Mahlon Romeo

{{Short description|Antiguan footballer (born 1995)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Use British English|date=June 2016}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Mahlon Romeo | full_name = Mahlon Beresford Baker Romeo<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/4e/bd/0,,10794~179534,00.pdf |page=55 |title=Professional retain lists & free transfers 2012/13 |publisher=The Football League |date=May 2013 |accessdate=18 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802074454/http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/4e/bd/0%2C%2C10794~179534%2C00.pdf |archivedate=2 August 2014 }}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|9|19|df=y}}<ref name="11v11">{{cite web |title=Mahlon Romeo |url=http://www.11v11.com/players/mahlon-romeo-240775/|publisher=11v11 |accessdate=1 December 2015}}</ref> | birth_place = Westminster, England | height = 1.78 m<ref name="11v11"/> | position = Defender | currentclub = | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2012 | youthclubs1 = Arsenal | youthyears2 = 2012–2013 | youthclubs2 = Gillingham | years1 = 2013–2015 | clubs1 = Gillingham | caps1 = 1 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2013 | clubs2 = → Dover Athletic (loan) | caps2 = 1 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2015–2022 | clubs3 = Millwall | caps3 = 198 | goals3 = 2 | years4 = 2021–2022 | clubs4 = → Portsmouth (loan) | caps4 = 35 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2022–2024 | clubs5 = Cardiff City | caps5 = 48 | goals5 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2015– | nationalteam1 = Antigua and Barbuda | nationalcaps1 = 14 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | club-update = 30 August 2024 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 11:30, 2 May 2023 (UTC) }}

'''Mahlon Beresford Baker Romeo''' (born 19 September 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender. Born in England, he plays for the Antigua and Barbuda national team.

==Career== ===Gillingham=== Born in the London Borough of Westminster, Romeo joined Gillingham in the summer of 2012 on a two-year scholarship, having previously played in the academies of clubs Arsenal and Wycombe Wanderers.<ref name="v">{{Cite news | title = Former Arsenal youngster Mahlon Romeo is added to the Gillingham team for the trip to Port Vale in League 2 | url = http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/sport/2012/september/21/mahlon_romeo.aspx | publisher = Kent Online | date = 21 September 2012 | accessdate = 11 December 2013}}</ref> In January 2013, Romeo joined Conference South side Dover Athletic on a youth loan.<ref name="Romeo Goes to Dover">{{Cite news | title = Romeo Goes to Dover | url = http://nonleague.pitchero.com/news/romeo-goes-to-dover-19297/ | publisher = Non League Pitchero | date = 11 January 2013 | accessdate = 11 December 2013}}</ref> He made his debut in a 5–2 away defeat to Farnborough. He made his professional debut for Gillingham on the final day of the 2012–13 season as the Gills were crowned champions of Football League Two, a 3–2 away defeat at Burton Albion.

===Millwall=== In the summer of 2015, Romeo signed for Millwall and featured regularly in the first team by the second half of his first season with the Lions. He scored on his debut for Millwall, in a 3–0 League One win in February 2016 against Walsall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://beatsandrhymesfc.com/mahlon-romeo-interview-cub-classics-vol-one-flowing-in-time-with-the-young-lion/|title=Mahlon Romeo interview: Cub Classics Vol. One – Flowing in time with the young Lion|website=Beats and Rhymes FC.com|date=13 April 2017}}</ref> In May 2017, Romeo played the full 90 minutes as the Lions beat Bradford City 1–0 in the 2016-17 Football League One Playoff final at Wembley Stadium to gain promotion to the Championship.<ref name=Playoffs>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsatden.co.uk/62914-millwalls-romeo-achieves-boyhood-dream.html|title=Millwall's Romeo achieves boyhood dream|website=News At Den.co.uk|date=24 May 2017}}</ref>

Romeo then scored his first goal of the club's 2017–18 season in a 3–1 win over Sheffield United.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2017/december/romeo-happy-with-goal-bonus-in-blades-victory/|title=Romeo happy with goal "bonus" in Blades victory|website=Millwall FC.co.uk}}</ref>

On 31 August 2021, Romeo joined Portsmouth on loan for the 2021–22 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mahlon Romeo: Portsmouth sign Millwall right-back on loan |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58404255 |access-date=3 September 2021}}</ref>

===Cardiff City=== On 15 June 2022, Romeo joined Championship club Cardiff City for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal. Romeo had previously played with new manager Steve Morison at Millwall.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/done-deal-mahlon-romeo-joins-bluebirds|title=Done Deal : Mahlon Romeo joins the Bluebirds|website=www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk|date=15 June 2022|accessdate=15 June 2022}}</ref>

On 30 July 2024, his contract with Cardiff City was terminated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cm238ddxlxlo|title=Cardiff City and Mahlon Romeo part company by mutual consent|date=30 August 2024|website=BBC Sport}}</ref>

==Personal life== Romeo is the son of fitness expert Efua Baker and music producer and musician Jazzie B; best known as the frontman of the R&B group Soul II Soul,<ref name="bbc info 1">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7405241.stm|publisher=BBC|title=OBE for DJ and producer Jazzie B|date=16 May 2008|access-date=11 December 2013}}</ref> while his sister is actress Jessye Romeo. He is of Antiguan descent through his father, and Ghanaian through his mother.

