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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 (age 20)
Place of birth	Abuja, Nigeria
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s)	Left-back
Club 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	22	(0)
National team‡
2017	United States U15	5	(0)
2017–2019	United States U17	7	(1)
2021–	United States	7	(0)
Honours Representing  United States Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2021
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 13, 2022 ‡ 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 footballer 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 November 13, 2022[21]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[lower-alpha 1]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Atlanta United 2	2018	United Soccer League	6	0	–		–		–		6	0
	2019	USL Championship	12	1	–		–		–		12	0
	2020	USL Championship	1	0	–		–		–		1	0
	Total		19	1	–		–		–		19	1
Atlanta United	2018	Major League Soccer	3	1	0	0	–		0	0	3	1
	2019	Major League Soccer	0	0	0	0	1[lower-alpha 2]	0	0	0	1	0
	2020	Major League Soccer	20[lower-alpha 3]	1	–		1[lower-alpha 2]	0	–		21	1
	2021	Major League Soccer	29	1	–		4[lower-alpha 2]	0	1[lower-alpha 4]	0	34	1
	Total		52	3	–		6	0	1	0	59	3
Arminia Bielefeld	2021–22	Bundesliga	10	0	0	0	–		–		10	0
	2022–23	2. Bundesliga	12	0	2	0	–		–		14	0
	Total		22	0	2	0	–		0	0	24	0
Career total			93	4	2	0	6	0	1	0	102	4

International

As of match played June 10, 2022[21][22]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
United States	2021	6	0
	2022	1	0
Total		7	0

Honors

Atlanta United

• MLS Cup: 2018
• U.S. Open Cup: 2019
• Campeones Cup: 2019

United States

• CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2021

Individual

• MLS All-Star: 2021[23]

References

External links

• Profile at Atlanta United

На других языках

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[de] George Bello

George Bello (* 22. Januar 2002 in Abuja, Nigeria) ist ein US-amerikanisch-nigerianischer Fußballspieler. Der linke Außenverteidiger steht in Deutschland bei Arminia Bielefeld unter Vertrag und ist US-amerikanischer Nationalspieler.

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- [en] George Bello

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[es] George Bello

George Oluwaseun Bello (Abuya, 22 de enero de 2002) es un futbolista estadounidense que juega de defensa en el Arminia Bielefeld de la 2. Bundesliga de Alemania.[1]

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[fr] George Bello

George Bello, né le 22 janvier 2002 à Abuja, est un joueur américain de soccer qui évolue au poste d'arrière gauche à l'Arminia Bielefeld.

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[it] George Bello

George Oluwaseun Bello (Abuja, 22 gennaio 2002) è un calciatore statunitense, difensore dell'Arminia Bielefeld e della nazionale statunitense.

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[ru] Белло, Джордж

Джордж Олувасеун Белло (англ. George Oluwaseun Bello; род. 22 января 2002, Абуджа, Нигерия) — американский футболист нигерийского происхождения, левый защитник клуба «Арминия Билефельд» и сборной США.

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