Defender James Baillie becomes the latest youngster to commit his future to the club

Crewe Alexandra are delighted to announce that another product of the club’s renowned Academy has signed his first professional contract with the club. Defender James Baillie has signed a two-year deal contract with an option for a third.

The 18-year-old right back has followed his fellow team-mates, Perry Ng, Fraser Murdoch, James Jones and George Cooper by extending his stay with the club.

The Warrington-born defender previously spent some of his schoolboy football with Manchester United, but chose to develop his young career with us.

An attack-minded full-back, Baillie enjoys getting forward whenever he can and he possesses a powerful shot that has seen him score goals for the club’s Under-18s this season. He also scored in Crewe’s 4-0 win over Cardiff City in the semi-final of the Under-21 Professional Development League Two and helped the club go onto lift the trophy with a deserved 1-0 win over QPR in the final.

Unfortunately, Baillie was unfairly sent-off for an apparent handball in the semi-final of the U-18 Professional Development League Two and the Crewe youngster lost their own final on penalties to Huddersfield Town.

Baillie is a pacey defender, who is reliable in his defending and strong in the tackle.