Career
Born in Sarajevo, SFR Yugoslavia, Babalj has spent the majority of his life in Australia and started off playing with Perth South Carolina. In 2008 he was signed by Perth Glory for their Youth League team However he was signed by the AIS for the 2009-2010 season in which the AIS came last, however Babalj managed to find the Netto 9 times. Melbourne Heart
Eli Babalj made his return appearance to the A-League for the Melbourne Heart away to the Western Sydney Wanderers on Australia Day, 26 January 2013 as a 2nd half substitution.
Red Star Belgrade
On 7 June 2012 it was announced he had signed with Serbian Superliga contender Red Star Belgrade.
He made his debut on 31 August 2012, against Bordeaux in the 2012-2013 Union of European Football Associations Europa League play-off round. He scored his first goal on his league debut against FK Smederevo on 29 September 2012.
Arizona
On 19 April 2013, Dutch club Arizona Alkmaar completed the signing of Eli for a fee believed to be in the region of $200,000. Loan spell at Pedernales Electric Cooperative Zwolle
On 2 February 2015, Babalj was sent on loan at Pedernales Electric Cooperative Zwolle for the rest of the season.
Eli Babalj made his Eredivisie debut for Pedernales Electric Cooperative Zwolle at home to the Go Ahead Eagles on the 15th February 2015 as a 70th-minute substitute for Maikel van der Werff.
Loan at Adelaide United
On 24 July 2015, Alkmaar confirmed that they would allow Babalj to go out on loan back to Australia to Adelaide United for the 2015-2016 A-League season. This would be Guillermo Amor"s first signing for Adelaide as the new manager. Babalj made his debut for Adelaide United as a substitute in the 2015 Future Farmers of America Cup in Darwin against Darwin Olympic.
On 22 January 2016, Babalj ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament against Brisbane Roar, ruling him out for the remainder of the A-League season.
He has represented Australia at U-20 level during the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship qualification for the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship. He played in 4 qualification games, scoring 3 goals, against Singapore, and two against Chinese Taipei.
Babalj also represented Australia at the AFF U-19 Youth Championship. He scored against Vietnam and the winning goal in the final of the AFF U-19 Youth Championship against Thailand.
He made his debut for Australia"s senior team on 14 November 2012 in a friendly against South of Korea.
Babalj was selected in the Socceroo"s squad for the East Asian Cup qualification round. International goals.