Jamie Walker (footballer)

Jamie Walker (born 25 June 1993) is a Scottish footballer who plays for Bradford City as an attacking midfielder or winger. He has previously played for Hearts, Raith Rovers and Wigan Athletic and represented Scotland at every youth international level.

Jamie Walker
Personal information
Full name Jamie Walker
Date of birth (1993-06-25) 25 June 1993
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Bradford City
Number 7
Youth career
2003–2011 Heart of Midlothian
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2018 Heart of Midlothian 182 (40)
2011–2012 → Raith Rovers (loan) 24 (3)
2018–2019 Wigan Athletic 9 (0)
2018 → Peterborough United (loan) 17 (2)
2019–2022 Heart of Midlothian 39 (11)
2022 → Bradford City (loan) 19 (4)
2022– Bradford City 27 (5)
International career‡
2008 Scotland U15 2 (1)
2008–2010 Scotland U16 6 (1)
2009–2010 Scotland U17 8 (3)
2010 Scotland U19 1 (0)
2013 Scotland U21 1 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:57, 28 August 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 August 2012

Early life

Walker grew up in the Wester Hailes area of Edinburgh and attended Forrester High School. His great uncle was Tommy Walker, the former Hearts player and manager and Scottish international inside forward.[1]

Club career

Heart of Midlothian

A member of Hearts under-19 squad,[2] Walker's performances in the early part of the 2011–12 season earned him a new three-year contract extending his stay with the club until 2014.[3]

With Hearts in financial difficulty and wanting to bring through members of their under-19 squad into the first team,[4][5] Walker was sent on loan to Raith Rovers in November 2011 to gain first team experience.[6][7] He made his debut for Raith on 26 November 2011, in their 3–2 win against Hamilton.[8] Walker only trained one day a week with Raith, with the rest being spent with Hearts due to their use of astroturf causing greater risk of injury.[9] On 4 January 2012 his loan deal was extended for another month.[10] After a brief period back at Hearts, he returned to Raith on 31 January 2012 for the rest of the 2011/12 season.[11] He scored his first goal for Raith on 11 February, in a 2–2 draw with Ross County.[12]

Walker made his first team debut for Hearts on 18 August 2012, appearing as a substitute in the 2–2 draw with Inverness CT at Tynecastle. Walker capped off his debut season with an individual goal against St Mirren in May 2013. He was awarded Hearts' Overall "Young Player of the Year" for season 2012/13.

Season 2013–14 started well for Walker, helping his side to a 1–0 victory over city rivals Hibernian.[13] The following week Walker scored an equaliser against Partick Thistle away from home. He scored again against Aberdeen which helped his team to a 2–1 win. This win took the club to −8pts after starting with −15pts due to the club entering administration. Hearts were eventually relegated, but Walker helped them regain top division status by winning the 2014–15 Scottish Championship.

Early in the 2016/17 season, Walker was given a two-match suspension after he was found guilty of diving to win a penalty kick against Celtic.[14] The captain of Celtic, Scott Brown, called Walker a "cheat" after the match.[15] Walker scored twice in a 4–1 win against Rangers on 1 February 2017.[16]

Walker was subject to transfer speculation for most of 2017, with his contract due to expire at the end of the 2017/18.

Wigan Athletic

Walker moved to Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed transfer fee in January 2018.[17]

In August 2018 he joined Peterborough United on loan.[18] He scored his first goal for Peterborough in an EFL Trophy tie against MK Dons on 4 September 2018.[19] Walker was however recalled by Wigan on 2 January 2019 having made 18 appearances for Peterborough.[20]

Heart of Midlothian

Walker rejoined Hearts on 28 June 2019 on a three-year deal.[21] He broke his leg in August 2019.[22] He returned to first team training on the 28th of October.[23]

Bradford City

On 11 January 2022, Walker moved on loan to Bradford City, citing his wish for more playing time,[24] after only making 7 appearances for Hearts in the 2021–22 season in all competitions.[25]

On 8 May 2022, Walker agreed a two-year permanent deal with Bradford to begin upon the expiration of his Hearts contract on 30 June 2022.[26]

