Zakariya Shakeel Lovelace (born 23 January 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL Championship club Millwall.
In 2019, Lovelace joined Millwall from Glebe after scoring 43 goals in 15 appearances en route to Glebe's Kent Youth League victory.[3] On 29 December 2021, after scoring 21 goals in 19 appearances throughout Millwall's youth teams, Lovelace made his debut as a late substitute in Millwall's 1–0 win over Coventry City, becoming Millwall's second youngest ever player in the process.[4]
On 4 July 2022, Lovelace signed for Scottish club Rangers, initially linking up with the club's Academy.[5][6] He was sent off for simulation in the 2023 Scottish Youth Cup Final against Celtic, which Rangers lost 6-5.[7]
Lovelace made his first team debut for Rangers in the League Cup against Scottish League One team Queen of the South on 30 August 2022.[8] He made his first Scottish Premiership appearance for the club against Old Firm rivals Celtic on 13 May 2023.[9] He made his first start for Rangers against St Mirren on 8 October 2023. On 24th October 2024 Lovelace made his first European appearance coming on as a substitute in a UEFA Europa League 4-0 victory over FCSB.[10]
On 3 February 2025, Lovelace left Rangers to rejoin Millwall on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee.[11] His second Millwall debut was delayed after he had to undergo an operation on a knee injury later that month.[12]
Born in England, Lovelace is of Jamaican descent.[13] On 22 March 2023, Lovelace made his England U17 debut during a 3–1 win over Denmark in Katwijk as part of 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification.[14]
On 17 May 2023, Lovelace was named in the England squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[15] He scored his only goal of the tournament against Switzerland as England finished fifth.[16]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Millwall | 2021–22 | EFL Championship | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| Total | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Rangers B | 2022–23 | — | — | — | — | 3[a] | 1 | 3 | 1 | |||||
| 2023–24 | — | — | — | — | 3[a] | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||||||
| 2024–25 | — | — | — | — | 2[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | — | — | — | — | 8 | 2 | 8 | 2 | ||||||
| Rangers | 2022–23[17] | Scottish Premiership | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
| 2023–24[18] | Scottish Premiership | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25[19] | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 18 | 2 | ||
