George Bello

George Oluwaseun Bello (born January 22, 2002) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a left-back for 2. Bundesliga club Arminia Bielefeld and the United States national team.

George Bello
Bello at an Atlanta United event in 2018
Personal information
Full name George Oluwaseun Bello[1]
Date of birth (2002-01-22) January 22, 2002
Place of birth Abuja, Nigeria
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Arminia Bielefeld
Number 24
Youth career
0000–2011 Southern Soccer Academy
2011–2016 Alpharetta Ambush
2016–2018 Atlanta United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2020 Atlanta United 2 19 (1)
2018–2021 Atlanta United 52 (3)
2022– Arminia Bielefeld 30 (0)
International career‡
2017 United States U15 5 (0)
2017–2019 United States U17 7 (1)
2021– United States 7 (0)
Honours
Representing  United States
WinnerCONCACAF Gold Cup2021
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of May 5, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 10, 2022

Early years

Born in Abuja, Nigeria, Bello moved with his family to Douglasville, Georgia, when he was a year old.[2] During his early career, he played for Southern Soccer Academy, a youth soccer club affiliated with English club Chelsea, and the Alpharetta Ambush, where he played for five years.[2] While playing at Alpharetta Ambush, he played with future Atlanta United academy teammate Zyen Jones.[2]

After spending five years with the Alpharetta Ambush, Bello moved to the academy side at Atlanta United FC, a new expansion club for Major League Soccer.[2] His former coach, Tony Annan, now at Atlanta United as their academy director, was the one to reach out to Bello to join his side.[2]

In 2017, a couple of months after signing a professional contract with Atlanta United FC, Bello helped Atlanta United's under-16 side win the U.S. Soccer Development Academy U16 Championship.[3] His performance during the season saw him named 2016–17 East Conference U15/16 Player of the Year and also included in the East Conference U15/16 Best XI.[3]

Club career

Atlanta United

On June 17, 2017, Bello, alongside teammates Lagos Kunga and Patrick Okonkwo, was signed by Atlanta United FC to a homegrown player contract which would start in 2018.[4] He made his professional debut on March 31, 2018 for Atlanta United 2, the club's reserve team, against Charlotte Independence. He started and played the whole match in a 2–2 draw.[5]

On September 2, 2018, Bello made his debut for the Atlanta United FC senior side in their Major League Soccer match against D.C. United. He came on as a 76th minute substitute for Héctor Villalba as Atlanta United FC were defeated 3–1.[6] He scored his first professional goal a month later on October 6 against the New England Revolution. He scored his team's opening goal in the 17th minute of a 2–1 Atlanta United FC victory.[7] During the 2018 MLS Playoffs, Bello featured for Atlanta United FC twice from the bench but did not play as Atlanta United FC won the 2018 MLS Cup.[8]

The next season, Bello made his international club debut for Atlanta United FC in the CONCACAF Champions League against Herediano on February 21. He started as a left-wide back as Atlanta United FC were defeated 3–1.[9] In May 2019, it was confirmed that he would miss two to three months of the season with an injury to his right adductor.[10] Returning in August, Bello went on to only play 12 matches with Atlanta United 2 in the USL Championship and none with Atlanta United FC during the 2019 season.[11]

Arminia Bielefeld

On January 31, 2022, Bello joined German Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld on a four-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee.[12][13]

International career

Bello has represented the United States at both the under-15 and under-17 level. He was part of the under-15 squad that won the Torneo Delle Nazioni in 2017. The United States won every match in which he started.[14] On October 10, 2019, he was named in the under-17 squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.[15]

In January 2021, Bello was called into the United States national team for their friendly against Trinidad and Tobago.[16] He made his debut in the match on January 31, coming on as a 64th minute substitute in the 7–0 victory.[17] On July 17, 2021, he was named by head coach Gregg Berhalter into the 23-man squad for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[18] He started in two matches for the United States as they made it into the final against Mexico. Bello was named as a starter for the match and played 65 minutes as the United States won 1–0 after extra-time.[19]

Personal life

Bello is named after his grandfather, Georgie.[20] His father was an amateur player in Nigeria and helped Bello develop his interest in the game.[14] Bello also ran track and field in high school and helped his school win the 2016 Georgia team state championship.[20] His favorite soccer players growing up were Neymar and Lionel Messi but he also was interested in the left back position and watched videos of David Alaba and Marcelo.[14]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played May 5, 2023[21]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Atlanta United 2 2018 United Soccer League 60–––60
2019 USL Championship 121–––120
2020 USL Championship 10–––10
Total 191–––191
Atlanta United 2018 Major League Soccer 3100–0031
2019 Major League Soccer 00001[lower-alpha 2]00010
2020 Major League Soccer 20[lower-alpha 3]1–1[lower-alpha 2]0–211
2021 Major League Soccer 291–4[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 4]0341
Total 523–6010593
Arminia Bielefeld 2021–22 Bundesliga 10000––100
2022–23 2. Bundesliga 20020––220
Total 30020–00320
Career total 10142060101104
  1. Includes DFB-Pokal
  2. Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League
  3. Includes two appearances in MLS is Back Tournament group stage
  4. Appearance in MLS Cup Playoffs

International
As of match played June 10, 2022[21][22]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
United States 202160
202210
Total70

Honors

Atlanta United

United States

Individual

References
  1. "FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019: List of Players: USA" (PDF). FIFA. October 31, 2019. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2019.
  2. Patrick, Joe (August 10, 2018). "George Bello: Atlanta United's 16-year-old wonderkid on the brink of a breakthrough". Dirty South Soccer. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  3. "George Bello named US Soccer Development Academy Player of the Year". Dirty South Soccer. July 14, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2002.
  4. Rodriguez, Alicia (June 17, 2017). "Atlanta United FC sign three Homegrown players for 2018 season". Major League Soccer. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  5. "Charlotte Independence 2–2 Atlanta United 2". Soccerway.
  6. "D.C. United 3–1 Atlanta United FC". Soccerway.
  7. "Atlanta United 2–1 New England Revolution". Soccerway.
  8. "Atlanta United 3–1 New York City FC". Soccerway.
  9. "Herediano 3–1 Atlanta United FC". Soccerway.
  10. Huntle, Sydney (May 3, 2019). "George Bello out for 2-3 months with injury to right adductor". Dirty South Soccer. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  11. Patrick, Joe (February 10, 2020). "George Bello cleared from hospital after head injury; says injury not "as bad as feared"". Dirty South Soccer. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  12. "Atlanta United Transfers Defender George Bello to Arminia Bielefeld in German Bundesliga | Atlanta United FC". atlutd.
  13. "DSC Arminia verpflichtet George Bello". www.arminia.de.
  14. Sciaretta, Brian (August 15, 2018). "U.S U-17 standout George Bello eyeing a breakthrough with Atlanta". American Soccer Now. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  15. "HEAD COACH RAPHAEL WICKY NAMES USA ROSTER FOR 2019 FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP IN BRAZIL". US Soccer. October 10, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  16. Usry, Rob. "Miles Robinson, George Bello named to USMNT senior roster for friendly". Dirty South Soccer. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  17. "United States 7–0 Trinidad and Tobago". Soccerway.
  18. Edwards, Andy (July 17, 2021). "23-man USMNT roster for Gold Cup". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  19. "United States 1–0 Mexico". Soccerway.
  20. "George Bello". US Soccer.
  21. George Bello at Soccerway
  22. "George Bello". National Football Teams.
  23. "United States beats Mexico in Gold Cup final on late Miles Robinson header". ESPN. August 1, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  24. "2021 MLS All-Star Team Roster". MLSsoccer.
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