In June 2024, ''WalesOnline'' revealed that Romeo had been convicted of homophobic abuse of a police officer earlier that year. Romeo entered a guilty plea to using "threatening, abusive, or insulting" language or actions and was ordered to pay the victim £100 and was fined £3,317. Romeo was fined £4,423 at a previous hearing in March for operating a vehicle while affected by alcohol.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=2024-07-06 |title=Antiguan Footballer Apologizes for Homophobic Comments - Antigua News ! |url=https://antigua.news/2024/07/06/antiguan-football-apologizes-for-homophobic-comments/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |language=en-GB}} Antigua.news</ref> ''WalesOnline'' reported Romeo had used homophobic slurs while being held in a Cardiff police station after he had been arrested for drink-driving.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-stars-homophobic-abuse-29428246|title=Cardiff City star's homophobic abuse of police officer|website=www.walesonline.co.uk |date=27 June 2024 }}</ref> The day after the publication of ''WalesOnline'''s article, Romeo issued a statement on the incident, saying: "I would like to sincerely apologise to the club and its supporters for my actions on February 8, 2024, which have caused hurt and distress. Those who know me closely know that I do not hold any prejudice against anyone based on their sexual orientation or sexuality. In the past I have worked hard to fight against discrimination and prejudice and so my actions that evening are of great personal disappointment."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-star-mahlon-romeo-29439504|title=Cardiff City star Mahlon Romeo issues statement after homophobic rant at police officer|website=www.walesonline.co.uk |date=28 June 2024 }}</ref>

==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{updated|match played 30 April 2023}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="3"|Gillingham |2012–13<ref name="Games played by Mahlon Romeo in 2012/2013">{{Soccerbase season|69982|2012|name=Mahlon Romeo|access-date=11 December 2013}}</ref> |League Two |1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0 |- |2014–15<ref name="Games played by Mahlon Romeo in 2014/2015">{{Soccerbase season|69982|2014|name=Mahlon Romeo|access-date=11 December 2013}}</ref> |League One |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0 |- |Dover Athletic (loan) |2012–13<ref name="Games played by Mahlon Romeo in 2012/2013 for Dover">{{Cite web | title = Games played by Mahlon Romeo in 2012/2013 for Dover | url = https://int.soccerway.com/players/mahlon-romeo/281693/ | publisher = Soccerway | accessdate = 11 December 2013}}</ref> |Conference South |1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- |rowspan="8"|Millwall |2015–16<ref name="Games played by Mahlon Romeo in 2015/2016 for Millwall">{{Soccerbase season|69982|2015|name=Mahlon Romeo|access-date=7 February 2016}}</ref> |League One |18||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||18||1 |- |2016–17<ref name="Games played by Mahlon Romeo in 2016/2017 for Millwall">{{Soccerbase season|69982|2016|name=Mahlon Romeo|access-date=7 February 2016}}</ref> |League One |32||0||3||1||1||0||4{{Efn|One appearance in EFL Trophy, three appearances in League One play-offs}}||0||40||1 |- |2017–18<ref name="MR17">{{soccerbase season|69982|2017|accessdate = 2 September 2017}}</ref> |Championship |27||1||2||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||31||1 |- |2018–19<ref name="MR18">{{soccerbase season|69982|2018|accessdate = 16 January 2019}}</ref> |Championship |41||0||4||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||47||0 |- |2019–20<ref name="MR19">{{soccerbase season|69982|2019|accessdate = 22 October 2019}}</ref> |Championship |43||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||44||0 |- |2020–21<ref name="MR20">{{soccerbase season|69982|2020|accessdate = 15 June 2022}}</ref> |Championship |35||0||1||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||38||0 |- |2021–22<ref name="MR21">{{soccerbase season|69982|2021|accessdate = 15 June 2022}}</ref> |Championship |2||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||3||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !198!!2!!10!!1!!9!!0!!4!!0!!221!!3 |- |Portsmouth (loan) |2021–22<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mahlon Romeo {{!}} Football Stats {{!}} Cardiff City {{!}} Season 2021/2022 {{!}} Soccer Base |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=69982&season_id=154 |access-date=2 May 2023 |website=www.soccerbase.com}}</ref> |League One |35||0||2||0||0||0||4{{Efn|Appearances in EFL Trophy}}||0||41||0 |- |Cardiff City |2022–23<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mahlon Romeo {{!}} Football Stats {{!}} Cardiff City {{!}} Season 2022/2023 {{!}} Soccer Base |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=69982&season_id=155 |access-date=2 May 2023 |website=www.soccerbase.com}}</ref> |Championship |32 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |32 |0 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !267!!2!!12!!1!!9!!0!!8!!0!!296!!3 |}

{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

===International=== {{updated|match played 26 March 2023}}<ref name="NFT">{{cite web |url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/59443.html |title=Mahlon Romeo |website=National-Football-Teams.com |access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- | rowspan="4" |Antigua and Barbuda |2015||4||0 |- |2016||4||0 |- |2018||4||0 |- |2023 |2 |0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total!!14!!0 |}

==Honours== '''Millwall''' *EFL League One play-offs: 2017<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39905619|title=Bradford City 0–1 Millwall|first=Josh|last=Hunt|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 May 2017|access-date=27 May 2018}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://twitter.com/Mahlon_Romeo?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Mahlon Romeo] on Twitter *{{Soccerbase}} *{{Soccerway|mahlon-romeo/281693}} *{{NFT|59443}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Romeo, Mahlon}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from the City of Westminster Category:People from Westminster Category:Antigua and Barbuda men's footballers Category:Antigua and Barbuda men's international footballers Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Gillingham F.C. players Category:Dover Athletic F.C. players Category:Millwall F.C. players Category:Portsmouth F.C. players Category:Cardiff City F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:English people of Antigua and Barbuda descent Category:Sportspeople of Antigua and Barbuda descent Category:Black British sportsmen Category:21st-century Black British people Category:English people of Ghanaian descent Category:Antigua and Barbuda people of Ghanaian descent Category:Sportspeople of Ghanaian descent Category:21st-century English sportsmen