International career

Walker has represented Scotland at U15, U16, U17, U19 and U21 level.[27] Walker made his debut for the Scotland U21s against Luxembourg in a 3–0 win on 25 March 2013. In the game, he also scored his debut goal to make the score 1–0 with a volley from the edge of the box.[28]

Career statistics
As of match played 1 April 2023[29][30]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionApps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Hearts 2011–12 Scottish Premier League 0000000000
2012–13 242002000262
2013–14 263103000303
2014–15 Scottish Championship 33111020003611
2015–16 Scottish Premiership 237203000287
2016–17 341242114[lower-alpha 1]04315
2017–18 162003000192
Total 15637821414018240
Raith Rovers 2011–12 Scottish Championship 233100000243
Wigan Athletic 2017–18 League One 8000000080
Peterborough United 2018–19 League One 12110104[lower-alpha 2]1182
Heart of Midlothian 2019–20 Scottish Premiership 153505100254
2020–21 Scottish Championship 2170041—258
2021–22 Scottish Premiership 310041—72
Total 391150133005714
Bradford City 2021-22 League Two 19 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 4
2022-23 League Two 16 3 0 0 0 0 1[lower-alpha 2] 0 17 3
Career total 273591522849132566
  1. Appearances in the Europa League
  2. Appearances in the EFL Trophy


Honours

Heart of Midlothian

Scottish cup runner up

Scottish League cup runner up

Wigan Athletic

Individual

References
  1. "Jamie Walker aiming to make an impact at Hearts". Scotsman.com. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  2. "Hearts under 19 Squad 2011–12". Heart of Midlothian F.C. Archived from the original on 1 September 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  3. "Hat-trick of new deals". Heart of Midlothian F.C. 18 November 2011. Archived from the original on 20 November 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
  4. "Hearts' faces of tomorrow". The Scotsman. 22 November 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  5. "Hearts start fast-tracking youth players to first team". Scotsman Publications. Edinburgh Evening News. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  6. "Trio off on loan". Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  7. "Loan Signings Confirmed". Raith Rovers FC. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
  8. "Raith Rovers 3 – 2 Hamilton Academical". SFL. 26 November 2011. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  9. "3 of Hearts is Raith's trump card". The Scotsman. 29 November 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  10. "Duo extend loans". Heart of Midlothian FC. 4 January 2012. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  11. "Rob Wrexham-bound". Heart of Midlothian FC. 31 January 2012. Archived from the original on 3 February 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  12. "New boy Jamie Walker rallies Raith". The Scotsman. 12 February 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  13. "Hearts 1–0 Hibs". BBC. BBC Sport. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  14. "Jamie Walker: Hearts winger given two-match ban for diving". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  15. "Hearts 1-2 Celtic: Jamie Walker a 'cheat', says Celtic's Scott Brown". BBC Sport. BBC. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  16. Wilson, Richard (1 February 2017). "Heart of Midlothian 4–1 Rangers". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  17. "Jamie Walker Signs For Wigan Athletic". Wigan Athletic FC. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  18. "Jamie Walker: Peterborough United sign Wigan's former Hearts midfielder on loan". BBC. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  19. "ON-THE-WHISTLE-REPORT: MK DONS 3, PETERBOROUGH UNITED 3". peterboroughtoday.co.uk. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  20. "Jamie Walker Recalled From Loan Spell At Peterborough United". Wigan Athletic. 2 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  21. "Jamie Walker: Hearts sign attacker from Wigan Athletic". BBC Sport. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  22. "Hearts: Jamie Walker out until December with leg break". BBC Sport. 18 August 2019.
  23. "Craig Levein gives injury update on Jamie Walker as Hearts emerge from rock bottom". 29 October 2019 – via https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk. {{cite web}}: External link in |via= (help)
  24. "@jamiewalker7 Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  25. "Bradford sign Hearts winger Walker" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  26. "WALKER AGREES PERMANENT CONTRACT". www.bradfordcityafc.com. 8 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  27. "Jamie Walker SFA Profile". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  28. "Scotland u21s 3–0 Luxembourg u21s". The Daily Record. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  29. "Jamie Walker Soccerway Stats". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  30. "Jamie Walker". soccerbase.com. Soccerbase. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  31. "Jamie Walker returns to Hearts after agreeing long-term deal | The Scotsman".
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