Hallgrimsson: 'Lies' told over Bazunu's Israel exit
Ireland's manager denies a squad rift over Gavin Bazunu skipping the Israel game, confirming Sunday's rematch in Serbia will go ahead behind closed doors.
Midfielder · Republic of Ireland · №10
| Date | Match | Score |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2:2 | |
|
|
0:3 | |
|
|
1:0 | |
|
|
2:1 | |
|
|
4:1 | |
|
|
3:1 | |
|
|
1:1 | |
|
|
5:1 | |
|
|
1:4 | |
|
|
3:1 |
| Competition | Season | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Championship | 2025 | 11 |
| Championship | 2026 | 7 |
| UEFA Nations League | 2026 | 3 |
| FA Cup | 2025 | 3 |
| League Cup | 2026 | 2 |
| Friendlies | 2026 | 1 |
Finn Azaz spent much of his early career leaving Aston Villa to prove himself elsewhere. Villa signed him from West Bromwich Albion's academy in 2021 without ever giving him a senior appearance, and instead sent him out on a string of loans that built his reputation in the lower divisions. At Cheltenham Town he won the EFL League Two title, at Newport County he was named the division's Young Player of the Season after scoring seven goals, and at Plymouth Argyle he helped the club to the League One title in 2022–23 before being voted their Goal of the Season the following year.
Middlesbrough made that loan spell permanent in January 2024, and it was there that Azaz established himself, scoring 17 goals in 68 appearances. His form peaked in November 2024, when he was named the division's Player of the Month by both the EFL and the PFA. That run of performances persuaded Southampton to pay around £12 million, plus up to £2 million in add-ons, to sign him in August 2025.
Born in Westminster, Azaz qualifies for the Republic of Ireland and chose to represent them internationally, having previously been capped once by the Ireland U21 side during a European Championship qualifying playoff against Israel. He made his senior Ireland debut in March 2024, without ever appearing for England at any youth level.
At Southampton he picked up the PFA Championship Fans' Player of the Month award for November 2025, continuing the pattern of individual recognition that followed him through the second tier at three different clubs.
| Season | Club | Competition | Games | Goals | Assists | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26/27 | Southampton | Championship | 5 | 1 | 3 | 381 |
| 26/27 | Southampton | EFL Cup | 2 | 0 | 1 | 39 |
| 25/26 | Southampton | Championship | 41 | 10 | 7 | 2 979 |
| 25/26 | Southampton | FA Cup | 4 | 1 | 1 | 315 |
| 25/26 | Middlesbrough | Championship | 2 | 1 | 1 | 93 |
| 25/26 | Southampton | Championship Play-Offs | 2 | 0 | 0 | 210 |
| 24/25 | Middlesbrough | Championship | 45 | 12 | 11 | 3 567 |
| 24/25 | Middlesbrough | EFL Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 23/24 | Plymouth Argyle | Championship | 26 | 7 | 5 | 1 769 |
| 23/24 | Middlesbrough | Championship | 20 | 4 | 5 | 1 362 |
| 23/24 | Plymouth Argyle | EFL Cup | 2 | 0 | 0 | 77 |
| 22/23 | Plymouth Argyle | League One | 34 | 8 | 9 | 2 080 |
| 22/23 | Plymouth Argyle | EFL Trophy | 4 | 0 | 1 | 184 |
| 22/23 | Plymouth Argyle | EFL Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
| 21/22 | Newport County AFC | League Two | 42 | 7 | 7 | 3 299 |
| 21/22 | Newport County AFC | EFL Cup | 2 | 0 | 1 | 109 |
| 21/22 | Newport County AFC | FA Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 |
| 20/21 | Cheltenham Town | League Two | 37 | 1 | 2 | 2 296 |
| 20/21 | Cheltenham Town | FA Cup | 3 | 1 | 0 | 218 |
| 20/21 | Cheltenham Town | EFL Trophy | 2 | 0 | 0 | 103 |
| 20/21 | Cheltenham Town | EFL Cup | 2 | 1 | 0 | 135 |
| 19/20 | West Bromwich Albion U21 | Premier League 2 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 1 167 |
| 18/19 | West Bromwich Albion U21 | Premier League 2 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 1 192 |
| 18/19 | West Bromwich Albion U18 | FA Youth Cup | 5 | 3 | 0 | 436 |
| 18/19 | West Bromwich Albion U18 | U18 Premier League | 4 | 3 | 1 | 360 |
| 18/19 | West Bromwich Albion U21 | EFL Trophy | 3 | 1 | 0 | 270 |
| 17/18 | West Bromwich Albion U21 | Premier League 2 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 947 |
| 17/18 | West Bromwich Albion U18 | U18 Premier League | 10 | 4 | 2 | 821 |
| 17/18 | West Bromwich Albion U21 | EFL Trophy | 3 | 0 | 0 | 139 |
| 17/18 | West Bromwich Albion U18 | FA Youth Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 77 |
| 16/17 | West Bromwich Albion U18 | U18 Premier League - National Final | 4 | 0 | 0 | 253 |
| 16/17 | West Bromwich Albion U18 | U18 Premier League | 4 | 1 | 2 | 354 |
| 16/17 | West Bromwich Albion U21 | Premier League 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 72 |
| Total | Middlesbrough | 68 | 17 | 17 | 5 042 | |
| Total | Plymouth Argyle | 67 | 15 | 15 | 4 142 | |
| Total | West Bromwich Albion U21 | 57 | 5 | 4 | 3 787 | |
| Total | Southampton | 54 | 12 | 12 | 3 924 | |
| Total | Newport County AFC | 45 | 7 | 8 | 3 498 | |
| Total | Cheltenham Town | 44 | 3 | 2 | 2 752 | |
| Total | West Bromwich Albion U18 | 28 | 11 | 5 | 2 301 |
Ireland's manager denies a squad rift over Gavin Bazunu skipping the Israel game, confirming Sunday's rematch in Serbia will go ahead behind closed doors.