Versatile Hungary international Callum Styles has joined the Baggies on a four-year contract from Sky Bet League One side Barnsley.
The central midfielder, who is also comfortable playing out wide left or as a left-wing back, was born in March 2000 and played for Burnley’s academy as a youngster. Unfortunately for him, he was released by the Turf Moor outfit at the age of 16.
It wasn’t long before he was picked up by another club though, signing for Bury. At the age of 16, Callum made his professional debut for the Shakers, coming on with 15 minutes to go in the club’s League One encounter with Southend United at Gigg Lane. In doing so, Styles became the first player born in the new millennium to make an appearance in the EFL.
He went on to sign a maiden professional contract with Bury in February 2017, putting pen-to-paper on a two-and-a-half-year deal. During the 2016/17 campaign, Albion’s new man made a total of 13 appearances for the club, before going on to play a further 12 times the following year.
His progress at Bury attracted the attention of several other teams and when Barnsley came calling in August 2018, Styles signed a four-year contract at Oakwell. He would spend the first half of the 2018/19 term on loan back at his former club Bury, returning to his parent side in January.
His Tykes debut came in early March, completing the final nine minutes of a comfortable 2-0 victory over Accrington Stanley at home in the third tier. The midfielder featured a further six times towards the end of a campaign which saw the club promoted to the Championship.
His first senior goal came on a memorable night for both Callum and the Baggies. He notched Barnsley’s first goal in a 2-1 win at Brentford in the final game of the 2019/20 campaign. The result was huge for Barnsley and the Albion, with the win keeping the Tykes in the Championship and helping to send the Baggies up to the Premier League at the Bees’ expense.
Styles enjoyed an incredible 2020/21 campaign playing in midfield alongside Alex Mowatt and under the stewardship of former Albion manager Valerien Ismael. Barnsley finished fifth, securing a play-off position. They were narrowly beaten by Swansea City in the semi-final, with Callum completing 90 minutes in both legs. He ended the year with 50 appearances and five goals to his name in all competitions.
He was a regular in their XI the season after, however the year would end in disappointment for Barnsley who slipped into back into League One. 2021/22 wasn’t all bad for Callum though. In March 2022 he made his international debut for Hungary in a fixture against Serbia at Puskás Aréna.
He also appeared against Northern Ireland in the same week. He qualifies to play for Hungary through his grandmother. That summer, he started for his nation as they beat England 4-0 at Molineux in a UEFA Nations League encounter.
Styles was keen to stay in the Championship and Millwall swooped in to secure his services on a loan deal for the 2022/23 campaign. He made 22 appearances for the Lions, scoring once against, yes, you guessed it – West Bromwich Albion.
Callum spent the first half of last season at Barnsley in League One, scoring three goals for the Tykes before a loan move to Sunderland during the winter transfer window was sealed. He played 12 games for the Black Cats, helping cement his place in Hungary’s UEFA Euro 2024 squad.
Styles missed his nation’s opening game against Switzerland due to injury, made the bench for their second match against hosts Germany and played the first hour of their dramatic 1-0 victory over Scotland in the final group game.
The new addition brings with him plenty of Championship experience, international pedigree, versatility and an energetic style, aspects he’ll be hoping to display as soon as possible in B71.
