Jay Haddow

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Wikipedia

Jay Haddow
慈英
Personal information
Full name Jay Maeda Haddow[1]
Date of birth (2004-04-02) 2 April 2004 (age 21)
Place of birth Hong Kong[2]
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 Kitchee
Number 6
Youth career
2012–2016 Kitchee
2016–2024 Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Kitchee 16 (1)
International career‡
2022 Japan U-19 2 (0)
2025– Hong Kong U-22 3 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:04, 29 March 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 9 September 2025

Jay Maeda Haddow (Chinese: 慈英; Japanese: 前田 ハドー 慈英 Maeda Hadō Jiei; born 2 April 2004) is a professional footballer who currently plays as a defender for Hong Kong Premier League club Kitchee. Born in Hong Kong, he played twice for Japan U-19 before returning to represent Hong Kong.

Club career

Early career

Haddow started his career with Kitchee in Hong Kong, where he played from the age of eight until twelve.[3] He moved to England and signed for Blackburn Rovers in 2016.[4] Haddow signed a two-year scholarship term with Blackburn Rovers in July 2020.[5] During his scholarship Haddow made 40 appearances for the U18s and 12 appearances for the U23s in all competitions.

On 14 July 2022, it was announced that Haddow had signed a professional contract with Blackburn Rovers.[6] Despite interest from other Premier League and Championship clubs,[7] Haddow signed for Blackburn on a two-year contract up until the summer of 2024.

On 18 May 2024, it was confirmed Haddow would be leaving the club at the end of his contract.[8]

Kitchee

On 1 July 2024, Haddow signed with Hong Kong Premier League club Kitchee.[9]

On 7 August 2024, Haddow made his official club debut in the BOC Life Cup held at Hong Kong Stadium in a match against Atlético Madrid.[10]

On 22 March 2025, Haddow scored his first professional goal against Eastern in the Hong Kong Sapling Cup.[11]

International career

Born in Hong Kong to a Scottish father and Japanese mother,[12] Haddow is eligible to represent Japan, Hong Kong, England and Scotland at international level.[4][13]

In May 2022, Haddow was called up to the Japan national under-19 team for the first time ahead of the 2022 Maurice Revello Tournament.[1] Haddow made his Japan U19 debut against Comoros U21 coming on as a substitute in the 55th minute.[14]

In September 2024, Haddow applied for a HKSAR passport.[15] On 25 July 2025, it was announced that Haddow had acquired his HKSAR passport, making him eligible to represent Hong Kong internationally.[16]

Haddow was named in the Hong Kong Under-23 squad for the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Personal life

Haddow grew up in Discovery Bay, Hong Kong and was educated at Discovery College as a primary school student. He then spent a year at Island School before moving to the United Kingdom.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 "U-19 Japan National Team squad - The 48th Maurice Revello Tournament (5/29-6/12＠France)". jfa.jp. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 Jay Haddow at WorldFootball.net
  3. ↑ "Jay Haddow". rovers.co.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  4. 1 2 McNicol, Andrew (23 June 2020). "From Kitchee to Blackburn Rovers – Hong Kong-born footballer Jay Haddow channels inner Michael Carrick after England move". scmp.com. Retrieved 23 May 2022. (subscription required)
  5. ↑ "Hong Kong teen footballer Haddow joins Blackburn Rovers". South China Morning Post. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  6. ↑ "Jay pens pro deal!". Blackburn Rovers FC. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  7. ↑ James, Alex (23 May 2022). "Rovers ace attracting Premier League transfer interest amid international call". LancsLive. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  8. ↑ "Retain List confirmed". Blackburn Rovers. 18 May 2024.
  9. ↑ "Kitchee reach agreement to sign former Academy student Jay Haddow". www.kitchee.com. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  10. ↑ "Atlético 6-1 Kitchee (7 Aug, 2024) Final Score - ESPN (UK)". ESPN. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  11. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  12. ↑ McIntyre, Scott (29 July 2022). "Haddow's heart always with Japan". The Asian Game. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  13. ↑ Crooke, Jaquob (28 May 2021). "International dilemmas Blackburn Rovers players face after Ben Brereton's shock Chile call". lancs.live. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  14. ↑ "U-19日本代表、PK戦3人連続失敗でコモロに敗れる…この日もGK木村凌也は好セーブ連発". ゲキサカ (in Japanese). 3 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  15. ↑ "港超聯 傑志迎戰港會再大開殺戒". on.cc東網 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  16. ↑ "港超聯 慈英取得特區護照". on.cc東網 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 25 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  17. ↑ "At the Gothia Football Cup students win qualifying games reaching the quarter finals". island.edu.hk. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2022.