Baines started his career with Wigan Athletic, and was part of the team that won the Second Division in the 2002–03 season and was a runner-up in the 2004–05 Championship and the 2006 League Cup final.

[4] Baines occupied a dual role at Everton, serving as the manager of their under-18 team and as a professional development coach for the club’s Academy.

Born in Kirkby, England, Baines was part of the Everton youth system before departing for Wigan Athletic as a teenager.

[13] In July 2007, Baines rejected a move to Sunderland, after their bid of a reported £6 million was accepted by Wigan Athletic FC.

[citation needed] Due to an injury to Yobo, Lescott moved to the centre of defence and Baines played at left back.

[27] Baines scored two free-kicks either side of goalkeeper Jussi Jääskeläinen from the same position as Everton beat West Ham United 3–2 in September.

[28][citation needed] He was only the fifth player since 2006–07 to score two direct free-kicks in one Premier League match (after Rooney, Ronaldo, Drogba and Larsson).

[34] He scored his first ever goal in European football for Everton on 18 September 2014, netting from the penalty spot in a 4–1 win over Wolfsburg in the first match of their UEFA Europa League campaign.

[37] In January 2015, Baines made his 45th assist in the Premier League to overtake Graeme Le Saux as the defender with the most in the division's history.

[42] Baines scored the winner for Everton in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round first leg against Slovakian side Ružomberok on 27 July 2017.

[45][46] On his first start of the 2019–20 season, on 18 December 2019, Baines scored the equalizer from 25 yards against Leicester City in the 91st minute of an EFL Cup tie.

[48] Baines made his debut for the England under-21s in a 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification away to Austria in September 2004 under Peter Taylor.

[49][50] In the following campaign Baines scored a vital goal for the England under-21 team against Germany on 6 October 2006, securing a 1–0 win in the first leg of a UEFA European U21 Championship play-off.

[citation needed] In 2014, Roberto Martínez considered redeploying Baines as a midfielder, in a similar change to Philipp Lahm.

[41] Baines has also drawn praise in the media for his crossing, stamina, link up play, and ability to avoid injuries.

[67] In September 2020, just two months after retiring from playing, Baines was appointed as professional development coach at Everton's academy set-up.

[4] That December, David Unsworth, the manager of the club's under-23s, expressed that he was impressed with Baines' contribution to the team's coaching staff, believing his presence to have a huge impact on the young players coming through the youth system.