// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Cruz Allen a sailor? Because he's a buoy-ant personality.
| 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 | 3 | (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) |
| 2024–2026 | Wales U19 | 18 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:44, 6 April 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 19:30, 22 July 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. He is a Wales Under 19 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
[edit]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] Allen made three appearances for the Derby County first team in the 2025–26 season.[8]
On 15 May 2026, it was announced that Allen was "in discussion about his future" at Derby County with his contract expiring in June 2026.[9] On 24 June 2026, it was announced that Allen had signed a new two-year contract at Derby County.[10]
International career
[edit]Allen has been capped by Wales at under-15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 level.[3][11] Allen featured in the squad for Wales under-17 in the 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[12] He qualifies for Wales through his Welsh-born father.[2]
Style of play
[edit]An attacking midfielder, Allen has been described as a player with strengths being his composure on the ball,[13] his abilities at taking free-kicks were also notable in his youth career.[14][15]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 6 April 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[16] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024–25[17] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2025–26[18] | Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2026–27[19] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
- ↑ Appearances in the EFL Trophy
References
[edit]- ↑ "EFL Squad List: Season 2025/26" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- 1 2 "Man Utd, Newcastle United and Chelsea target 16-year-old Welsh star of the future". WalesOnline. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "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.
- ↑ "Derby County Stats, All Competition". FB Ref. 13 May 2026. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
- ↑ "Derby County retained list revealed as four leave with defender in contract talks". Derby Telegraph. 15 May 2026. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
- ↑ "Derby County secure midfielder after contract breakthrough". Derby Telegraph. 24 June 2026. Retrieved 24 June 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.
- ↑ "Games played by Cruz Allen in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- ↑ "Games played by Cruz Allen in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- ↑ "Games played by Cruz Allen in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- ↑ "Games played by Cruz Allen in 2026/2027". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
External links
[edit]- Cruz Allen at Soccerbase