Cruz Allen
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Cruz Anthony Allen[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 25 February 2007 | ||
| Place of birth | England | ||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Derby County | ||
| Number | 54 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Burton Albion | |||
| –2025 | Derby County | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023– | Derby County | 1 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | Wales U15 | 3 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Wales U16 | 7 | (1) |
| 2023–2024 | Wales U17 | 13 | (2) |
| 2024 | Wales U18 | 3 | (0) |
| 2024– | Wales U19 | 12 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 09:18, 22 February 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 09:18, 22 February 2026 (UTC) | |||
Cruz Anthony Allen (born 25 February 2007) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for EFL Championship club Derby County. Born in England, he represents Wales as a youth international.[2]
A youth product of Derby County, Allen made his first team debut in 2023, he signed his first professional contract in 2024. He made his league debut in 2026.
Club career
Allen started his footballing career in the Burton Albion academy, before joining the Derby County academy at under-10 level.[3] Allen progressed through the age groups in Derby's academy, making his first appearances for the under-18s aged 16 in the 2022–23 season.[3] The 2023–24 saw Allen became a regular in the under-18s, he made his debut for the under-21 at age of 16.[3]
On 8 November 2023, Allen made his debut for the first team of Derby County, aged 16 in a 4–1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 in the EFL Trophy as a 79th-minute substitute for Adebayo Fapetu.[4] In this game, he showed a good ability on the ball and came close to scoring.[5]
After interest from Premier League clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle United, Allen signed first professional contract at Derby County in March 2024, on a deal until June 2026.[6] The 2024–25 season saw Allen become a regular in the under-21 team at Derby and he featured in two first team match day squads an unused substitute.[3]
On 21 February 2026, Allen made his second appearance for the first team and his first in the league, as he came as injury time substitute for Lewis Travis in a 2–0 Championship defeat to Watford.[7]
International career
Allen has been capped by Wales at under-15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 level.[3][8] Allen featured in the squad for Wales under-17 in the 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[9] He qualifies for Wales through his Welsh-born father.[2]
Style of play
An attacking midfielder, Allen has been described as a player with strengths being his composure on the ball,[10] his abilities at taking free-kicks were also notable in his youth career.[11][12]
Career statistics
- As of match played 21 February 2026
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Derby County | 2023–24[13] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024–25[13] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2025–26[14] | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
- ^ Appearances in the EFL Trophy
References
- ^ "EFL Squad List: Season 2025/26" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- ^ a b "Man Utd, Newcastle United and Chelsea target 16-year-old Welsh star of the future". WalesOnline. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- ^ a b c d e "Cruz Allen". Derby County. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- ^ "Derby County 4–1 Wolves U21". BBC Sport. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- ^ "Derby County player ratings v Wolves under-21s as young duo shine and Collins lethal". DerbyshireLive. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- ^ "Derby County talent signs professional contract after Man Utd and Chelsea transfer links". DerbyshireLive. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- ^ "Watford 2–0 Derby". BBC Sport. 21 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- ^ "Cruz Allen >> International matches". World Football. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- ^ "Cymru squad announced for 2024 UEFA EURO U17 finals". FA Wales. 24 March 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- ^ "The Derby County wonderkids who could save them millions". DerbyshireLive. 19 October 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- ^ "Derby County prospect steals the headlines in last-gasp Wales drama". DerbyshireLive. 13 November 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- ^ "Cruz Allen's late strike seals dramatic Cymru MU19 win over Japan". FA Wales. 12 November 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- ^ a b "Games played by Cruz Allen in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
- ^ "Games played by Cruz Allen in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
External links
- Cruz Allen at Soccerbase