (6 May 2019). "Leeds United U23s 0 Birmingham City U23s 0 Report: Jack Clarke wins penalty shootout for Leeds". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
9. Ireland, Shane (4 May 2019). "This is the latest Birmingham City ace attracting transfer interest". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
10. Preece, Ashley (31 July 2020). "Confirmed: Birmingham City announce new deal for Tottenham-linked striker". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
11. "Birmingham City 0–1 Cambridge United". BBC Sport. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
12. Dick, Brian (5 September 2020). "'Rash' – Birmingham City player ratings as Aitor Karanka's men stumble against Cambridge United". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
13. "Games played by Adan George in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
14. "Adan George departs on loan". Birmingham City F.C. 16 October 2020. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
15. "K. George". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
16. Dick, Brian (24 May 2021). "Blues U23s vs Sheff Utd U23s player ratings: Man City trainee sparkles as George blunts Blades". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
17. Dick, Brian (8 September 2021). "Birmingham City youngster Adan George has surgery after injury". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
18. "Adan George signs new Blues contract". Birmingham City F.C. 1 July 2022. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
19. "Blues Men's: Retained and released list". Birmingham City F.C. 22 May 2023. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
20. "Football – Alvechurch pair make step up as Abbey and Hamilton depart". Bromsgrove Standard. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
21. "Breaking: Pics add power and pace to front line with George capture". Rushall Olympic F.C. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
22. Scargill, Tom (11 January 2024). "Halifax sign former West Brom and Birmingham City youngster from National League North side". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
23. "Games played by Adan George in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
24. "Games played by Adan George in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
25. "Kai Adan George". Alvechurch F.C. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
26. For match played 11 November, not yet included by Alvechurch FC source: Sutcliffe, Aaron (14 November 2023). "Football – Alvechurch suffer defeat at in-form Nuneaton". Redditch Standard. Retrieved 15 November 2023.