Daniels Balodis, a strapping lad from Latvia, was born on the 10th of June, 1998, thus placing him at a respectable 26 years of age. Primarily functioning as a central defender for St Johnstone, he towers over his fellows with a height of 1.88m (or 6ft 2in, for the more imperial-minded among us). He tips the scales at a sturdy 78kg (or 12st 3lb for those who still hold a candle for the old decimal system). He stands forth upon the field with the number 4 blazoned across his jersey. Furthermore, Balodis can lay claim to having represented his homeland, Latvia, in the theatres of international football.
Deeming to delve into the nuanced subject of monetary evaluation, Transfermarkt places Balodis' current market value in the vicinity of €400k. With an approximate conversion, it equates to roughly £342k, give or take the daily fluctuations of the currency market.
Transfers can often be as varied and unpredictable as the ebb and flow of a football match. Such was also true for Balodis. His journey took him first to Valmiera in the Virslīga of Latvia in July 2020. A mere four years later in July 2024, he sought pastures new, transferring from Valmiera to RFS, still within the Virslīga of Latvia, for a fee that remains undisclosed. Gateway to the Scottish Highlands, St Johnstone, welcomed Balodis to its ranks in January 2025, traversing from Latvia to the Premiership, nestled in the Scotish landscape.
In the annals of his football history, one finds Balodis registered in the Scottish Cup 2024 - 2025 for St Johnstone, starting the game twice in royal blue. His international career with Latvia is also significant, taking to the field in the World Cup Qualifiers Europe 2024 - 2026 for two starting berths. A similar tale unfolds for the Euro Qualifiers 2022 - 2024 for Latvia, where he netted a goal amongst his five starts. His involvement is carried further into the Nations League 2024 - 2025 for Latvia, sporting four starts and a single appearance as a substitute.
