Jonjo Shelvey
Birthdate: 27 February 1992
Birthplace: Romford, England
Other clubs: Charlton Athletic (2008-10), Blackpool (loan 2011)
Bought from: Charlton Athletic
Signed for LFC: £1.7m, 10.05.2010
International debut: 12.10.2012 vs. San Marino
International caps: 1/0
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Liverpool debut: 22.09.2010
Last appearance: 12.05.2013
Debut goal: 06.01.2012
Last goal: 09.12.2012
Contract expiry: Signed 10.07.2012
Win ratio: 47.83% W: 33 D: 16 L: 20
Games/goals ratio: 9.86
LFC league games/goals: 47 / 2
Total LFC games/goals: 69 / 7
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Player profile
Hard-working, tenacious, attacking midfielder Shelvey was one of Rafa Benítez’ last signings at Liverpool. When Shelvey was only 16 years and 59 days old he became Charlton Athletic's youngest-ever player when featuring for the Addicks against Barnsley in the Championship on 26 April 2008. A year later Chelsea came calling but by rejecting the London Blues, the young East Londoner had obviously thought carefully about a career path that would give him the best chance of success. He stayed loyal to the first club that had offered him a professional contract, Charlton Athletic. Shelvey made 49 appearances for the London club, scoring eight goals before accepting a move to Liverpool two years later. The Reds paid an initial £1.7m with further potential payments up to £3m depending on domestic and international appearances.
If it was unsettling that Rafa, who had signed him, left so soon after his own arrival at Anfield, it soon became clear that incoming boss Roy Hodgson was already aware of the midfielder’s promise. Still a teenager when his debut season as a Liverpool player finished, Shelvey could look back on 21 first-team appearances, but he only made four starts. Shelvey joined Championship side Blackpool on loan at the end of September until 31 December 2011, but returned home a month earlier the day after Lucas Leiva was stretchered off in Liverpool's League Cup quarter-final at Stamford Bridge. Shelvey had tremendous success at Blackpool, scoring six goals in ten Championship matches, including a hat-trick in a 5-0 victory at Leeds. Shelvey made nine starts in 2011/12 and could be pretty happy with his progress although he didn't feature in either cup final. The run of matches he had in the second half of the season must have done wonders for his confidence. In the final home match of the season, he scored his first Premier League goal with a blistering shot from distance that flew past Chelsea goalkeeper Ross Turnbull like a guided missile. In the second week of July 2012 Jonjo signed a new long-term contract. "Tactically I have become a lot better and technically too," Shveley said. "When you're working with people like Steven Gerrard and people like that, you're learning things day in, day out and it's an honour."
An impressive start to 2012/13, which included three goals in two Europa League matches, helped to earn Shelvey a call-up to England's senior squad for the first time for the October World Cup qualifying matches against San Marino and Poland. He made his full international debut when coming on as a second-half substitute for Michael Carrick in the first of those two matches, against the group minnows at Wembley.